Aquaculture is one of the fastest growing food production sectors in the world, forming a large part of the global solution to environmentally sustainable food production.

The growing demand for fresh fish has increased in recent years, and our oceans simply cannot produce enough to fulfil current (and increasing) demand. Aquaculture, the cultivation of marine and freshwater finfish and shellfish, is one of the solutions.

In a peak catch year, wild salmon supplies about one third of the worldwide demand for salmon. 

Whilst wild fisheries have seasonal availability, as well as limitations on the number of fish caught, salmon ocean farms produce large amounts of consistent, high-quality salmon year-round.

Aquaculture and salmon farming play an important role in the economies of the many areas, and have transformed a popular food source into a modern, competitive industry. Local and global economic benefits created by the aquaculture industry contribute to the value of salmon, as well as the role it plays in a healthy and well-rounded diet.

The salmon farming industry often accounts for a large percentage of jobs in rural areas, which demonstrates that our industry aids rural economies and supports solutions to common issues surrounding economic development, stabilisation of communities and loss of population.

Like any other food production industry, aquaculture poses a certain level of risk to the environment, and, like these other agriculture production systems, ocean-farming must stand up to rigorous environmental evaluation. As a result, this relatively new and rapidly evolving form of food-production has been the subject of much intensive environmental analysis.

Assessments have consistently found that aquaculture poses a low risk to the environment, and environmental impacts are localised, temporary and fully reversible through natural processes. Our industry continuously works with governments and regulatory bodies to ensure aquaculture remains a sustainable and well-managed component of coastal economy and environment.

The minimal environmental risks of aquaculture are balanced by the benefits it provides, such as fulfilling a demand for fresh fish year-round. Farm-raised aquaculture species like salmon, shrimp, tilapia and catfish, to name just a few, represent one very important way to feed the world in the 21st century.