| NORTHERN ONTARIO AQUACULTURE ASSOCIATION |
Aquaculture on a subsistence scale has been around for
centuries. The earliest records of fish farming are from China,
where it has been practiced for at least 3,500 years with carp as
the main species.
centuries. The earliest records of fish farming are from China,
where it has been practiced for at least 3,500 years with carp as
the main species.
| Origins of Aquaculture |
Basic aquaculture was first practiced in Canada by aboriginal
peoples through the transfer of fish between streams and
rivers. By 1950, a network of federal and provincial hatcheries
were producing approximately 750 million freshwater fish and
freshwater spawning fish annually for wild stock enhancement
and non-commercial stock enhancement.
peoples through the transfer of fish between streams and
rivers. By 1950, a network of federal and provincial hatcheries
were producing approximately 750 million freshwater fish and
freshwater spawning fish annually for wild stock enhancement
and non-commercial stock enhancement.
| Aquaculture in Canada |
| Aquaculture in Ontario |
The aquaculture industry is a relatively new economic sector in
Northern Ontario. Until 1962, fish culture in Northern Ontario
remained exclusively a government endeavour, mainly to
support lake and stream rehabilitation.Manitoulin had a
government-run cage culture facility operating in the Swift
Current area on LaCloche until 1990. Other government-run
hatchery operations exist at Blue Jay Creek in Tehkummah and
in Gore Bay.
The first private aquaculture operation in the area was
established in 1986 at Lake Wolsey for the production of
rainbow trout. Another significant cage culture operation, also
for rainbow trout, was established in Parry Sound around the
same time.
The industry was largely established during the last twenty
years with the bulk of aquaculture production coming from
lake-based cage culture facilities located in the northern Lake
Huron area. The northern part of Lake Huron and the North
Channel possess many assets for the continued development of
the aquaculture industry. There are available abundant, high
quality water resources; easy access to large domestic and
foreign markets; and a well-developed industry infrastructure.
There are currently five site operators in the
Manitoulin-LaCloche region with a total of eight sites; the
estimated annual production from these is 5.6 million pounds
of round live weight product. A sixth cage site operator is in the
Parry Sound area with an annual estimated production of 2.5
million pounds. The First Nations aquaculture sites in the
Manitoulin area produce approximately 1.0 million pounds
annually.
The cage culture operations account for approximately 80% of
the total production for Ontario.
Northern Ontario. Until 1962, fish culture in Northern Ontario
remained exclusively a government endeavour, mainly to
support lake and stream rehabilitation.Manitoulin had a
government-run cage culture facility operating in the Swift
Current area on LaCloche until 1990. Other government-run
hatchery operations exist at Blue Jay Creek in Tehkummah and
in Gore Bay.
The first private aquaculture operation in the area was
established in 1986 at Lake Wolsey for the production of
rainbow trout. Another significant cage culture operation, also
for rainbow trout, was established in Parry Sound around the
same time.
The industry was largely established during the last twenty
years with the bulk of aquaculture production coming from
lake-based cage culture facilities located in the northern Lake
Huron area. The northern part of Lake Huron and the North
Channel possess many assets for the continued development of
the aquaculture industry. There are available abundant, high
quality water resources; easy access to large domestic and
foreign markets; and a well-developed industry infrastructure.
There are currently five site operators in the
Manitoulin-LaCloche region with a total of eight sites; the
estimated annual production from these is 5.6 million pounds
of round live weight product. A sixth cage site operator is in the
Parry Sound area with an annual estimated production of 2.5
million pounds. The First Nations aquaculture sites in the
Manitoulin area produce approximately 1.0 million pounds
annually.
The cage culture operations account for approximately 80% of
the total production for Ontario.
| Opportunities |
| Education in Ontario |
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Ontario aquaculture created
approximately 229 direct
(aquaculture operations) and
indirect jobs (service and
support) in 2007. These jobs
included, among others, those
in the following types of work:
• on-farm work
• processing
• administration
• feed, fingerling, and processed
fish transportation
• cage and net manufacturing
• boat and equipment repair
• veterinary services
• environmental, production,
husbandry, and socio-economic
research
Many of these jobs are highly
skilled and represent rewarding
employment for Ontarian. If the
Ontario industry is allowed to
expand and realize a greater
portion of its potential, the
number of direct and indirect
jobs will increase accordingly,
providing more employment of
local communities and the
province.
Read our report Economic
Impact of the Cage Culture
Industry in Ontario (March
2007)
approximately 229 direct
(aquaculture operations) and
indirect jobs (service and
support) in 2007. These jobs
included, among others, those
in the following types of work:
• on-farm work
• processing
• administration
• feed, fingerling, and processed
fish transportation
• cage and net manufacturing
• boat and equipment repair
• veterinary services
• environmental, production,
husbandry, and socio-economic
research
Many of these jobs are highly
skilled and represent rewarding
employment for Ontarian. If the
Ontario industry is allowed to
expand and realize a greater
portion of its potential, the
number of direct and indirect
jobs will increase accordingly,
providing more employment of
local communities and the
province.
Read our report Economic
Impact of the Cage Culture
Industry in Ontario (March
2007)
Fleming College
2 Year Fish & Wildlife Technician
3 Year Fish & Wildlife
Technologist
Collège Boréal (French)
Technologie en gestion de la
pêche et de la faune
University of Guelph
Aquaculture Centre
Opportunities for graduate
studies in aquaculture include
PhD and MSc research programs
and the MSc. Aquaculture
program. Additional educational
training includes certificate
training for fisheries
professionals, technical
workshops for farmers and
opportunities for university
co-op, high school and college
students.
2 Year Fish & Wildlife Technician
3 Year Fish & Wildlife
Technologist
Collège Boréal (French)
Technologie en gestion de la
pêche et de la faune
University of Guelph
Aquaculture Centre
Opportunities for graduate
studies in aquaculture include
PhD and MSc research programs
and the MSc. Aquaculture
program. Additional educational
training includes certificate
training for fisheries
professionals, technical
workshops for farmers and
opportunities for university
co-op, high school and college
students.
| Education in Canada |
Nova Scotia Agricultural College
New Brunswick Community
College
Canadian Aquaculture Institute -
PEI
Memorial University -
Newfoundland
Vancouver Island University
Lethbridge College, Alberta
New Brunswick Community
College
Canadian Aquaculture Institute -
PEI
Memorial University -
Newfoundland
Vancouver Island University
Lethbridge College, Alberta
| Online Education |
© Northern Ontario Aquaculture Association 2009 Updated February 23, 2010 Contact Webmaster |
| SPOTLIGHT ON ... |
| Meeker's Aquaculture Evansville, ON Meeker's is a family farm on the shores of Lake Wolsey, Manitoulin Island. Mike Meeker is a Regional Winner of the 2008 Premier's Award for Agri-Food Innovation Excellence. |