Aquaculture (Getigejig Nbiing)

Aquaculture, or fish farming, is increasingly popular in Ontario. Under provincial legislation, more than 40 species of fish are now eligible to be raised, including tilapia, shrimp, four species of trout, arctic char, yellow perch, walleye, bass, and barramundi.

History (Gaabizhi Maajiishkaamgak)

Fish and shrimp are farmed all over Ontario, with the earliest farms dating back to 1953. Most rainbow trout are hatched in land-based facilities throughout the province, and then transported to open net-pens in Georgian Bay and the adjacent North Channel to grow to market size. Other species such as shrimp, tilapia, and barramundi grow in land-based facilities throughout the province.

The majority of seafood farmed in Ontario is destined for grocery stores and dinner plates in the province and the rest is exported abroad. The Government of Ontario operates nine fish culture stations where fish are bred to be released for sport fishing and conservation.

Ontario has been farming fish and other seafood for more than sixty years. Rainbow trout net-pen aquaculture has shown no negative effects to native fish populations. In fact, recent studies are showing the opposite, with fish farms actually helping dwindling populations of native fish species to recover (Ontario Aquaculture Association, 2020).

A five-year study from the Department of Fisheries & Oceans in the province’s Experimental Lakes Area demonstrated that the added nutrients from net-pen farms caused wild lake trout to spawn three years earlier than they had previously, which doubled their population during the duration of the study. Increased biodiversity occurs around net-pen sites in Georgian Bay and the adjacent North Channel according to a study conducted by the University of Guelph.

Industry Profile (Eninankiijik Wiindimaadwin)

Ontario’s aquaculture industry continues to emerge as an important employer and economic driver throughout much of the province, including in many rural, remote, and Indigenous communities (https://ontarioseafoodfarmers.ca). The Ontario Aquaculture Association (OAA) is an industry-led organization that fosters growth, innovation and partnerships for the province’s thriving seafood farmers. By production and volume, the OAA represents over 95% of the aquaculture industry in Ontario, including finfish and shrimp sectors, land-based and open net-pen operations, feed suppliers, and other companies across the province’s farmed seafood value chain.

Aquaculture takes place in either open net pens or on land-based farms. The open net pen industry focuses mainly on the production of rainbow trout. Aquaculture contributes 122 million to the Ontario economy and provides over 550 direct and indirect jobs. Approximately 8,000 tonnes of farmed seafood are grown in Ontario every year (Ontario Aquaculture Association).

AN Role in Aquaculture (A.N. Ezhiwiidookwad Getigenjin Nbiing)

A number of Anishinabek Nation communities are involved either directly or indirectly in aquaculture projects.  The following businesses are owned either in whole or in part by Anishinabek Nation citizens.

Buzwah Fisheries
Buzwah Fisheries is based on Manitowaning Bay in Wiikwemkoong Unceded Nation and operates a BAP-certified aquaculture site, supplying rainbow trout across Canada.

Odawa Island Farms
Odawa Island Farms is a rainbow trout open water pen system facility based just off the coastline of Sheshegwaning First Nation. The farm is co-owned by John O Foods and Sheshegwaning First Nation. The farm offers a sustainable source of trout raised in pristine waters. The trout is shipped and processed at the organically certified John O Foods plant within hours of being harvested, allowing for a fully traceable product of the highest quality.

New North Fisheries
New North Fisheries is a relatively new farmed whitefish project located in Manitowaning Bay off the coast of Wiikwemkoong Unceded Reserve. The facility is co-owned by Mr. Jeff Tuerk and Mr. Ross Herbert, from Henvey Inlet First Nation. The project rears whitefish for human consumption and has received assistance from College Boreal, the National Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, and the Aboriginal Aquaculture in Canada Initiative (https://www.manitoulin.com/entrepreneurs-see-farmed-whitefish-off-season-complement-traditional-harvest/).

Wabuno Fish Farm and Processing Plant – Aundeck Omni Kaning
Aundeck Omni Kaning has owned and operated Wabuno Fish Farms and Wabuno Fish Processors since 1992 and are continuing their relationship with the business in a smaller capacity. The product, rainbow trout, was grown, processed and sold to domestic and export markets. This original initiative created 13 full-time positions and continues to be a significant contributor to the AOK First Nation economy. Since its inception in 1992, this business has created over 75 full-time and part-time jobs.

