Aboriginal Aquaculture in Canada Initiative
Learn how the Aboriginal Aquaculture in Canada Initiative supported Indigenous communities from April 2013 to March 2018.
This program is no longer active. Information on current funding and support for Aboriginal aquaculture can now be accessed through the Northern Integrated Commercial Fisheries Initiative.
On this page
- Strategic Partnership Initiative funds
- Business development teams
- Projects
- Job creation
- Aboriginal Aquaculture Engagement Initiative
- Related links
Strategic Partnership Initiative funds
Fisheries and Oceans Canada led the delivery of the Aboriginal Aquaculture in Canada Initiative from April 2013 to March 2018. Together with Indigenous organizations, this 5-year program allowed us to increase Indigenous participation in the aquaculture sector. We supported Indigenous communities and entrepreneurs by:
- providing technical business expertise
- developing viable aquaculture business development plans
- helping aquatic business plans succeed
The Strategic Partnerships Initiative funded this program. Each dollar they invested received an additional $1.92 from other programs and project supporters. The total project value was $6.83 million.
Business development teams
The Strategic Partnership Initiative invested $4.32 million over 5 years to support regional aquaculture business development teams. We established 3 of these teams to identify opportunities and provide business development services to 170 Indigenous communities.
These teams organized and participated in 24 workshops and 51 meetings to:
- inform communities about aquaculture opportunities
- discuss Indigenous aquaculture issues and find solutions
- share the latest research and technical advancements in aquaculture
- build partnerships to take advantage of complex or capital-intense opportunities
The teams also helped prepare reports and studies, including:
- site assessments
- feasibility studies
- a market analysis
- opportunity scans
- a cost/benefit analysis
- community asset mapping
- system engineering and design
- environmental baseline surveys and impact assessments
They also worked on strategic plans and business development plans.
Projects
The Strategic Partnership Initiative also invested $2.33 million to support 90 Indigenous aquaculture projects, including:
- 19 pilot projects
- 12 feasibility studies
- 35 early stage business development projects
- 24 equity investments in Indigenous aquaculture venture projects
Job creation
The initiative’s overall investment supported job creation, including:
- 148 jobs in Indigenous aquaculture ventures
- 6 jobs in the regional aquaculture business development teams
- indirect jobs that resulted from the initiative’s impact on the economy
Aboriginal Aquaculture Engagement Initiative
The Aboriginal Aquaculture in Canada Initiative builds on the Aboriginal Aquaculture Engagement Initiative, which is now concluded. Its aim was to help increase Indigenous engagement in aquaculture. We partnered with Indigenous organizations across Canada, hearing comments at 20 meetings and at the second National Aboriginal Fisheries Forum.
Through the initiative, we found that a significant and growing number of Indigenous communities are interested in aquaculture opportunities. Representatives want to be meaningfully engaged in:
- developing the way forward for aquaculture
- participating in aquaculture management to:
- protect the environment in traditional territories
- ensure that Indigenous aquaculture is developed sustainably
- providing input into the development of aquaculture policy
Related links
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