top of page
Aquaculture
The Fastest Growing Food Segment Globally
Aquaculture is the farming of finfish, molluscs, custaceans, aquatic plants and algae by cultivating both saltwater and freshwater populations in controlled environments. With a history dating back to 2000 BC, aquaculture has continued to grow in scale and is now the fastest growing food segment globally, currently representing nearly 50% of all seafood produced for human consumption.
According the the FAO, global food supplies must increase over 60% by 2050 to keep pace with a growing population and increasing per capita demand for protein. This equates to more than 47 million tonnes of incremental aquatic food that will be required over that timeframe. Due to significant overfishing and marine mismanagement, wild fish stocks have declined by nearly 50% since 1970 leaving wild caught production virtually flat over the past decade and unable to meet the increasing global demand going forward.
Responsible Aquaculture
.png)
Sustainable Farming
Waste produced is used for fertilizer and food.
_edited.png)
No Byproduct Catch
Reduces pressure on wild fish stocks with no byproduct catch.
Strictly Regulated
Strictly regulated at both the Federal and Provincial level.
When done correctly, aquaculture significantly reduces the pressure on wild fish stocks and generates no byproduct catch. Aquaculture also contributes to environmental sustainability by sequestering nutrients and helping clean the water. Furthermore, the waste produced is used as fertilizer and food for other marine life, adding to the long-term health of the oceans.
In Canada, aquaculture is strictly regulated at both the federal and provincial levels to ensure long-term economic and environmental sustainability. At Ocean Trout Canada, we strive to meet and exceed all governmental regulations and requirements to ensure the sustainability of our operations while maximizing the long-term benefits we provide to our employees, the communities in which we operate, the environment, and the end consumers we serve.
The Future of Aquaculture
Growing North American Demand
The rising demand for finfish in North America
Aquaculture has emerged as the fastest-growing food production sector worldwide, playing a crucial role in meeting the increasing demand for fish and seafood. In fact, approximately 50% of all fish and seafood consumed by humans is now sourced from aquaculture operations. With global salmonid consumption currently at 2.2 kg per capita per year and steadily increasing, aquaculture presents a promising solution to meet this growing need. Despite this, North American seafood consumption lags behind at only 1.4 kg per capita, however, experts predict this demand will match the global average by 2032. As such, the North American market is expected to demand an additional 400,000 MT of salmonids by this time, totaling 1,000,000 MT annually.
The Fastest Growing Food Segment Globally
The growing role of Aquaculture in the global fish supply
One of the main drivers behind the rise of aquaculture is the strain on wild stock supply, which is currently overfished and at risk. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has classified a staggering 94% of the world's wild marine stocks as overfished or exploited, resulting in negative impacts on biodiversity and natural fish production. Against this backdrop, aquaculture provides a sustainable and reliable source of protein production, offering a way to alleviate pressure on wild stocks and ensure the long-term availability of fish and seafood for generations to come.
bottom of page