Aquaculture

The aquaculture industry in Canada is a large scale commercial industry across the country, providing many economic benefits to local and regional financial systems. However, aquaculture also causes a number of significant environmental stresses.

Net-pen aquaculture is the most common type of aquaculture within Canada. This type of commercial aquaculture is especially harmful for the marine environment due to the free-flow of water throughout its facilities. Nitrogen-based waste and excrements, pesticides and chemicals produced within the net-pen systems mix with water currents and travel into open ocean.

The spread of diseases like PRV, sea lice and other parasites are common to surrounding wild fish populations. Moreover, nutrient loading issues from eutrophication creates algal blooms and ocean dead zones.

Well-designed closed-aquaculture systems can increase food stability while establishing a minimal environmental footprint, while poorly designed open-systems can wreak havoc on native fish populations and marine environments.

  • is a conservation advocacy society based on the West Coast of Canada that supports sustainable seafood and the implementation of closed system aquaculture farming. Find them here.

  • is a community alliance whose mission is to transition away from net-pen finfish aquaculture located on the East Coast of Canada. Find them here.

  • is advocating for sustainable aquaculture in the Great Lakes, they support the transition to contained systems or land-based farming. Find them here.

  • Clayoquot Actions mission is to protect the Clayoquot Sound’s natural biodiversity, advocating against fish farms in order to protect the vast salmon species on Canada West Coast. Find them here.

Stakeholders & Coastal Champions

Take Action

  1. Purchase sustainable seafood by looking for eco-friendly labels on packaging

  2. Choose native species

  3. Educate yourself on aquaculture impacts on your local ecosystems and local initiatives