Brian Tobin, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, today released a Federal Aquaculture Development Strategy developed in cooperation with industry and the provinces. The strategy is devised to help Canada realize its potential to become a world leader in aquaculture. Mr. Tobin released the strategy at a news conference on the eve of the third Canadian Aquaculture Planning Forum being held in Halifax from February 7 to 9. We must put as much energy into building aquaculture as we have put into rebuilding our commercial fishery. But we have to recognize that we are up against a difficult situation, with some groundfish stocks taking time to rebuild.
Canadian aquaculture is at an important juncture.
However, we have tremendous advantages. If these can be translated into industry growth, Canada's aquaculture industry has the potential to be a world leader. If we develop aquaculture effectively we can create more than 6,000 new jobs in the industry in the next five years. There have been extensive consultations with stakeholders and this strategy provides a game plan for maximizing the sustainable use of aquatic resources. The strategy recognizes aquaculture development as a priority of the federal government, and says it will be given specific policy and developmental considerations.