Salmon Farming: Inside & Out

In this special episode of Salmon Farming Inside and Out, host Ian Roberts is joined by Stewart Muir, president and CEO of Resource Works. He examines the campaign and politics surrounding Canada's decision to phase out ocean salmon farming in British Columbia.

Muir discusses his opinion editorial in National Newswatch, titled How to Kill an Industry: An Ottawa Field Guide to Misguided Policy.

“Don’t call the ban a ban…call it a transition.” This is one of the points Muir highlights in the activist playbook, which outlines nine ways British Columbia is killing the salmon farming industry.

Further reading: How to Kill an Industry: An Ottawa Field Guide to Misguided Policy

Jesse Trushenski is the chief science officer at Riverence. In this episode, she shares the journey of how Riverence began as a salmonid genetics company before transitioning to commercial farming. It is now one of North America's largest trout and steelhead producers.

As aquaculture moves to becoming the most important source of seafood, she talks about the importance of continuing to educate the public about seafood.

Lisa Bishop Spencer is the executive director of the Canadian Centre for Food Integrity (CCFI). In this episode, she explores the trust gap between Canadian consumers and the food system. Lisa unpacks the national trends shaping consumer behaviour and how food producers can build real confidence by choosing clarity, relatability, and stories of progress over perfection.

James Wallace, managing director of Fortuna Limited and chair of Unity Marine, discusses the debate over salmon farming in the Falkland Islands. As the islands prepare for a public consultation, Wallace outlines Unity Marine’s proposal to farm up to 50,000 tonnes of Atlantic salmon to strengthen the local economy. He emphasizes the need for evidence-based decisions, following the Falkland Islands' 2022 ban on salmon farming.

In this episode, Neil Anthony Sims, CEO of Ocean Era, discusses the significant challenges and potential of offshore aquaculture in the United States.

Sims talks about how the U.S. is not a huge player in aquaculture compared to other countries because of its rigorous permitting process and opposition from activist groups. He hopes the U.S. will start to scale offshore aquaculture and build an industry that produces delicious, healthy seafood for locals.

Tom Taylor works with the Atlantic Canada Fish Farmers Association (ACFFA) as its executive director.

In this episode, he talks about Atlantic Canada’s farming practices and the support from Atlantic Canadians as seen in a recent survey. He also talks about the government’s net-pen ban in B.C. and the impact this would have on investments in the industry.

Live at the Canadian Freshwater Aquaculture Conference, Ian Roberts sits down with second-generation trout farmer, RJ Taylor. He talks about the hidden story of trout farming in Ontario and shares about his work as managing director of the Ontario Aquaculture Association to advocate for the importance of aquaculture in the province and across the country.

This episode delves into the sustainability, ingredients, and challenges of fish feed, emphasizing the importance of transparency and innovation. David Seeley, commercial director of Skretting North America - East, highlights that fish feed is a balanced blend of proteins, minerals, and vitamins, and that salmon farming contributes more fish to the world than it consumes.

Host Ian Roberts learns more about Vox Media's coverage about aquaculture with journalist Kenny Torella. His work focuses on animal welfare in the meat industry, and he shares specifically about how he delves into the environmental and animal welfare issues in salmon farming. Ian raises concerns about the potential bias in Vox's reporting due to funding from animal welfare groups, which Torella defends by emphasizing editorial independence.

Kicking off Season 4 by exploring one of the most unconventional frontiers in aquaculture: growing fish on large cargo ships in international waters. Long-time salmon farming expert and consultant, Alan Cook, talks about the Marinova project with Pan Ocean Aquaculture. He offers a clear, practical look at whether ship-based aquaculture could supplement existing salmon production and help meet rising global demand.