Salmon farmers of British Columbia wholeheartedly accepted the federal government’s commitment of funding the aquaculture industry. Finance Minister Flaherty informed that the support will be distributed over a 5 year term that will be used to fund the continued development of sustainable production.
Mary Ellen Walling, Executive Director of the British Columbia Salmon Farmers Association (BCSFA) expressed the fund will help the BC’s aquaculture and Canada’s thriving industry in a better way. She added that the strong leadership and support from Minister Hearn and Fisheries and Oceans staff have made it possible to move forward with planning, investment and research.
According to the industry source the funding will help to strengthen regulatory certainty through greater coordination between federal and provincial-territorial regulatory authorities. The financial commitment will also improve federal regulatory science by establishing performance-based environmental standards for aquaculture operations.
The fund will also support the research and innovation to enhance Canada’s competitiveness and productivity. BCSFA opined that the financial assistance is very important as aquaculture production is expanding globally and efficiency, combined with sustainability, will be integral in securing market share.
It is fact that salmon farming is British Columbia largest agricultural export, generating $450 million in sales in 2006. And it has the capacity to expand in a bigger way provided financial help in certain matter.
