| NORTHERN ONTARIO AQUACULTURE ASSOCIATION |
The NOAA has also been an industry partner in projects at the
Environmental Lakes Area (ELA), and the association remains
interested in research investigating the current and potential
economic impact of aquaculture on local communities and the
Ontario economy as a whole.
Experimental Lakes Area (ELA) Projects
At the Experimental Lakes Area (ELA) near Kenora, Ontario,
Fisheries and Oceans Canada is conducting comprehensive
scientific research to understand the effects of freshwater
net-cage aquaculture. The results will be used to develop
scientifically based guidelines for regulation of the freshwater
aquaculture industry and better understand how fish farms
influence the aquatic ecosystems they inhabit. The ELA,
which comprises approximately 50 lakes, offer a natural "real
world" laboratory setting. It is a unique facility that has gained
an international reputation as one of Canada's most innovative
and successful commitments to freshwater research.
Departmental researchers have established a small-scale fish
farm in one of the ELA lakes. Since 2003, some 10,000 rainbow
trout fingerlings have been placed in a cage each spring and fed
commercially-produced feed pellets for five to six months. Each
fall, when the trout reach a mature weight of about one
kilogram, they are removed from the cage and harvested, as
they would be in actual fish farm operations. The lake
ecosystem is closely monitored to detect any fish farm-related
changes with respect to the lake and to the native species
including lake trout. Fish behaviour is observed using
sophisticated electronic systems. The final results of this study
can be expected in two years time.
Experimental Lakes Area (ELA) Research
Introduction to the ELA Aquaculture Experiment
Summary of Major Research Projects at the Experimental Lakes
Area During 2008 (updated April 6, 2009)
ELA Update: Newsletter of the Experimental Lakes Area,
Volume XIV (1), May 2007
Environmental Lakes Area (ELA), and the association remains
interested in research investigating the current and potential
economic impact of aquaculture on local communities and the
Ontario economy as a whole.
Experimental Lakes Area (ELA) Projects
At the Experimental Lakes Area (ELA) near Kenora, Ontario,
Fisheries and Oceans Canada is conducting comprehensive
scientific research to understand the effects of freshwater
net-cage aquaculture. The results will be used to develop
scientifically based guidelines for regulation of the freshwater
aquaculture industry and better understand how fish farms
influence the aquatic ecosystems they inhabit. The ELA,
which comprises approximately 50 lakes, offer a natural "real
world" laboratory setting. It is a unique facility that has gained
an international reputation as one of Canada's most innovative
and successful commitments to freshwater research.
Departmental researchers have established a small-scale fish
farm in one of the ELA lakes. Since 2003, some 10,000 rainbow
trout fingerlings have been placed in a cage each spring and fed
commercially-produced feed pellets for five to six months. Each
fall, when the trout reach a mature weight of about one
kilogram, they are removed from the cage and harvested, as
they would be in actual fish farm operations. The lake
ecosystem is closely monitored to detect any fish farm-related
changes with respect to the lake and to the native species
including lake trout. Fish behaviour is observed using
sophisticated electronic systems. The final results of this study
can be expected in two years time.
Experimental Lakes Area (ELA) Research
Introduction to the ELA Aquaculture Experiment
Summary of Major Research Projects at the Experimental Lakes
Area During 2008 (updated April 6, 2009)
ELA Update: Newsletter of the Experimental Lakes Area,
Volume XIV (1), May 2007
NOAA and its members
recognize that research is
vital to maintaining a
sustainable freshwater
aquaculture industry in
Ontario, and ensuring an
effective and fair regulatory
regime. The association
continues to support and
participate in extensive
research activity with
partners that include the
following:
recognize that research is
vital to maintaining a
sustainable freshwater
aquaculture industry in
Ontario, and ensuring an
effective and fair regulatory
regime. The association
continues to support and
participate in extensive
research activity with
partners that include the
following:
- Fisheries and Oceans
Canada (DFO) - Environment Canada
- The Ontario Ministry of
Agriculture and Rural Affairs
(OMAFRA) - The Ontario Ministry of
Natural Resources (MNR) - The University of Guelph
- The University of Manitoba
| Partners in Research |
| Answers to Common Myths |
Are farm-raised rainbow trout
dyed? No.
