The scientific community is divided over the threat of farmed salmon to the wild population.
This article in the New York Times is a great introduction to the two main views.
Biologist Alexandra Morton is one of the most vocal opponents to salmon farming. Morton argues that wild Pacific salmon are testing positive for a European
strain of the virus that causes infectious salmon anemia (ISA).
However, scientists and government testing groups in Canada and the United
States have said repeatedly said that the risks to
wild salmon are unclear.
We've tackled this question on the blog many times but, can salmon farming be sustainable? This is a huge question and it does with no simple answers. This article argues that closed inland systems get the sustainable nod of approval. What do you think?
Read more...
Three more quarters of public reports show the very low level of incidental catch at British Columbia, Canada salmon farms, highlighting our farmers’ work to eliminate this impact entirely.
The amount of bycatch from BC’s farms averaged .014 per cent of the industry’s harvest over the first, second and third quarter of 2012. That number represents all incidental catch mortalities during harvests in that period. When including all incidental catch that was caught and live released, the average was .024 per cent.
“Our farmers have made diligent efforts over many years to implement new practices and equipment that has brought this number so low,” said Mary Ellen Walling, Executive Director of the BCSFA. “This work is important to our ocean conservation goals – goals we know we share with the BC public.”
The Department of Fisheries and Oceans, as part of the Pacific Aquaculture Regulations, releases quarterly incidental catch numbers for salmon aquaculture operations to the public. Quarter 2 of 2012 saw an increase in bycatch numbers because of depopulations that were ordered by the federal government due to an outbreak of IHN (Infectious Heaematopoietic Necrosis). With those incidents removed, the average incidental catch is .00975 per cent of harvest total.
Three more quarters of public reports show the very low level of incidental catch at British Columbia, Canada salmon farms, highlighting our farmers’ work to eliminate this impact entirely.
The amount of bycatch from BC’s farms averaged .014 per cent of the industry’s harvest over the first, second and third quarter of 2012. That number represents all incidental catch mortalities during harvests in that period. When including all incidental catch that was caught and live released, the average was .024 per cent.
“Our farmers have made diligent efforts over many years to implement new practices and equipment that has brought this number so low,” said Mary Ellen Walling, Executive Director of the BCSFA. “This work is important to our ocean conservation goals – goals we know we share with the BC public.”
The Department of Fisheries and Oceans, as part of the Pacific Aquaculture Regulations, releases quarterly incidental catch numbers for salmon aquaculture operations to the public. Quarter 2 of 2012 saw an increase in bycatch numbers because of depopulations that were ordered by the federal government due to an outbreak of IHN (Infectious Heaematopoietic Necrosis). With those incidents removed, the average incidental catch is .00975 per cent of harvest total.
The BCSFA represents salmon farm companies and those who supply services and supplies to the industry. Salmon farming provides for 6,000 direct and indirect jobs while contributing $800-million to the provincial economy each year.
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| