What certification programs are currently established to regulate salmon aquaculture producers?
The Canadian aquaculture industry is currently participating in a joint effort with the international aquaculture community to instil a series of standards, which will transcend borders and government jurisdictions. The Safe Quality Food Program (SQF) contends that all aquaculture farms, which are members of the Salmon of the Americas (SOTA), comply with an outlined production procedure. CAIA is a founding member of SOTA and therefore the SQF program affects all finfish producers that are CAIA members. A synopsis of the SQF program can be found below. In addition to international efforts to establish such certification is important to note that Canada has had in place various programs, spearheaded by the aquaculture industry, to regulate production methods and certify those farms that comply with standardized methods of practice. The Healthy Salmon program has been operational in New Brunswick for x years. Certification under the Healthy Salmon Program is the assessment of a producer’s
