Sea Change: Innovation and Impact in Atlantic Aquaculture

On this week’s Insights podcast, Don and David speak with Tom Taylor, Executive Director of the Atlantic Canada Fish Farmers Association, about the state of finfish aquaculture in the region.  The industry is a significant engine for mostly rural areas in the region, supporting over 8,000 jobs and boosting gross domestic product (GDP) by over $900 million.  Over 1,300 suppliers generate $600-$700 million worth of business each year from the aquaculture sector.  Tom tells us about the history of the industry, dating back to government-led research in the 1970s, to the exciting innovation happening right now in our region.  Despite being one of the best ways to produce sustainable and healthy meat protein, the finfish aquaculture is having to fend off a considerable amount of misinformation.  Tom discusses this risk and the efforts his association is taking to counter misleading, inaccurate and outright falsehoods about the industry.