REPORT 02
BC Salmon Aquaculture Transition Then & Now (2023)
A transition report on DFO’s Net Pen Transition Plan, sector vision, fundamental principles, and how BC salmon farming has changed from its early years to today.
DFO’s Net Pen Transition Plan
While the BC salmon farming sector’s high standard of environmental responsibility has been recognized by multiple independent, global certification systems, BC salmon farmers regard their current achievements as a snapshot of their ongoing transition toward technologies, tools, and innovations to reduce their impact on the environment even further. Two significant structural changes are stimulating the next phase: First Nations have stepped forward to assume leadership in guiding the sector’s future growth and development, and DFO is expressing a strong and clear vision for the future of the sector through its Net Pen Transition Plan. Together, these changes have the potential to create business certainty, advance reconciliation in BC, and expand the sector’s capacity to contribute to Canada’s Blue Economy Strategy through economic benefits, jobs, investment, and regional growth on a low-carbon, environmentally sustainable, climate-resilient, and competitive pathway. DFO’s Framework for Discussion guides engagement and consultation activities with the BC salmon farming sector, BC First Nations, and other stakeholders.
Sector Vision of Transition
Working alongside Indigenous partners, the BC salmon farming sector is founded upon an inclusive, ecosystem approach to management that progressively enhances the sector’s environmental performance, with a special focus on wild salmon protection, through the development and implementation of innovative tools and new technology. Increased business certainty resulting from greater public and government awareness of the sector’s high environmental standards facilitates further growth and development, resulting in stronger socioeconomic development for coastal communities — and an even greater capacity to contribute to Canada’s Blue Economy.
First Nations Right to Self-Determination
Recognize Indigenous rights and First Nations’ authority to make informed decisions in their territories.
Reconciliation
Protect long-term relationships, capacity building, and equitable economic opportunity for Nations.
Governance
Support a tripartite model with meaningful oversight roles for Indigenous rightsholders.
Sustainable Sector Growth
Create certainty for sustainable salmon farming, coastal jobs, and food production.
Alignment with Federal Initiatives
Advance innovation, climate action, and the goals of Canada’s Blue Economy Strategy.
Trust and Transparency
Create clear communication processes, engagement opportunities, and public understanding.
Transition Then & Now
1. Environmental Performance
Working alongside Indigenous partners, the sector’s transition is grounded in stronger environmental performance, wild salmon protection, and the development of innovative tools and technology.
Salmon Farm Siting
IN THE BEGINNING
During the early years of salmon farming in BC, the ocean conditions needed for optimal farmed salmon growth and development — together with protection of the ocean floor ecosystem — were not well understood. As a result, some farms were situated in areas where salmon farming was not compatible with environmental sustainability.
TODAY
Comprehensive siting criteria ensure farms are situated well away from species at risk, critical habitats, salmon bearing streams, and other important ecosystem components. Modelling ensures the biomass of fish to be cultured is within the carrying capacity of the receiving environment, and regulations establish thresholds that ensure any impacts are temporary and recovery occurs in a reasonable timeframe.
Containment Systems
IN THE BEGINNING
Early net pens were primarily constructed from wood with nylon knotted netting similar to traditional fishing gear. Pens were often moored to the seabed with cables attached to concrete and were placed in protected waters because they could not withstand winds and tides in exposed coastal areas.
TODAY
Ocean pens are now constructed from steel or high-density polyethylene and engineered, built, and anchored to the specifications of the operational environment. Modern polymer net enclosures and sophisticated mooring systems provide durability, strength, and reliability, allowing farms to operate at exposed marine sites while reducing fish escapes to almost zero in recent years.
Feeding Systems
IN THE BEGINNING
Early feeding practices consisted of hand-feeding, where feed was thrown onto the surface of the water. The amount fed depended on observations by the farm worker watching surface feeding behaviour.
TODAY
BC salmon farms now use sophisticated models, real-time feedback, automated feed delivery systems, and underwater video cameras. These systems evenly distribute feed, optimize fish performance, reduce uneaten feed, and support a healthy benthic ecosystem.
Feed Ingredients
IN THE BEGINNING
Early feed formulations were dependent on fishmeal and fish oil as the primary sources of dietary protein and fat.
