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AL > Fisheries & Aquaculture > Finfish Aquaculture > B.C. Salmon Aquaculture Industry BC Salmon Aquaculture IndustryAquaculture operations can be commercial or non-commercial. Commercial aquaculture involves the raising of species for sale, while non-commercial aquaculture involves raising species for one's own personal use. Commercial finfish culture in British Columbia can be traced back to at least the mid 1950s when the province licensed the first rainbow trout farms. The first salmon farm began operation in 1971. There are now a variety of finfish species currently under culture in British Columbia. In marine waters, Atlantic, Chinook and Coho salmon are the principle species. Some companies are also experimenting with sablefish (also called black cod) and the holding of wild-caught halibut. The salmon aquaculture industry developed from ten operating farms in 1984 to a peak of 135 farms in 1989. Through rationalization and consolidation, the number of companies has declined from 50 in 1989 to 12 in 2002. Salmon farms are primarily located in and around the northeast and west coasts of Vancouver Island. Ninety per cent of the industry's jobs are outside of Victoria and Vancouver, helping to diversify and stabilize B.C.'s coastal communities. Aerial View of Typical BC Salmon Farm 
British Columbia is the fourth largest producer of farmed salmon in the world after Norway, Chile, and the United Kingdom. In 2004, the B.C. salmon aquaculture sector produced more than 61,000 metric tons of Atlantic, chinook and coho. The sale of the harvest generated $212 million in farmgate value. At the wholesale level, the value of the products shipped to market was $294 million. More BC salmon farming statistics. Links
Updated: 8 September 2006 |
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