The Economy of Fish Farming

One of fish farming's most positive aspects is the resulting economic benefits to a country's economy.

West Coast of Canada

Salmon farming can be a big economic booster. Aquaculture has contributed 3,500 direct and indirect jobs to the British Columbian economy. These include year round part-time and full-time jobs. 90% of these jobs are in coastal communities with many opportunities for women and members of Aboriginal communities. In Klemtu, an Aboriginal community on BC's central coast, the unemployment rate has gone from 90% to 30% as a result of the aquaculture coming to the community.

Uzbekistan

Fish farming could provide a livelihood to the many poor and unemployed in Uzbekistan as well as help to create a symbiotic relationship with other forms of farming, such as crop or duck farming. As an alternative source of protein it would be less expensive and easier to raise. Until the late 1960's, more than 3,000 fishermen sailed Uzbekistan's rich waters, hauling in some 22 different commercial species of fish. Many of these people could be re-employed with the expertise they have known in the past.

China

The development of integrated rice-fish production farms and private fish farming businesses would boost China's economy. Salmon farming could also reduce energy losses and improve the use of photosynthetic products. Introducing herbivorous and omnivorous fish into the rice fields would add a new link to the food chain. They feed on the primary producers.

Norway

Norway is one of the leading world producers of salmon: in 2004 the annual production was 400,000 tons of salmon. Over 26,000 people are employed in the fishing fleet; and for 20,000 of them, fishing is their main or only occupation. Norway has some 6,500 fish farms and they employ around 12,000 people. Even more people are employed in making the boats, nets and fish food for the fishing industry to use.