INDEPENDENT JOURNALISM
The Best Salmon Comes from Canadian Waters
2024 report highlights bold moves by the Canadian Salmon Farming Industry for a greener tomorrow
OTTAWA, ON: Nov 12, 2024 - The Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance (CAIA) is proud to announce the release of its first-ever Sustainability Report for the Canadian salmon farming sector, highlighting the industry's commitment to delivering the world’s most sustainable, safest and best quality salmon. This report delivers the real goods on the Canadian salmon farming sector’s commitment to sustainability, transparency, and continuous improvement.
The 2024 report covers data from January 1, 2022, to December 31, 2022, marking the beginning of CAIA’s sustainability disclosure journey. Centred around seven national, industry-wide commitments for salmon farming, the report includes benchmark results for the year. It outlines our key actions and targets in the seven identified priority areas: fish health, climate change, sustainable feed, food security, food traceability, ocean health, and public reporting.
"Our goal is to be nothing less than the most sustainable animal protein product in the world, and this report is a crucial tool in building that knowledge across Canada," said Timothy J. Kennedy, President and CEO of CAIA. "As the first annual report for the Canadian salmon farming sector's national Performance Commitments, this document is the product of extensive collaboration across the sector."
Key Highlights of the 2024 Sustainability Report:
*Escapes at Historic Low demonstrating significant progress in ensuring containment.
*Lowest Carbon Footprint - Canadian farm-raised salmon has the lowest of all major farmed animal species, reinforcing the industry's commitment to environmental sustainability.
*100% Traceability of Canadian farm-raised salmon ensuring transparency and consumer confidence in the quality and origin of the product.
*A renewed commitment to reduce fish mortality, source 100% sustainable-certified fish feed, reduce stress and fish health and support the health of wild salmon populations.
Aligned with CAIA’s commitment to transparency, the Sustainability Report will be published annually, to provide multi-year performance data in the future. CAIA will continue evaluating the seven commitments using the proficiency scale (emerging, developing, proficient, extending). As the report outlines, the industry is developing in performance tracking, climate change efforts, and ocean health practices, while achieving proficient status in fish health, food security, and public reporting. Our food traceability systems are extending, ensuring full accountability from farm to fork. This report underscores our progress and dedication to advancing sustainability across operations.
"This is just the beginning," added Kennedy. "While we celebrate our achievements, we are acutely aware that there is always more work to be done. With the right regulatory environment and a commitment to innovation, we will continue to advance the sector's performance, responding to challenges and ensuring a healthy, secure, and high-quality Canadian source of food for all Canadians."
Funding for this project has been provided through the AgriAssurance Program under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a federal-provincial-territorial initiative. For more information on CAIA’s commitments, actions, and targets, please visit the Love Salmon website.
About the Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance (CAIA): CAIA is the national association that speaks for Canada’s seafood farmers, representing their interests in Ottawa and internationally. In 2022, CAIA members generated over $4.86 billion in economic activity, $1.87 billion in GDP, and employed over 16,800 Canadians delivering a healthy, growing and sustainable seafood farming sector in Canada.
BC Salmon Farmers want to add:
"BC salmon farmers are committed to reconciliation, and all farms operating in BC are currently in agreement, negotiation, or established partnerships with First Nations in whose territories we operate. These agreements are founded upon recognizing First Nations’ right to exercise jurisdiction over the land, resources, and waters within their territories."