Salmon is one of the four principal aquaculture products in the United States. Canadian Farmed Salmon Production

Canada is the principal supplier of farmed salmon to the United States. British Columbia accounted for about 66 percent of total Canadian production. To determine what opportunities existed for U.S. producers to increase exports of salmon eggs and smolts to British Columbia, we interviewed representatives of the Washington Fish Growers Association and major Washington State exporters of fertilized salmon eggs and smolts. Elements of British Columbia’s Import Policy for Salmon Eggs and Smolts

Since 1985, DFO, in coordination with the British Columbian Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks, has required extended quarantine for imports of fertilized Atlantic salmon eggs. DFO, however, did not lift its ban on imports of Atlantic salmon smolts. As noted earlier, under Canadian fish health protection regulations, such facilities must be certified to be disease free after four consecutive inspections over a period of 18 months. According to DFO’s own data, in 9 years of testing, no pathogens have been found among hatchlings from imported fertilized eggs. Finally, industry spokesmen, U.S. state and federal officials, and academicians we interviewed argued that DFO officials should have conducted a comprehensive risk analysis before adopting the strict sanitary measures called for in the Canadian policy. Opportunities for U.S. Exports to British Columbia

When DFO’s policy on imports of Atlantic salmon eggs and smolts was established in 1985, the commercial salmon farming industry in British Columbia was developing into an international business, and the market for eggs and smolts was beginning to expand. Major salmon egg exporters from Washington State agreed that there would be great market potential for their Atlantic salmon eggs in British Columbia if existing import restrictions were removed. A recorded menu will provide information on how to obtain these lists.
Why GAO Did This Study

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO provided information on Canada's policy regarding the import of fertilized salmon eggs and smolts, focusing on: (1) the reasons Canada implemented its policy; (2) whether concerned parties view Canada's policy as reasonable; and (3) whether opportunities exist for U.S. producers to increase their salmon egg and smolt exports.

What GAO Found

GAO found that: (1) since 1985, Canada's Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) has maintained a policy that requires a quarantine of imports of fertilized Atlantic salmon eggs and bans imports of Atlantic salmon smolts into British Columbia; (2) hatchery facilities must be certified by DFO that they are free of certain diseases over a period of 18 months in order for them to export fertilized salmon eggs; (3) according to DFO officials, the salmon policy was developed to protect British Columbia's valuable fishery resources from pathogens that could be inadvertently destructive; (4) Atlantic salmon is the principal salmon species used in worldwide aquaculture production and accounts for about 60 percent of farmed salmon production in British Columbia; (5) salmon hatchery producers in the United States and Canada have questioned whether the Canadian policy is necessary, since in 9 years of testing, none of the hatchlings from imported eggs have been found to carry pathogens; (6) Washington state and federal officials have questioned the need for a ban on U.S. hatchery smolts, since both British Columbian and Washington salmon share the same watershed and have equal chances of acquiring pathogens; and (7) if Canada's import restrictions were relaxed, there would be great market potential for U.S. hatchery salmon eggs and smolts.