""

Aquaculture Statistics

Aquaculture is the farming of finfish, shellfish and aquatic plants in both freshwater and saltwater environments. Privately owned and operated aquaculture facilities culture salmon and shellfish species primarily on ocean foreshore or deepwater sites.

Freshwater aquaculture occurs inland with commercial hatcheries, "U-Catch-Em" operations and pond or lake grow-out enterprises.

Aquaculture Industry Overview

B.C. Aquaculture Harvests and Values
2008 - 2010
Species Harvest
('000 tonnes)
Farmgate Value
($millions)
2008 2009 2010 2008 2009 2010
Salmon 81.4 76.3 78.7 409.3 394.2 499.6
Shellfish 7.5 7.7 10.0 16.2 17.3 21.7
Cultured Other1 2.5 1.4 1.9 9.0 7.9 12.5
Total 91.4 85.4 90.6 434.5 419.4 533.8

1. "Cultured Other" includes marine plants, freshwater trout, sablefish, tilapia, abalone, sturgeon, crayfish, and sea cucumbers.

 


Aquaculture Industry Fast Facts

  • In 2010, the B.C. aquaculture sector produced 90,600 tonnes of fish and shellfish and generated $533.8 million in farmgate value. 

  • British Columbia is the fourth largest producer of cultured salmon in the world after Norway, Chile, and the United Kingdom.

  • Atlantic salmon and chinook are the predominant salmon species cultured in B.C.

  • Primary shellfish species cultured in B.C. include: Pacific oysters, Manila clams, gallo mussels, and scallops.

  • Other species currently being cultured in limited or experimental quantities include: sablefish, tilapia, sturgeon, geoduck clams, abalone, sea cucumbers, tilapia, and crayfish.


Updated: November 03, 2011

banner

""
External Links

Ministry of Agriculture

Fisheries & Oceans Canada

""