Saanich Peninsula Chamber of Commerce Peninsula Industry back Agriculture Agriculture is a vital component of the economic activity on the Saanich Peninsula, as well as being the predominant land use. Agriculture is British Columbia's third largest resource industry behind forestry and mining. Most of the agricultural land on the Peninsula is part of the province's Agricultural Land Reserve which restricts development of that land for non-agricultural purposes. The largest part of this land is actively farmed, with about one-third under irrigation. Traditional production of cattle, dairy, poultry and pigs has recently been augmented by the addition of more exotic livestock such as llamas, alpacas, ostrich and fallow deer.
Crop production includes wheat and other grain, silage, hay and fodder.
Fishing More than 20 species of fish and marine animals indigenous to British Columbia waters are valued for commercial use by the provincial fishing industry. Many of these species are found in the waters surrounding the Saanich Peninsula in areas designated as Pacific Fishery Management Areas No. 18 and 19. These management areas include the waters of the Saanich inlet. This is a large commercial crab fishery which operates year round. A number of crab fisherman operate out of the Sidney area.