Atlantic Canada poll shows support for salmon farming
Four out of five people (80%) in Atlantic Canada support aquaculture and agree that local salmon farming is a reliable and sustainable source of protein, according to a poll carried out for fish farmers.
The phone poll of 1,500 people, commissioned by the Atlantic Canada Fish Farmers’ Association (ACFFA), also found that 84% of Atlantic Canadians agree sustainable aquaculture helps to ensure food security in the region.
“Atlantic Canadians have created an aquaculture sector that is uniquely their own and that has always been based in research and science,” said ACFFA executive director Susan Farquharson in a press release.
“Support for our homegrown industry has consistently remained high here in Atlantic Canada as farmers, government, researchers and conservationists have collaborated to sustainably build it.”
The poll also found:
- 84% agree that the sustainable aquaculture industry helps to ensure food security in their province.
- 85% agree the Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted vulnerability to food shortages.
- 86% agree the pandemic has highlighted Atlantic Canada’s dependence on imported food.
- 69% have increased consumption of local foods since the pandemic shutdown.
- 85% plan to eat more local foods once the pandemic shutdown is over.
- 92% agree domestic food production will become increasingly important for the region’s economic future.
- 86% agree local salmon farming provides important employment opportunities.
- 80% agree salmon farming is an important contributor to their local economy.
A window of opportunity
“The increasing importance of aquaculture to feed the world opens a window of opportunity for seafood producing regions like Atlantic Canada,” said Farquharson.
“Atlantic Canada’s science-based, collaborative approach will serve us well as we continue to move forward together to sustainably grow our industry and produce healthy protein for a hungry world.”
According to ACCFA, Atlantic Canada’s salmon farming sector generates more than 8,000 jobs and contributes over $2 billion to Canada’s gross domestic product.
ACCFA’s survey was conducted by telephone with 1,500 Atlantic Canadians aged 18 and over from May 10 to May 31, 2021 by Narrative Research as part of its Atlantic Quarterly Survey. The results are accurate to within 2.5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
