Finfish

There is an important hatchery focused salmon and rainbow trout finfish industry on Prince Edward Island that supplies eggs, fingerlings, fry and smolt for grow out at sites in NS, NB and Nfld.  The hatchery products are produced in two Atlantic salmon facilities and one rainbow trout facility. There is also a land based halibut grow out facility that grows halibut for the local food service market.  The facility is also experimenting in tank raising Atlantic salmon to market size.

The finfish industry is fortunate to be able to rely on abundant, disease free water that is optimal for hatchery production.  However there are no marine grow out sites on Prince Edward Island as warm summer water temperatures and ice conditions in the winter make cage culture not feasible. 

The finfish industry has an economic value of more than 6.4 million dollars to the rural economy and provides year round employment for Islanders.    

Prince Edward Island is also fortunate to have the presence of a strong research support community, with four research facilities located on the Island specializing in finfish and shellfish aquaculture - (the Atlantic Veterinary College, Aqua Bounty Technologies, Novartis Animal Health and the Centre for Aquaculture Technologies Canada).  

What are some of the finfish products produced on PEI?

1. Atlantic Salmon (eggs)

Image caption: 

Eggs are harvested from an Atlantic salmon.

2. Atlantic Salmon

Image caption: 

Atlantic salmon grown in land-based tanks.

3. Rainbow Trout (Fingerlings, fry and smolt)

Image caption: 

Rainbow trout fingerlings are grown in land-based tanks.

4. Atlantic Halibut

Image caption: 

Atlantic halibut grown in a land-based facility.