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| Aquaculture Association of Canada | |
|---|---|
| Name | Aquaculture Association of Canada |
| Founded | 1976 |
| Type | Professional association |
| Location | Canada |
| Focus | Aquaculture, fisheries, marine science |
Aquaculture Association of Canada is a national professional association founded to support aquaculture practice, science, and industry across Canada by connecting researchers, practitioners, and policymakers. The association fosters collaboration among institutions such as the Fisheries and Oceans Canada, University of British Columbia, Dalhousie University, Memorial University of Newfoundland, and University of Guelph while engaging stakeholders including Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Pacific Salmon Commission, Ocean Wise, DFO Science, and provincial ministries. It operates within networks that include the World Aquaculture Society, Food and Agriculture Organization, European Aquaculture Society, National Research Council Canada, and multilateral initiatives linked to the United Nations and Global Environment Facility.
The association was established in the 1970s amid expansion of industrial projects and academic programs at institutions like McGill University, Simon Fraser University, Université Laval, University of Victoria, and St. Francis Xavier University and in response to regulatory developments involving Fisheries Act-era debates, regional commissions such as the Atlantic Fisheries Organization, and early collaborations with bodies like the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea. Founding members included researchers affiliated with National Research Council (Canada), practitioners from the Prince Edward Island aquaculture sector, and representatives from provincial agencies such as British Columbia’s Ministry of Agriculture. Over decades the association adapted to shifts influenced by events including the collapse of wild Atlantic cod stocks, the rise of open-net pen controversies in British Columbia, scientific contributions from laboratories at Bedford Institute of Oceanography and policy shifts tied to Harper ministry and Trudeau ministry mandates. The evolution reflects engagement with research networks such as Genome Atlantic, industry groups like BC Seafood Alliance, and conservation NGOs including Greenpeace Canada and David Suzuki Foundation.
The association’s mission emphasizes advancing aquaculture science, promoting sustainable practices, and facilitating knowledge transfer among universities and agencies including Dalhousie University, University of Prince Edward Island, University of New Brunswick, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and Canadian Food Inspection Agency. Objectives include supporting education at colleges such as Nova Scotia Community College, fostering innovation linked to programs at Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, and promoting standards related to certifications like those from the Aquaculture Stewardship Council and the GlobalG.A.P. framework. The association also aims to bridge stakeholders spanning industry groups such as Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance, research consortia such as Ocean Frontier Institute, and international partners like the World Bank and Asian Development Bank.
Membership comprises academics from University of British Columbia, practitioners from companies like Cooke Aquaculture, regulators from Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and representatives from provincial authorities in Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, and British Columbia. Governance follows a volunteer board model with roles analogous to boards at Canadian Institutes of Health Research and Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council and includes committees mirroring those at Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance and World Aquaculture Society. Annual general meetings rotate among host institutions such as Memorial University of Newfoundland, Dalhousie University, and University of Victoria, with elections and bylaws consistent with incorporation practices observed in organizations like Canadian Veterinary Medical Association.
Programs include continuing professional development workshops co-delivered with universities such as University of Guelph and research institutes like Bedford Institute of Oceanography, training programs in hatchery techniques found at NSCC, and outreach partnerships with conservation groups including Nature Conservancy of Canada. Activities span networking events with the World Aquaculture Society, technical sessions addressing diseases such as those studied at Atlantic Veterinary College, and collaborative projects involving agencies like Fisheries and Oceans Canada and research centers such as Genome Atlantic. The association convenes multi-stakeholder roundtables with industry partners like Grieg Seafood and NGOs including Oceana Canada.
The association facilitates dissemination of research from laboratories at Dalhousie University, Memorial University of Newfoundland, University of British Columbia, and institutes like Bedford Institute of Oceanography through conference proceedings, technical reports, and position papers. Publications often draw on work cited alongside journals such as Aquaculture, Aquaculture Environment Interactions, Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, and collaborations with publishers linked to Springer Nature and Elsevier. Research themes include genetics research connected to Genome Canada, disease diagnostics paralleling studies at Atlantic Veterinary College, feed innovation tied to Feed Innovation Institute and environmental monitoring coordinated with Parks Canada and regional agencies.
The association engages in policy dialogues with federal bodies including Fisheries and Oceans Canada and Canadian Food Inspection Agency and provincial governments in British Columbia, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Labrador; it participates in consultations alongside industry organizations such as Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance and environmental groups like David Suzuki Foundation. Advocacy work addresses regulatory frameworks influenced by instruments such as the Fisheries Act, trade discussions implicating the World Trade Organization, and sustainability standards referenced by the Aquaculture Stewardship Council and GlobalG.A.P..
The association organizes annual conferences hosted at venues including Dalhousie University, Memorial University of Newfoundland, and University of British Columbia, featuring keynote speakers drawn from institutions such as Fisheries and Oceans Canada, World Aquaculture Society, and Food and Agriculture Organization. Awards recognize contributions in research, outreach, and innovation with honorees often affiliated with University of Guelph, Simon Fraser University, Université Laval, and industry leaders from companies like Cooke Aquaculture and Grieg Seafood; award categories align with precedents set by organizations such as Canadian Society of Zoologists and Royal Society of Canada.
Category:Professional associations based in Canada