Federal Aquaculture Act

Aquaculture is the farming of fish and seafood in fresh or saltwater. It is an established practice in many parts of the world. In Canada, aquaculture was first used thousands of years ago by Indigenous peoples who cultivated clam gardens. It now includes large-scale commercial industry sectors across the country, providing direct and indirect economic benefits to many local and regional economies, and has the potential to nearly double production by 2028.

As the aquaculture industry continues to grow, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) is developing proposed legislation designed to reflect the distinct context and requirements associated with aquaculture management. Based on recommendations from the Standing Senate Committee on Fisheries and Oceans and the Canadian Council of Fisheries and Aquaculture Ministers, work is underway to develop a federal Aquaculture Act that respects federal, provincial, and territorial jurisdictions, fosters national consistency, improves clarity for the sector, enables the sustainable management of aquaculture and helps sustainably grow the industry for the benefit of Indigenous and rural communities.

Find out more about the proposed Aquaculture Act