Aundeck Omni Kaning currently leases the aquaculture site to Cole Munro.

Curve Lake Aquaculture Development Project – Developmental
Curve Lake describes their project in their own words:

“The Aquaculture project is focused on developing a Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS) that will produce 125 MT (275,000 lbs) of fish annually.   The project looks at the potential to incorporate an aquaponics component that will produce leafy greens and tomatoes for the First Nation year round.  There is also the potential for the fish waste to be used as fertilizer for the sustainable community garden.  There are two types of species that are in consideration, which are Tilapia and Barramundi, where Barramundi being the most profitable over a 10 year period.

The fresh fish would be shipped to Toronto’s live market where we have contact with 2 major wholesalers.  This would be a turnkey operation in respects to supplying the fish to the wholesaler.  The Wholesaler would truck the fish from our facility to Toronto on a regular basis.

The project will need approximately $2.5 Million to begin the business.  With the potential of additional Education/Visitor’s centre and additional greenhouses and retail sales, to be added in the future.

The Aquaculture business would provide food security for community, employment opportunities (FT & PT), and a sustainable business with potential for retail sales, tourism, and outreach programs.  This facility will have the potential to produce annual profits to be utilized for other business ventures by the FN.

With the financial support of NICFI through Waubutek, Curve Lake First Nation has completed the feasibility study and have moved into the business plan and design stage of this project.”

Mississauga First Nation Land Based Aquaculture Project – Developmental
Mississauga First Nation is embarking on the development of a large closed containment aquaculture project.  Project partners are working diligently to bring this business opportunity online as soon as November 2021. Funders for the project include Indigenous Services Canada, FedNor, NOHFC, and The Department of Fisheries and Oceans. Mississauga First Nation is in the process of developing a business corporation that will oversee operations for the MFN aquaculture project.

Pic River First Nation Marine Based Aquaculture Project – Developmental
Pic River First Nation is conducting feasibility work for a marine-based aquaculture project in Lake Superior. The project would focus on the growing of rainbow trout using an open net pen system and fish would be sent to southern Ontario for processing at the Cole-Munro fish processing facility.

Michipicoten First Nation Feasibility Study – Developmental
In 2020, Michipicoten First Nation sought funding from the NICFI (Northern Integrated Commercial Fishing Initiative) to conduct a feasibility study into aquaculture and aqupaponics at Michipicoten First Nation. The project is planned to commence in 2021 and will examine options for aquaculture and aquaponics development in the community.

AN Community Involvement (A.N. Kwiinwining ezhidigwaapkaazang)

Several Anishinabek Nation communities are employed directly by the aquaculture industry in addition to the communities mentioned above. These communities include Wasauksing First Nation (Aqua-Cage Fisheries in Parry Sound) and several communities on Manitoulin Island.

North Wind Fish Farm, situated on Manitoulin Island, is owned by industry leader Cole Munro. It employs those in the local area.

Aqua-Cage Fisheries is an aquaculture farm in Parry Sound, Ontario that produces rainbow trout for the food market. It employs members from – and is in close vicinity to – Wausauksing First Nation.

This company receives fingerlings from a hatchery in Southern Ontario, grow the fish in the open waters of Georgian Bay and harvest them for a processor that ships to major grocery stores. Aqua-Cage produces environmentally sustainable, high quality fish for the consumer.

Atikameksheng Anishinabek Hatchery
Atikameksheng Anishinabek has submitted a proposal to develop a fish hatchery in the community and is currently awaiting confirmation of funding. This would be a non-profit community-based venture with the objective of enhancing local fish stocks.

Whitefish River First Nation
The community is working on a hatchery project at a site below Willisville Hill on an old site managed by Vale. The property was previously managed by Whitefish Falls Fish and Game. They are doing walleye culture and have purchased 8 micro-hatcheries that will be installed at the Band Hall. The purpose of the project is to contribute to sustainable fisheries populations in the Bay of Islands area of Lake Huron’s North Channel. This project is a non-profit community based venture.