Open-net pen salmon farming ends in coastal BC on June 30, 2029. DFO has launched a systematic review of the sea lice evidence, the peer-reviewed literature points in several directions, and no independent analysis exists of what replacing BC production would cost.
Industry Profiles
In 2024 the Atlantic provinces out-produced British Columbia in farmed finfish for the first time since 1991. Salmon accounts for 65 percent of the value of Canadian aquaculture, and 93.5 percent of farmed salmon exports go to the United States. The ownership is largely foreign.
Industry Profiles
Canadian farmed salmon exports were worth $944.5 million in 2024, and 93.5 percent went to one market. Open-net pen production in BC ends in 2029, with no proven replacement at that volume. The capital to build one has to be committed before a lender has anything to price against.
