It is documented that the farmed salmon industry is well positioned to hold the five percent share of world production that it earned in 2008. Experts predict that British Columbia’s farmed salmon production increased from 71,400 dressed tonnes in 2007 to 73,600 dressed tonnes in 2008, a three percent increase, with wholesale sales increasing from $479 million in 2007 to $507 million in 2008, a six per cent increase. This led to a slightly higher contribution to provincial GDP ($180 million) in 2008 over 2007.
Mary Ellen Walling, Executive Director, British Columbia Salmon Farmers Association, told that in these difficult economic times it is reassuring to see employment in this sector remains stable, that this industry’s contribution to the local economies of coastal communities on Vancouver Island remains strong and that there is an opportunity for the BC industry to gain market share.
It is noticed that direct and indirect employment in hatcheries increased tremendously while other farm activities, processing and supply and service industries is over 6000, generating an economic output of over $800 million in 2008. Over 90 per cent of British Columbia’s production is exported to the United States, where the import market for farmed salmon was $1.4 billion in 2008. British Columbia’s share of this market was up slightly in 2008 to 23 percent.
According to the experts the future of the industry in 2009 is very promising. Worldwide production in 2008 was flat with drops in production from Chile offset by gains by European producers.
