Department of Fisheries and Oceans
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Released: 29 October, 1999

Fisheries Minister And Aquaculture Commissioner Announce New Aquaculture Partnership Program

October 29, 1999

VICTORIA, B.C. Â- The Honourable Herb Dhaliwal, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and Yves Bastien, Commissioner for Aquaculture Development, today announced the launching of a new Aquaculture Partnership Program at Aquaculture Canada Â'99, the annual conference of the Aquaculture Association of Canada, in Victoria, B.C.

The new $600,000 dollar program, funded entirely from the CommissionerÂ's budget, is aimed at helping the aquaculture industry in the various regions of Canada to develop partnerships and to work together on projects of national or regional significance. The Canadian aquaculture industry is relatively young and does not have the mechanisms or the networks in place to facilitate interprovincial or national collaboration on important issues.

"I am pleased to make funds available to help the industry to work together on industry-wide projects. I know from my own experience that this program is sorely needed and that it will enable the industry to reduce costly duplication of efforts," Mr. Bastien said.

The Commissioner noted that Projects must be in keeping with the goals of the Office of the Commissioner for Aquaculture Development, which are:

• To review the legal framework governing aquaculture in Canada
• To make Canadians aware of the positive benefits of aquaculture
• To work towards better integration of aquaculture with other users of the oceans and waters of Canada

Minister Dhaliwal noted, "The aquaculture industry in Canada has enormous potential but there is a need for a program like the Aquaculture Partnership Program to bring the industry into sharper focus on issues of national importance, such as helping to achieve environmentally sound and sustainable aquaculture development."

The Minister will approve all projects based on the advice of the Aquaculture Commissioner. Individual projects can receive up to $150,000 from the program but applicants must contribute a minimum of 20% of the costs from their own sources.

"Salmon Farmers in New Brunswick can join with their counterparts in British Columbia or Newfoundland to work together on common challenges which face the industry," added Mr. Bastien.

Projects must have the support of the national and regional aquaculture associations or at least two provincial departments having responsibility for aquaculture to be considered. They will be subjected to a review process, beginning with the Regional Advisors of the Office of the Commissioner for Aquaculture Development.

Revenues from aquaculture production in Canada amounted to more than $460 million in 1997. This represents more than 20% of the total (aquaculture and fisheries) Canadian landings. The industry provides direct jobs to more than 5,100 individuals, ninety-five percent of whom live in rural and coastal communities of Canada.

In December 1998, the Government of Canada appointed Mr. Bastien as the first Commissioner for Aquaculture Development. He reports to the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans and works closely with all federal and provincial departments on aquaculture matters.

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Related Backgrounder:
Aquaculture Partnership Program

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