• In the wild, Rainbow Trout get
their colour naturally when they
eat other marine organisms,
which contain substances called
carotenoids. Farm-raised
Rainbow Trout eat these same
cartenoids which are included in
their feed. One of the
cartenoids, astaxanthin, is
identical to that which is
consumed by Rainbow Trout in
the wild, and is a known anti-
oxidant often included in vitamin
supplements for human
consumption.
• The other carotenoid used in
fish feed, canthaxanthin, is also
a natural part of wild trout diets.
Is antibiotic usage in farmed
rainbow trout high? No.
• Antibiotic usage in Rainbow
Trout farming is far lower than
that of other livestock farming
such as pork, beef and poultry.
Typically, a very low percentage
of farmed fish are exposed to
antibiotics: approximately 2-3 %.
• As freshwater aquaculture has
evolved, food formulations have
improved, as have husbandry
practices, and these realities
have contributed to a steady
decline in the use of antibiotics.
• Some trout farmers have been
successful in completely
avoiding the use of antibiotics
for many farm cycles, and all
farms minimize their use of
these medications.
Do escaped Rainbow Trout
pose a serious risk to wild fish
stocks? No.
• Husbandry practices and
equipment have improved and
the incidence of escape has
declined as the industry has
evolved. Farm raised fish are
extremely poor competitors
because in captivity they are fed
as much high quality feed as
they are willing to eat, and they
do not develop the skills
required to feed efficiently
outside of captivity.
• Ontario farmed rainbow trout
have not been genetically
modified, so they do not pose
the risk of somehow altering
wild species.
• Research is currently
underway to better understand
the behaviour and impact of
escapees, to ensure that the
ecological impact of escapees
remains low.
dyed? No.
• In the wild, Rainbow Trout get
their colour naturally when they
eat other marine organisms,
which contain substances called
carotenoids. Farm-raised
Rainbow Trout eat these same
cartenoids which are included in
their feed. One of the
cartenoids, astaxanthin, is
identical to that which is
consumed by Rainbow Trout in
the wild, and is a known anti-
oxidant often included in vitamin
supplements for human
consumption.
• The other carotenoid used in
fish feed, canthaxanthin, is also
a natural part of wild trout diets.
Is antibiotic usage in farmed
rainbow trout high? No.
• Antibiotic usage in Rainbow
Trout farming is far lower than
that of other livestock farming
such as pork, beef and poultry.
Typically, a very low percentage
of farmed fish are exposed to
antibiotics: approximately 2-3 %.
• As freshwater aquaculture has
evolved, food formulations have
improved, as have husbandry
practices, and these realities
have contributed to a steady
decline in the use of antibiotics.
• Some trout farmers have been
successful in completely
avoiding the use of antibiotics
for many farm cycles, and all
farms minimize their use of
these medications.
Do escaped Rainbow Trout
pose a serious risk to wild fish
stocks? No.
• Husbandry practices and
equipment have improved and
the incidence of escape has
declined as the industry has
evolved. Farm raised fish are
extremely poor competitors
because in captivity they are fed
as much high quality feed as
they are willing to eat, and they
do not develop the skills
required to feed efficiently
outside of captivity.
• Ontario farmed rainbow trout
have not been genetically
modified, so they do not pose
the risk of somehow altering
wild species.
• Research is currently
underway to better understand
the behaviour and impact of
escapees, to ensure that the
ecological impact of escapees
remains low.
Freshwater aquaculture research is dedicated to improving both
the environmental performance and sustainability of the
industry and to improving our understanding of the economic
and social impacts of aquaculture in Ontario.
Current projects include the following:
the environmental performance and sustainability of the
industry and to improving our understanding of the economic
and social impacts of aquaculture in Ontario.
