Taming fish

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Can fish be raised and harvested like crops and livestock? The spectacular growth of Canadian aquaculture, or fish farming, certainly suggests it. From 1991 to 1997, aquaculture production surged 95%, and the value of the industry climbed 51%. The 87,200 tonnes harvested in 1997 was worth about $388 million. British Columbia and New Brunswick accounted for nearly 84% of that income.

This rapid growth has been driven by dramatic increases in the value of all major species of cultured fish. For example, although the tonnage of oysters in 1997 was up only slightly from 1991, the value of the catch more than doubled. During that same period, the value of the salmon harvested jumped nearly 47%, and mussels an amazing 274%.

Since almost the entire industry is situated on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, aquaculture in Canada is delivering some much-needed good news to our troubled traditional fisheries.