Incentives and Barriers to Adopting Aquaponic and Biofloc Systems in Canada

153 Pages·2017·2.65 MB·English

by  Hollie Matthews

Incentives and Barriers to Adopting Aquaponic and Biofloc
Systems in Canada

by
Hollie Matthews
A thesis submitted in conformity with the requirements
for the degree of Master of Arts
Geography Department
University of Toronto
© Copyright by Hollie Matthews 2017
Incentives and Barriers to Adopting Aquaponic and Biofloc
Systems in Canada
Hollie Matthews
Master of Arts
Department of Geography
University of Toronto
2017

Abstract
Aquaponic and biofloc systems can contribute to increasing food security while reducing
environmental impacts of aquaculture. Other countries are promoting and investing in
aquaponics to increase their competiveness in the food and marine sector but there are a limited
number of aquaponic and biofloc facilities in Canada. Give the limited research regarding the
adoption of commercial aquaponic and biofloc systems, this thesis identifies influences and
barriers of implementing biofloc and aquaponic systems in Canada. Through interviews with
aquaponic facilities, aquaculture facilities, government officials and biofloc professionals, this
research provides insight into the aquaponic and biofloc industry in Canada. This thesis found
that there is potential for an increase in both systems in Canada. Adoption of these systems
would increase with collaboration and partnership opportunities, examples of profitable systems,
increased access to sustainable energy, grants or benefits for creating jobs, grants for
implementation and support for sustainable initiatives.

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Acknowledgments

First I would like to thank my supervisor, Professor Harvey Shear, for being encouraging and
supportive throughout my Master’s degree. I am truly grateful to have had his consistent
guidance and support. I am also grateful for Professor Kathi Wilson for her insight and
encouragement throughout my thesis process.

I would like to thank Professor Andrea Olive and Professor Kathi Wilson, my committee
members, for being supportive of my research and providing insightful feedback.

I would like to acknowledge and thank all the participants that gave their time to speak with me.
I greatly appreciate that each participant took time out of their busy lives to contribute and
support my research. Insight provided by the participants was invaluable and this thesis would
not have been possible without their contribution.

Finally, thank you to my friends and family for always having unwavering confidence in me and
encouraging me through each step of my graduate degree. To my grandparents, Bernice and
Oliver, who kept a roof over my head and lived with me through this process, thank you for your
patience and support every day. Thank you to my Mom, Dad and Courtney for always being
there when I needed someone I could talk to and for providing constructive feedback. Last but
not least, I also would like to thank S.E., Renee, Yousra, Meaghan, Paulina, Katie, Léa, Mia,
Marie-Line and my MA cohort for always being a support system, always having an ear to lend
and for making long days and late nights at the library more enjoyable.

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Table of Contents
Acknowledgments.......................................................................................................................... iii
List of Tables ................................................................................................................................ vii
List of Figures .............................................................................................................................. viii
List of Appendices ...........................................................................................................................x
Chapter 1 Introduction .....................................................................................................................1
1.1 Background ..........................................................................................................................1
1.2 Research Question and Rationale ........................................................................................6
Chapter 2 Literature Review ............................................................................................................7
2.1 Global Fisheries and Aquaculture .........................................................................................7
2.1.1 Importance of Fisheries and Aquaculture to Human Society .....................................7
2.1.2 Pressures on Wild Fish Populations ..........................................................................10
2.1.3 Recent Fish Populations ............................................................................................11
2.2 Importance of Aquaculture .................................................................................................13
2.2.1 Commercial Aquaculture in Canada .........................................................................13
2.2.2 Methods of Aquaculture ...........................................................................................19
2.2.3 Concerns of the Aquaculture Industry on the Environment and Commercial
Fisheries .................................................................................................................22
2.3 Biofloc Technology (BFT) ..................................................................................................25
2.3.1 History of Biofloc Aquaculture Systems and Methods ............................................25
2.3.2 Species Grown in Biofloc Aquaculture Systems ......................................................27
2.3.3 Benefits of Biofloc Aquaculture Systems .................................................................28
2.3.4 Challenges of Biofloc Aquaculture Systems ............................................................30
2.4 Aquaponic Systems .............................................................................................................31
2.4.1 History of Aquaponic Systems and Methods............................................................31
2.4.2 Species Grown in Aquaponic Systems .....................................................................33
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2.4.3 Benefits of Aquaponic Systems ................................................................................34
2.4.4 Challenges of Aquaponic Systems............................................................................35
2.4 Diffusion of Aquaponics and Biofloc in Aquaculture .......................................................36
2.5.1 Adopting Innovation ................................................................................................36
2.5.2 History of Biofloc and Aquaponics in Canada ........................................................38
2.5.3 Research Purpose .....................................................................................................38
Chapter 3 Research Methods .........................................................................................................39
3.1 Geographic Location ..........................................................................................................39
3.2 Study Population ................................................................................................................39
3.3 Sample Size ........................................................................................................................40
3.4 Interview Questions ...........................................................................................................43
3.5 Recruitment Strategy .........................................................................................................44
3.6 Data Collection Method .....................................................................................................45
Chapter 4 Interview Results ...........................................................................................................47
4.1 Commercial Aquaculture Participants ................................................................................47
4.1.1 Aquaculture Facility Location and Production ......................................................47
4.1.2 Stage of Aquaculture Facilities to Implement Aquaponics ...................................49
4.1.3 Stage of Aquaculture Facilities to Implement a Biofloc System ...........................50
4.1.4 Incentives for Aquaculture Facilities to Implement Aquaponic and Biofloc ........51
4.1.5 Barriers for Aquaculture Facilities to Implement Aquaponic and Biofloc
Systems ..................................................................................................................53
4.1.6 Potential Influences for Aquaculture Facilities to Implement Aquaponic and
Biofloc Systems .....................................................................................................55
4.2 Commercial Aquaponic Participants .................................................................................58
4.2.1 Aquaponic Facility Location and Production ........................................................58
4.2.2 Stage of Aquaponic Facilities in Canada ...............................................................61
4.2.3 Incentives to Implement Aquaponics.....................................................................62
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4.2.4 Barriers to Implement Aquaponics ........................................................................63
4.2.5 Potential Influences for Aquaculture Facilities to Implement Aquaponics ...........65
4.2.6 Recommendations ..................................................................................................68
4.2.7 Stage of Aquaponic Facilities to Implement a Biofloc System .............................71
4.2.8 Incentives, Influences and Barriers for Aquaponic Facilities to Implement a
Biofloc System .......................................................................................................72
4.3 Experts in the Biofloc Field ................................................................................................74
4.4 Provincial Government Employees.....................................................................................78
Chapter 5 Discussion .....................................................................................................................81
5.1 Adopting Innovations ..........................................................................................................81
5.1.1 Stage of Adoption of Aquaponic and Biofloc Systems ............................................82
5.1.2 Incentives for Implementing Aquaponic and Biofloc Systems ................................83
5.1.4 Potential Influences to Implement Aquaponic and Biofloc Systems ........................93
Chapter 6 Conclusion ....................................................................................................................97
Research Limitations ...................................................................................................................100
Future Research ...........................................................................................................................100
References ....................................................................................................................................102
Appendices ...................................................................................................................................117

