Why an Aquaculture Awareness Week?
By Mary Ellen Walling, The Courier-Islander September 25, 2013
Did you know that the three largest companies who produce British Columbia's largest agricultural export - farm-raised salmon - are all based right here in Campbell River? Did you know that salmon farming provides around 6,000 jobs on Vancouver Island? Did you know that BC's salmon farmers are committed to being environmentally, economically and socially sustainable? These are just a few of the pieces of information that we as salmon farmers want to share with our neighbours this week as we celebrate our third annual Aquaculture Awareness Week.
This week is our chance to raise awareness of who we are, what we do and why we do it and also to celebrate the hard working men and women who have made our industry what it is today.
And today we look very different than we have in the past.
Salmon farming is a relatively new industry - starting a few decades ago with a few mom-and-pop operations that were interested in trying something new. From there we've grown and developed, made mistakes and learned from them to become a world-class industry that sets the bar when it comes to sustainability.
That's why Aquaculture Awareness Week is important to us. It's our chance to recognize where we've come from, where we are and where we want to go in the future. From the recently announced Global Salmon Initiative to seeking third party certifications to new research and technologies, our industry is committed to always improving.
Famous ocean explorer and researcher Jacques Yves Cousteau said that we must farm the seas, and that's what aquaculture is all about. Farm-raised fish production has now overtaken beef production and is growing, as is the demand for fish protein. That's why it's so important for salmon farmers in BC and around the world to work together to ensure our industry operates responsibly and sustainably now and into the future.
That's a big picture - but it's one the salmon farmers in your community are thinking about regularly. Our commitment to environmental protection, attention to responsible practices and dedication to the communities where we operate are all brush strokes in that big picture. Aquaculture will be critical in providing food for the future - and Vancouver Island farmers are already leading the way.
Why eat salmon? When we get asked "Why should I eat farm-raised salmon?" our answer is simple: You should eat salmon. Period. Farm-raised or wild-caught, salmon is one of the best options for increasing healthy Omega 3s in our diets, lowering saturated fats and reducing your risk of coronary heart disease. It's also loaded with vitamins A, B and D. Canada's food guide recommends at least two 150 gram servings of fish every week.
One of the benefits of farmraised salmon is that it provides fresh salmon available year-round so you can take advantage of salmon's many health benefits no matter what the season.
Farm-raised salmon is very good for you: our farmers use no growth hormones or genetic modification enhance growth, contaminant levels are low compared to other proteins and because of the close care given to our fish, health issues are rare. As well, because salmon on farms are fed, there is complete control over what they consume. That gives us complete confidence in the health and safety of our product. And, of course, it's delicious.
It's also sustainable. Finfish aquaculture, of which salmon farming is a part, is one of the most heavily regulated industries in Canada. Here in BC, our farmers take pride in going above and beyond those requirements - setting the bar for world-class standards and constantly looking for ways to improve what we do and how we do it. Our members also seek third party certification to further prove that We're very proud of the healthy, high quality product that our farmers produce - but ultimately, no matter what the source, we encourage people to increase the amount of salmon you eat. It's good and good for you.