Current projects include the following:
- Study of the distribution and survival of farmed trout
escapees
- Investigating the impact of aquaculture on the relative
contributions of nutrient loading (especially phosphorus) to
a freshwater system
- The adaptation and application of the DEPOMOD sediment
dispersion model, originally designed for the marine (salt-
water) environment to use as a monitoring and management
tool for freshwater cage sites
 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
© Northern Ontario Aquaculture Association 2009-2010 Updated August 18, 2010 Contact Webmaster |
Consumers are increasingly aware of, and concerned about, the
quality of their food. Certification for farmed fish will be a
requirement sometime in the very near future. The Ontario
aquaculture industry is working towards the establishment of a
certification program that will ensure consumer protection and
provide another advantage to the Ontario industry relative to
other parts of the world.
Some other provinces have established certification programs
and the NOAA will be working with the Canadian Aquaculture
Industry Alliance (CAIA) to determine the best components of
other provincial certification programs in establishing a premier
program for Ontario aquaculture.
An audit procedure will assist in assuring regulatory agencies
and the public of environmental compliance through well-defined
Standard Operating Procedures under proven Best Management
Practices.
Trout Aquaculture Draft Standards Released July 2010
Draft standards that will help minimize the potential negative
impact freshwater trout aquaculture can have on the
environment and society were released today for the first of two
public comment periods. The freshwater trout aquaculture
industry is responsible for producing most of the freshwater
trout eaten worldwide. (FISHupdate.com, 28 July 2010). Read
the full article here.
For more information on the World Wildlife Fund's Freshwater
Trout Aquaculture Dialogue and to provide feedback during the
public comment period, go to WWF's Freshwater Trout page.
quality of their food. Certification for farmed fish will be a
requirement sometime in the very near future. The Ontario
aquaculture industry is working towards the establishment of a
certification program that will ensure consumer protection and
provide another advantage to the Ontario industry relative to
other parts of the world.
Some other provinces have established certification programs
and the NOAA will be working with the Canadian Aquaculture
Industry Alliance (CAIA) to determine the best components of
other provincial certification programs in establishing a premier
program for Ontario aquaculture.
An audit procedure will assist in assuring regulatory agencies
and the public of environmental compliance through well-defined
Standard Operating Procedures under proven Best Management
Practices.
Trout Aquaculture Draft Standards Released July 2010
Draft standards that will help minimize the potential negative
impact freshwater trout aquaculture can have on the
environment and society were released today for the first of two
public comment periods. The freshwater trout aquaculture
industry is responsible for producing most of the freshwater
trout eaten worldwide. (FISHupdate.com, 28 July 2010). Read
the full article here.
For more information on the World Wildlife Fund's Freshwater
Trout Aquaculture Dialogue and to provide feedback during the
public comment period, go to WWF's Freshwater Trout page.
| Research |
| Certification |
| The proceedings from the Freshwater Cage Culture Environmental Forum, held June 9-10, 2009 in Sudbury, ON are now available. |
| Environmental Forum II |
Recent Water Quality Research
Evaluation of Stable Isotopes for the Identification of
Aquaculture Waste in the Aquatic Environment
Near-field Loading Dynamics of Total Phosphorus and
Short-term Water Quality Variations at a Rainbow Trout Cage
Farm in Lake Huron
Water Quality Observations Near a Working Cage-Aquaculture
Farm in the North Channel, Manitoulin Island, Ontario
Development of Environmentally Responsible Techniques and
Practices for Freshwater Aquaculture in Ontario. Part 1: Water
Monitoring
Evaluation of Stable Isotopes for the Identification of
Aquaculture Waste in the Aquatic Environment
Near-field Loading Dynamics of Total Phosphorus and
Short-term Water Quality Variations at a Rainbow Trout Cage
Farm in Lake Huron
Water Quality Observations Near a Working Cage-Aquaculture
Farm in the North Channel, Manitoulin Island, Ontario
Development of Environmentally Responsible Techniques and
Practices for Freshwater Aquaculture in Ontario. Part 1: Water
Monitoring