Wednesday October 27, 1999

Lecture Theater

Chair: Dr. Craig Clarke

Fisheries & Oceans Canada

Choose from the following list of authors & topics or scroll to view abstracts.

• Niall Bromage - The Changing Face of European Aquaculture

• W.D. Robertson - Canadian Salmon Farming Business - A Private Sector Perspective

• R. Kilmury - Future Fish Feed Issues

• A. McMullin - Present Status and Future Challenges for the BC Salmon Farming Industry 

• Sam Bowman - Present Status and Future Challenges of the BC Shellfish Farming Industry

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Plenary Session

The Changing Face of European Aquaculture

Niall Bromage

Institute of Aquaculture, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, Scotland

Over the past 10 – 15 years, Europe has witnessed an astonishing 30-fold increase in production from aquaculture.  From an industry centred mainly on portion-sized trout in fresh water, we now have European salmon production approaching 550,000 tonnes per annum and a further 100,000 tonnes of product of other exclusively marine species.  Although trout production at 350,000 tonnes will remain significant and the established production of carp, eel, sturgeon, tilapia and other freshwater species will continue, future growth will almost certainly be in the sea. This is principally because of the limitations in supply of fresh water. However, European consumers also generally prefer seawater fish.  Already farmed bass, bream and turbot production is expected to exceed 100,000 tonnes by the millennium.  Halibut are now being produced commercially in Norway and Scotland and there is a growing interest in cod.  Farms particularly in Southern Europe are also carrying out trials with red sea bream, Dentex, sole, Puntazo and several other sparid and serriolid species.  This presentation will describe the culture of some of these fish and discuss some of the technological developments in disease control, seed supply, diet formulation and husbandry and management which have made this possible.  Also considered will be some of the major issues which are impacting on the industry in Europe including: the consumer, food safety, animal welfare, the environment, the legislative framework of aquaculture and above all the market for farmed fish. All these issues have to be addressed if a continuing growth in aquaculture is to be sustained in Europe. In particular, it is clear that further growth will only result from ‘market-pull’ and not ‘production push’.

(This work was supported in part by grants from the NERC, the EC and the BBSRC Technology Foresight Challenge).

Plenary Session

Canadian Salmon Farming Business - A Private Sector Perspective

W.D. Robertson

Heritage Aquaculture, Connors Bros., Limited, Blacks Harbour, NB E5H 1K1

Over the years, the Canadian aquaculture industry has been identified as being strategically positioned for providing farmed products to the North American marketplace.  It has excellent natural freshwater and marine environments, it has access to the best technological innovations in the world, it has an educational infrastructure that provides formal training to its workforce; and it is the closest supplier to one of the most desirable markets in the world.  Despite all of this, Canadian production is very small compared to other strategic suppliers to the principal markets.  The key questions are where does the Canadian industry need to be and what are the constraints for getting there?

Plenary Session

Future Fish Feed Issues

R. Kilmury

Moore-Clark, Vancouver, BC V5X 2Y2

Competitive economic factors, health and quality are, and will continue to be the major production issues to be confronted by salmon farmers in Canada.  In this paper, elements that can be influenced by way of feeds and feeding practices will be discussed.  Particular focus will be given to the links between diet nutrient levels and feed intake in salmon.  Also, developments in the use of non-marine source ingredients will be discussed.

Plenary Session

Present Status and Future Challenges for the BC Salmon Farming Industry

A. McMullin

BC Salmon Farmers Association, 506-1200 West Pender St., Vancouver, BC  V6E 2S9

Salmon aquaculture is unique among industries in British Columbia. Not only is it profitable, technologically advanced and capital intensive, it is the creator of much-needed jobs and economic diversification in coastal areas of the province. Salmon farming has also recently undergone the most comprehensive, sector-wide environmental review in B.C. history, and was judged to pose “…a low probability of adverse effects to the province’s environment.” Not surprisingly, 71% of British Columbians believe salmon farming is an environmentally sound and sustainable industry, while 78% believe it is an important part of the province’s future economic development.  But what’s truly unique about salmon aquaculture in BC is that the growth of an environmentally, economically and socially desirable industry has been restricted by government decree. Since 1995, a provincial moratorium on salmon farm expansion has led to erosion of BC’s share of the world market, and the loss of investment and qualified professionals to more progressive jurisdictions. On the positive side, B.C. salmon farmers have achieved significant operational, animal husbandry and productivity gains in recent years. BC salmon farmers are producing a higher quality product, more efficiently and in greater quantity today than at any time in the past. These improvements will not continue in the future, however, unless the industry is permitted to grow and develop the economies of scale necessary to compete in the global marketplace. Ultimately, the key challenge facing BC’s salmon farming sector is political. In refusing to lift its moratorium, the provincial government has ignored the outcomes of its own environmental review and the position of the vast majority of British Columbians who support the responsible expansion of the industry.

Plenary Session

Present Status and Future Challenges of the BC Shellfish Farming Industry

Sam Bowman

Pearl Seaproducts Inc., Box 1792, 5878 Marine Way, Sechelt, BC, V0N 3A0, Canada

BC farmed shellfish had a farm-gate value of $10 million in 1997.  A recent report concluded that the industry has the potential to grow to $100 million by 2006 with a doubling of the area utilized for cultivation (2,215 hectares in 1998).  The primary farmed species are Pacific oyster, Manila clam, and Japanese scallop (hybridized with Weathervane scallop).  Traditionally, oyster spat was collected from natural reproduction but since the 1980s, hatcheries have produced single seed for on-growing and oyster larvae for remote setting.  A major innovation in the BC shellfish farming industry has been the use of large-scale floating nurseries called FLUPSYs.  These floating upwelling systems can accommodate 10 million or more single oyster seed in screened bins straddling a raceway.  About 40% of BC’s oyster production is from inter tidal sites.  Some of BC’s oyster beaches have recently been converted to manila clam culture, with substrate improvements and predator netting.  Water quality in BC is generally excellent.  However, in more populated regions, coliform bacteria have required closures to shellfish harvesting.  Extensive water quality monitoring programs are in place and some remedial measures have been initiated.  The majority of BC’s farmed shellfish is sold into U.S. markets.  The challenges for the future will be to expand foodservice markets in North America and Asia, and further develop the retail channel with new value-added products.

Plenary Session