February 14, 2014
Science has an important role to play in supporting Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s commitment to sustainable aquaculture.
With the renewal of the Sustainable Aquaculture Program, up to $27 million of the $54 million in total funding will be available over the next five years to support regulatory science related to aquaculture.
Regulatory research efforts are directed towards improving our understanding of the environmental and biological interactions between aquaculture and the aquatic environment.
Scientific research informs regulatory decisions, sustainable aquaculture management and policy development. It supports aquatic animal health management, environmental sustainability, and develops and validates new tools to support decision-making.
Scientific advice provides the basis for governments, both federal and provincial, to make informed decisions when developing policy on aquaculture practices and regulations.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada has already invested over $22 million in aquaculture regulatory science over the past 5 years. This includes targeted research that addresses regulatory and policy needs, through the Program for Aquaculture Regulatory Research (PARR).
The renewed Sustainable Aquaculture Program will continue to build our scientific knowledge in areas that addresses priority regulatory issues. This includes research examining and assessing aquaculture interactions with wild fish populations; cumulative effects of aquaculture activities and ecosystem management models; effects and management of fish pests and pathogens; and potential effects of organic matter released from aquaculture operations on the environment.
The long-term research priorities for funding by PARR have been primarily driven by the information gaps and research recommendations identified through the Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat (CSAS) Aquaculture Pathways of Effects science advisory process that reviewed the scientific literature and evidence available relative to key aquaculture activity-related stressors and their potential effects.
The Aquaculture Collaborative Research and Development Program (ACRDP) is an ongoing Fisheries and Oceans Canada initiative that connects industry with Departmental researchers to undertake research activities aligned with the mandate of Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the needs and priorities of the aquaculture industry.
In fiscal-year 2013-14, Fisheries and Oceans Canada invested $2 million in scientific research under this program, adding to approximately $40 million invested since 2001.
The broad objectives of this research and development program are to support optimal fish health and improve industry environmental performance.
