Expectations are high for aquaculture as an economic engine in coastal areas.
However, the industry must be developed in an environmentally responsible way in keeping with the need to protect the aquatic environment and its resources and sustain them for the future. This will require additional science to address gaps in knowledge and address issues and concerns . The native wild species are part of the natural environment and deserving of basic protection from human activity. They frequently sustain the social and cultural makeup of Canadians, as well as commercial and recreational industries of major significance to regional economies, usually sustaining large numbers of jobs in rural and remote areas. Aquaculture, on the other hand, also promises potential for creation of significant numbers of jobs and important economic benefits.