BC sets new record for exports

BRITISH Columbia set a new record for exports of farmed salmon in 2015 and is on track to set new records in 2016 as well, said the BC Salmon Farmers’ Association (BCSFA).

The most encouraging numbers in the final data released by Statistics Canada are those that show an emerging appetite for farmed salmon in China, with exports from British Columbia more than doubling over the previous high in 2012.

Some 1,250 tonnes valued at CAD 9.2 million were exported to China, an increase in volume of 140 per cent since the previous high in 2012.

China is now BC’s second most important market next to the United States, which has historically been the sector’s primary export market, and remains so today.

Trade with Asia overall is up 38 per cent over the previ- ous record in 2013, with BC exporting fresh farm raised salmon for the first time to South Korea, a market that shows great potential as Canada and South Korea implement the Canada-Korea Free Trade Agreement.

‘Demand for salmon raised in BC has never been higher,’ said Jeremy Dunn, BCSFA executive director.

‘The United States remains our most important trading partner, and will be so for some time. However, we are encouraged at the market diversification and the prospects for growing demand in the future – particularly in Asia.’ Overall, BC exported a record 54.4M kg of farmed salmon to 11 countries. Salmon farming has a total economic impact of CAD 1.1 billion in British Columbia and accounts for more than 5,000 total jobs