The strategy is hoping to stimulate investment, attract younger people into the industry and promote greater public acceptance of fish farming.
Proposed by the Northern Ontario Aquaculture Association, the strategy wants the government to create a regulatory framework to provide a blueprint for policy and practice in the coming decade.
Northern Ontario Business says that despite being around for more than two decades, Ontario aquaculture is still relatively small with 4,500 tonnes produced annually, of mostly rainbow trout.
The strategy promotes the development and growth of the aquaculture industry. Mike Meeker, head of the Northern Ontario Aquaculture Association told Northern Ontario Business that many operators are getting older, with the average age of over 60. He said that there was a huge pubic demand for locally grown food, but Ontario fish farmers couldn't produce enough trout to land contracts with big suppliers and grocery store chains.
Ontario imports millions of pounds of rainbow trout from Chile, Argentina, Peru and Norway. Mr Meeker says that Ontario can grow the industry in a very environmentally responsible and sustainable way reducing these imports.
Following on from this strategy, freshwater cage aquaculture is included in Ontario's 'Proposed Growth Plan for Northern Ontario'.
Further Reading
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You can view the Strategy for Sustainable Aquaculture Development in Ontario by clicking here. |
Further Reading
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You can view the Proposed Growth Plan for Northern Ontario by clicking here. |
