BCSFA Publishes First Sustainability Progress Report

VANCOUVER, October 27, 2015 /3BL Media/ - Salmon farmers in British Columbia are taking further steps towards increasing the availability of information on farming practices and key areas of public interest by publishing a Sustainability Progress Report, released today at GOAL 2015 in Vancouver.  The report, a first for salmon farmers in B.C., includes information on all three pillars of sustainability: environmental, social and economic. 

The report provides clarification and updates on a number of issues of public interest. Key highlights include:

• Antibiotic use in the B.C. salmon farming industry, while low, has decreased seven-fold over the past decade, currently sitting at approximately 50 grams of antibiotic prescribed per tonne of production.
• Significant improvements have been made by feed development companies to replace marine oil and protein sources with plant and animal sources.  Today the majority of salmon feed contains less than 18% marine-based products.
• Salmon farmers are committed to third-party certification: every farm in B.C. meets the requirements of at least one third-party system. 
• 78% of salmon raised in B.C. is done so under an agreement with First Nations. 
• Salmon farming contributes over $1.1-billion towards the B.C. economy and results in about 5,000 jobs. 

“There have been great gains made in many facets of this business, which began in B.C. just over 30 years ago, and there is still a lot of work to be done,” said Jeremy Dunn, Executive Director of the BCSFA.  Our members have shown the commitment and dedication to ensuring the long-term stability of the sector, the ocean environment and marine wild species.  This report helps to both share those gains and continue the dialogue on further improvements.” 

The BCSFA intends to release annual updates to its Sustainability Progress Report, which is in addition to information published by member companies, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and other academic sources, provides an extremely comprehensive view into the operations of B.C.’s salmon farms.  In addition, BCSFA member companies growing Atlantic salmon have also begun publishing information on sea lice management online on a monthly basis.  This information will include lice levels on farms as well as any management measures that may have been taken.   

The BCSFA Sustainability Progress Report was released during a session to delegates at the Global Aquaculture Alliance GOAL conference, which has brought 400 aquaculture industry leaders, as well as retail and foodservice professionals, academia, representatives of NGO’s and governments from around the world to Canada for the first time.  

About the BC Salmon Farmers Association:

B.C. salmon farmers grow 58% of all salmon raised in Canada and account for 60% of the total landed value of seafood in British Columbia, generating more than $1.14-billion towards the provincial economy.  The BCSFA represents the province’s vibrant and diversified salmon aquaculture sector, inclusive of companies raising salmon, as well as the businesses that proudly provide services and supplies.

For more information visit BCSalmonFarmers.ca