TODAY
Aquafeed companies increasingly replace wild-caught protein and oil sources with alternative plant and animal sources, including certified soy and palm oil products, soy protein concentrate, maize gluten, guar meal, and by-products from cereal processing and oil seeds. Some formulations are now fishmeal-free, while others use seafood trimmings and by-products to upcycle materials into healthy fish feed.
Antibiotic Use
IN THE BEGINNING
Due to the lack of fish vaccines, early salmon farmers used antibiotics for the treatment of bacterial diseases, following practices common in livestock and poultry production.
TODAY
Continually improving health management practices and vaccination have facilitated significant reductions in antibiotic use on BC salmon farms. Between 1997 and 2017, antibiotic use declined from 516g to 59g per ton of salmon — an 89% decrease — and less than 5% of farmed salmon currently require antibiotic treatment.
2. Protection of Wild Salmon
The source notes that the Cohen Commission did not show salmon farms having a significant negative impact on Fraser River sockeye, while many sector innovations focus on ensuring sustainability of wild salmon populations.
Comprehensive Vaccine Programs
IN THE BEGINNING
Globally, fish vaccines were in an early developmental phase until the mid-to-late 1990s. Vaccines existed only for a limited number of bacterial infections; vaccines against other diseases were less effective, had side effects, and were extremely expensive to develop and produce.
TODAY
Vaccines have been developed against many common bacterial and viral pathogens that impact farmed salmon. Vaccination of juvenile farmed salmon before transfer to the marine environment significantly increases fish health and reduces the potential of disease transfer to and from wild stocks.
Stringent Fish Health Testing
IN THE BEGINNING
Few diagnostic tools had been developed to evaluate the health status of farmed salmon.
TODAY
Salmon farmers have developed a sophisticated suite of diagnostic tools and continue research and development to improve testing of fish and the environment. Fish health testing before transfer to the marine environment ensures only healthy juvenile farmed salmon enter the ocean.
Sea Lice Prevention and Treatment
IN THE BEGINNING
Infections and impacts from Pacific L. salmonis infestations were very rare on BC salmon farms, and aquaculture veterinarians did not consider sea lice a serious health concern for farmed salmon. They also understood that wild salmon naturally carry sea lice loads and have species-specific resistance.
TODAY
BC salmon farmers now use a full suite of sea lice enumeration methods, prevention strategies, and treatment options to keep sea lice levels below regulatory thresholds. Monitoring is routine at all farm sites, with enhanced monitoring during juvenile salmon out-migration.
Wastewater Treatment Innovations
IN THE BEGINNING
Prior to discharge into the marine environment, wastewater from processing wild and farmed salmon was historically passed through a screen to remove particulate matter.
TODAY
Facilities processing farmed salmon are now equipped with wastewater treatment technologies, including UV and chlorine treatment, that support marine environmental health and minimize potential pathogen transfer to wild fish stocks.
3. Indigenous Reconciliation
IN THE BEGINNING
The provincial and federal governments permitted salmon farming companies to choose sites without adequate government consultation with the First Nations in whose territory the farms operated. Not all First Nations had input into siting locations or farm environmental performance, and many received no economic benefit.
TODAY
Many Nations and salmon farming companies are on a journey of reconciliation. Partnership agreements forged over the past 20 years often establish environmental performance standards above federal requirements, involve Indigenous guardians and independent biologists, recognize First Nations rights, create jobs and business opportunities, and commit partners to work together for wild salmon protection.
4. Economic Lifeline for Remote Coastal Communities
IN THE BEGINNING
Like Indigenous communities, the economies of other remote coastal communities in BC suffered greatly from the decline of resource industries.
TODAY
The development of sustainable salmon farming has offered these communities an economic lifeline by creating supply and service business opportunities as well as direct and indirect jobs. Jobs within the salmon farming sector pay approximately 30% more than the median employment income in BC.
5. Food Security and Canada’s Blue Economy
IN THE BEGINNING
In 1986, BC produced 391 tonnes of farmed salmon with a value of $2.7 million.
TODAY
BC farmed salmon is the province’s top seafood export and top agri-food export. In 2019, BC Salmon Farmers Association members produced 83,180 tonnes of farmed salmon valued at $771 million, creating 353 million meals of high-quality protein and strengthening the province’s food-supply chain.