Public resources for private mariculture: Northeastern United States, Atlantic Canada and Scotland after NAFTA and GATT

During the past decade, mariculture development has increased rapidly in the north Atlantic Ocean. However, global developments in the market for farm-reared salmon have raised concern about government policy and intervention on behalf of mariculture sectors in closely competing countries and regions. This paper provides an analysis of public sector involvement in private sector mariculture innovation and investment in three regions: the New England states of the US, the Atlantic Provinces of Canada, and the Highlands and Islands region of Scotland. It illustrates temporal (1984–1997) and geographic differences in those mechanisms financing innovation and assisting private capital formation. As international trade rules eliminate tariff and other barriers supporting domestic industry, innovation assistance and capital market policies may become more prevalent. Recent support policy changes in Canada are illustrative.