Why start culturing new species now?
The finfish farming industry has shown an interest in farming species such as sablefish and halibut. The decision on which species to culture (and when) is made by individual companies, based on business plans and market demand. The Province supports the development of the aquaculture industry and is responsible for ensuring industry practices are sustainable and are in line with provincial regulations and policies. In 2001, the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands contracted a report on the economic future of the farmed and wild-catch halibut and sablefish industries. The report concluded that the current demand for sablefish exceeds the supply of wild fish and predicts that worldwide declines in wild fisheries will open up new markets for cultured species. This report can be accessed from the MAL New Species page.
