Consumers rely on aquaculture farmers to deliver safe and healthy seafood products to their supermarkets and restaurants.  Fish and shellfish health is regulated and maintained through the cooperation of farm operators and regulatory oversight of many government departments – ensuring a healthy product every step of the way, from farm to plate.

Keeping fish and other types of seafood healthy is essential to creating high-quality products that taste good and are safe to eat.  Specialized veterinarians are employed by the province of Nova Scotia to monitor the health of commercial fish-farming operations and they visit each farm regularly.

The Life of Farmed Fish

Farmed fish begin their lives in fish hatcheries.  When ready, the young fish are moved to a grow-out location where they are cared for until they reach maturity and are ready for harvesting.  Most of these facilities are marine farms consisting of large cages with nets floating in the sea, at select points along the coast of Nova Scotia.  Occasionally, species are raised in commercial ponds or tanks, but because of the high costs involved in land-based systems, this method is only economically viable for high value or specialty fish.

Salmon Farms

Salmon farmers take care to create healthy conditions for their fish.   Nonetheless, farmed fish, like other domestic or farmed animals, can get sick.  In those instances veterinarians are engaged to help resolve the issues.

Canadian farmed salmon has the lowest use of antibiotics in the entire food industry.  The use of antibiotics in aquaculture is much lower than in land-based animal farming, and strictly regulated.

Like other farmed animals strictly regulated withdrawal periods are in place if fish require treatments to ensure food safety. Contrary to some perceptions, feeding hormones to farmed fish is not allowed in Canada. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is responsible for monitoring food safety and conducts inspections and testing of fish for the presence of drug residues.

Health of Wild Fish

Research indicates that farmed salmon are at a higher risk of contracting a disease from wild fish than they are of increasing disease in wild populations.  Therefore, the aquaculture industry is strictly regulated and has developed disease vaccines, alternative treatments and good production practices to reduce the incidence and severity of disease impacts.

Farmed Fish Safety

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency requires the tracking of all products that are used in treating fish. Through the Quality Management Program fish processors must track all treatment related records. When harvested salmon arrive at a processing plant, these records assure the processor that, if the salmon had received antibiotic treatment, the proper use and withdrawal time of the antibiotic was strictly followed

In Nova Scotia, aquaculture sites are distributed along the coastlines, with several inland facilities. The aquaculture industry is growing, which benefits many of our rural communities by providing job opportunities. With expansions involving the use of natural resources come increased public concerns wanting to ensure aquaculture practices are environmentally sustainable. To address this issue the Nova Scotia Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture (NSDFA) implemented an Environmental Monitoring Program in 2003. The AANS has been actively involved in the creation and implementation of the program and sits on a committee that meets bi-annually. To find out more about this program, please visit Environmental Monitoring Program.

The Aquaculture Association of Nova Scotia started working on its environmental policy and codes of practice in 1998. The purpose of the NS Codes of Practice is to provide Nova Scotian fish farmers with an updated document that details basic regulatory compliance items for their aquaculture sites and to provide a framework for enhanced environmental practices. This document can help to maintain and develop sustainable farming practices and provide insight for the public as to current operating practices within our industry.

Mike Cameron & Crew - Truro, NS.