2025-Oct-31
GBA Urges OMAFA to Prioritize Sustainability in Georgian Bay Aquaculture Operations
GBA has drafted a letter to the Honourable Trevor Jones, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness (OMAFA), highlighting our concerns about the potential impacts of net-pen aquaculture operations on the health of Georgian Bay’s waters and ecosystem.In the letter, GBA outlines its concerns about the industry’s growth in and around the Georgian Bay watershed, including:
- Water quality impacts from nutrient loading and sedimentation
- Risks to native fish stocks from escaped domesticated fish and disease introduction
- The need for more sustainable and environmentally responsible aquaculture practices
The letter also points to a recent incident where thousands of rainbow trout escaped from the Sheshegwaning First Nation open net-pen site, underscoring the risks of these operations. GBA believes publicly shared waters like Georgian Bay are better protected by closed, land-based aquaculture systems.
Given the expansion in provincial oversight of Aquaculture operations in the province, GBA is inviting OMAFA to join in any future meetings between GBA and regulators to discuss these concerns and work towards more sustainable aquaculture practices.
Read the letter here.
Learn more about the cage aquaculture issue in Georgian Bay here.
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