Novel guide to salmon farming
The coronavirus pandemic might have stopped Canadian salmon farmers conducting public farm tours but they have found an alternative way to celebrate their annual Atlantic Open Farm Day.
The Atlantic Canada Fish Farmers Association (ACFFA) has launched an animated video of the children’s book The Farm on the Sea, which tells the story of salmon farming.
Together with author Deborah Irvine Anderson and illustrator Lindsay Vautour, the ACFFA has transformed the tale into a cartoon to mark, virtually, the Open Farm Day, scheduled for September 20.
The Farm on the Sea is the story of a rare blue salmon named Sunny who guides readers through the stages of salmon farming.
Since it was published last year, sales of the book have raised $4,800 for food banks, and copies have been requested from as far away as India, Australia, Spain, Chile and the UK.
Farm tour
‘We can’t bring people out on the water this year for a farm tour as we usually do,’ said Susan Farquharson, executive director of ACFFA.
‘Instead, we invite you to let Sunny the Salmon be your guide on an engaging, animated tour of The Farm on the Sea.
‘Farmed salmon is the second biggest agriculture based export in Atlantic Canada. It rivals the iconic potato; yet, many people have no idea how salmon is farmed.
‘This animation is a terrific way to spark the interest of children - and adults too - in ocean farming. More than half the seafood we eat comes from aquaculture, and people want to know where their food comes from.’
The Farm on the Sea animated video can be viewed here.
