Aquaculture production has expanded rapidly and now represents approximately 20 percent of the total amount of fish and shellfish consumed worldwide. Newfoundland is an ideal setting for cold water aquaculture development, possessing the right mix of abundant natural resources, technical expertise and research support.

Salmon and Trout

Atlantic salmon and rainbow (steelhead) trout are the two highest valued species currently farmed in the Province. S.C.B. Fisheries Limited, the largest of five salmon and trout operations in the Bay d'Espoir region (see accompanying map), currently employs between 70 and 80 people in its hatchery, grow-out facilities and processing plant. S.C.B. markets its products to retail and food service customers across Canada and the Northeastern United States. Recent infrastructure improvements will enable the Company to double production levels this year.

Cod

Cod were first raised by Sea Forest Plantation Limited during the mid-1980s. Small cod caught in fish harvesters' nets were retained and grown to marketable size in captivity. Plans were thwarted following the implementation of fishing bans which eliminated the supply of small wild cod. Since that time, Sea Forest has focused its efforts on cod aquaculture training and the development and construction of a cod hatchery.

To date, about 320 displaced fishery workers in communities located from the South coast of the Island to the Northern Peninsula have taken part in training delivered by the Company. Several of these participants are currently in the process of developing business plans and applying for aquaculture site licences.

As well, Sea Forest recently finished construction of North America's first commercial cod hatchery located in a former groundfish processing plant in Jerseyside, Placentia Bay. The hatchery is expected to produce 300,000 juvenile cod this year, with about half being sold to the various cod farmers who took part in Sea Forest's training program. The remaining cod will be retained by the Company. Once in full production, the hatchery is expected to grow about two million juvenile cod and supply farmers year round.

Blue Mussels

Blue mussels are ideally suited for culture in Newfoundland waters. There are currently about 40 mussel farms in the Province. An important player in mussel farming is Atlantic Ocean Farms Limited of Notre Dame Bay. The Company employs 20 people directly, culturing, processing and marketing mussels. It augments its own supply by procuring mussels from other independent farmers. Mussels have been shipped by the Company since 1990, to domestic and mainland markets as far away as the southern United States. The Company is currently developing mussel aquaculture sites on the south coast of the Province, an area which holds enormous potential for the future.

Scallops

Giant scallop aquaculture received a much needed boost with the opening of a commercial hatchery in Belleoram, located on the South coast of the Island, in July 1995. Until this opening, farmers had experienced problems in obtaining young scallops. The hatchery, employing technology developed and patented by the Ocean Sciences Centre at Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador, has the capacity to produce 20 million juvenile scallops a year. Already, about three million juvenile scallops have been produced, much of which will be used to supply the three scallop farms in the Province.

Biotechnology

Considerable opportunities also exist in the aquaculture industry for the culture of fish for purposes other than food. A/F Protein Canada Inc. of St. John's is involved in the extraction of biotechnological products from marine species that have significant potential for application in medical, cosmetic and other fields. The Company currently employs seven people.

Summary

Overall, about 1,280 tonnes of salmon, steelhead trout, mussels and scallops were produced in the Province in 1995 compared with 827 tonnes in the previous year. Production was valued at about $5.2 million, almost double the value recorded in 1994, and about 300 person years of employment were generated.

The Provincial aquaculture industry is entering a period of rapid growth. The industry is also expected to benefit significantly from investment generated by the Economic Renewal Program. About $20 million will be spent on aquaculture development over the next five years. This program will enable the industry to focus on research and development, marketing, human resource training and aquaculture infrastructure.

The Province estimates that by the year 2000, aquaculture production levels are expected to reach about 12,000 tonnes, with a value of more than $76.0 million. This level of production would generate about 1,300 person years of employment. q