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List of Tables

Table 1. Total Aquaculture Production in Canada 2003 to 2014 ................................................. 17
Concern
Table 2. Major Issues about Aquaculture that are of to Environmentalists ............... 23
Table 3. Species Raised in Aquaponic Facilities .......................................................................... 33
Table 4. Interview Participants ..................................................................................................... 39
Table 5. Participant Sample Size and Response Rate ................................................................... 40
Table 6. Crustacean and Fish Species Tried in Aquaponics in Canada ........................................ 60
Table 7. Plant Species Tried in Aquaponics in Canada ................................................................ 61
Table 8. Challenges Faces by Aquaponic Participants ................................................................. 65
Table 9. Top Four Skills that Assisted Aquaponic Owners with Implementing Aquaponics ...... 66
Table 10. Recommendations for Newcomers to the Aquaponic Industry .................................... 68
Table 11. Suggestions to Reduce Challenges in Aquaponics ....................................................... 69
Table 12. Potential Benefits Aquaponics can provide for Aquaculture Facilities ........................ 70
Table 13. Recommended Species to Raise in Aquaponics ........................................................... 70
Table 14. Changes Recommended by Aquaponic Facilities ........................................................ 71

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List of Figures

Figure 1. Nitrogen and Phosphorus Emissions from Producing Beef, Pork, Chicken, Fish and
Bivalves........................................................................................................................................... 9
Figure 2. Employment in Wild Capture Fisheries and Fish Farmers (1990 to 2010) ................... 10
Figure 3. World Capture Fisheries and Aquaculture Production .................................................. 12
Figure 4. State of the Global Marine Fish Stocks (1974 - 2011) .................................................. 12
Figure 5. Reported Aquaculture Production in Canada (1950 - 2010) ......................................... 14
Figure 6. Aquaculture Production in Canada 1986-2013 ............................................................. 18
Figure 7. Aquaculture Production in Canada by Province (Percentage of Volume) in 2013 ....... 19
Figure 8. Fed and Non-Fed Global Aquaculture Production, 2000 to 2012 ................................. 20
Figure 9. Types of Aquaculture Operations in Canada ................................................................. 21
Figure 10. Observations and Predictions for the Declining Use of Fishmeal in Aquaculture ...... 24
Figure 11. An individual biofloc (scale 100 microns) .................................................................. 26
Figure 12. Biological Process of Biofloc ...................................................................................... 27
Figure 13. Basic diagram of an aquaponic system ....................................................................... 32
Figure 14. Some countries with aquaponic and biofloc systems .................................................. 32
Figure 15. Simplified model of Rogers innovation-decision process ........................................... 37
Figure 16. Influences on innovation adoption .............................................................................. 37
Figure 17. Location of Aquaculture Facilities Interviewed .......................................................... 48
Figure 18. Species Raised in Aquaculture Facilities .................................................................... 48
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Figure 19. Stage of aquaculture facilities to adopt aquaponics systems in Rogers (2003)
innovation-decision process .......................................................................................................... 50
Figure 20. Stage of aquaculture facilities to adopt biofloc systems in Rogers (2003) innovation-
decision process ............................................................................................................................ 51
Figure 21. Location of Aquaponic Facilities ................................................................................ 58
Figure 22. Stage of aquaponics facilities to adopt biofloc systems in Rogers (2003) innovation-
decision process ............................................................................................................................ 72
Figure 23. Willingness of Aquaponic Facilities to Pilot Biofloc .................................................. 73

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List of Appendices
Appendix A: Recruitment E-mail for Aquaculture Owners ....................................................... 117
Appendix B: Recruitment E-mail for Aquaponic Facilities ....................................................... 118
Appendix C: Recruitment E-mail for Biofloc Experts ............................................................... 119
Appendix D: Recruitment E-mail for Government Officials in Aquaculture Departments ....... 120
Appendix E: Interview Consent Details ..................................................................................... 121
Appendix F: Interview Questions for Aquaculture Owners ....................................................... 122
Appendix G: Interview Questions for Aquaponic Facilities....................................................... 128
Appendix H: Interview Questions for Biofloc Experts............................................................... 135
Appendix I: Interview Questions for Government Officials in Aquaculture Departments ........ 140

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