A letter from Dr. Terry Dick, February 19, 2007
AQUACULTURE IN MANITOBA

Where do we go from here?
In the past, a preoccupation with wheat, cattle, hogs and poultry cost prairie farmers and others an opportunity to capitalize on one of the fastest growing protein production systems in the world, i.e., the production of fish under controlled conditions or aquaculture. Now that the Manitoba Aquaculture Producers Association (M.A.P.A.) has been established we may have chance.

Almost everyone knows that we should eat more fish because of the health benefits so why are we not promoting its development on the prairies? Fish consumption on a global basis has increased by 31% from 1990 to 1997 and The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations estimates 1 billion people world wide use fish as their main source of protein.

An increase in aquaculture production of 11% per year means it will surpass world beef production by 2010. With 50% of the marine fisheries completely exploited and 70% needing urgent management, demand can only be met by increased aquaculture production.

Prairie farmers are reeling from the impacts of mad cow disease, loss of PMU markets and potential avian flu. On the other hand, citizens are concerned about surface and ground water pollution and we read in the newspaper about the need to diversify with more sustainable production systems and add value to by-products of the food processing industry.

Why aquaculture in Manitoba?
Aquaculture is an environmentally sustainable industry, because water used for raising fish is not toxic nor does it have an odour as it leaves the production unit.

Re-use of water through the application of heat pumps and bio-filters ensures both the recovery of heat and conservation of water.

There is little solid waste from fish as feed conversion in fish is about one kg of feed to one kg of fish because fish do not need energy to keep warm like warm- blooded animals. Antibiotics are not needed to raise fish if one practices good husbandry, hormones are not used as growth enhancers and there is no issue about GMO’s since the Aquaculture Alliance of Canada does not support genetically modified fish.

There is a growing movement by consumers to be environmentally friendly and a desire to have sustainable food production, and part of that is to reduce fishmeal in fish feeds for aquaculture.

Undoubtedly, the world is ready for plant based fish feeds and Manitoba is well situated to participate in the development of new plant based fish feeds and could at the same time develop a thriving aquaculture industry.

It is estimated that the Interlake Region alone could support a $100M aquaculture industry.

There is little doubt that Manitoba needs new economic opportunities as there are many under-utilized facilities in rural areas, ample supplies of ground water, a freshwater fishing/processing tradition similar to the Maritimes, sources of waste heat and energy costs are relatively inexpensive.

The Prairie region of Canada has numerous sources of feed ingredients for plant based fish feeds, including by-products of the flax and canola crushing industry, the ethanol industry, wheat, hemp and peas, all of which have been tested at the university. As for health or functional foods we have fed flax oil and flax meal to fish and increased the omega-3 fatty acid content of the fillets.

Furthermore, we do not have to look outside Manitoba for fish species to culture as we have “made in Manitoba” Arctic char and yellow perch aquaculture and if we are looking for new species why not the famous Goldeye? Even rainbow trout would be competitive if feed costs are reduced.

What is lacking?
We need;

1. An infrastructure to develop a competitive industry (feed mills, processing facilities, education/ training/research and extension services) and
   
   
2. A place for farmers and others to obtain information on aquaculture.
   I believe M.A.P.A could play a lead role in these areas.

What can be done?
M.A.P.A. should take the lead to;

1. Develop a position paper on aquaculture in Manitoba now, and into the future. It needs to obtain information from farmers, First Nations communities, aquaculture producers, feed mill operators, fish processors, processors interested in value added food products, marketing experts, the food processing industry with potentially important by-products, processors interested in up-grading these by-products through additional processing, investors and entrepreneurs. The high cost of fish feed is one incentive as imported fish feed, which at current costs to Manitoba producers is about $1,400 /tonne compared to hog feed at about $320/tonne or less
   
   
2. Encourage the Province of Manitoba to provide tax credits for better use of low grade waste heat and new energy and water reuse technologies, especially if it goes towards sustainable new product development,
   Promote economic opportunity by putting the aquaculture industry on a level playing field with respect to borrowing money (use the hog industry as a guide) and
   
   
3. Ensure that insurance is affordable by encouraging government to support a fair insurance program for aquaculture.
   
   
4. M.A.P.A. should also promote the development of well articulated provincial goals and policies for the fledgling aquaculture industry. These should clearly provide the responsibilities of the government departments dealing with environmental monitoring and water quality issues and other departments promoting economic opportunity and sustainability so that concise and common goals are presented to the public.

This new industry does not want hand outs but is requesting that the processes, required by government, to establish new operations be stream lined and efficient, and that a level playing field with respects to costs of start up and operations (fair borrowing practices and insurance coverage) be ensured.

Dr. Terry A. Dick is a Professor at the University of Manitoba who has done research on aquaculture for over 25 years.

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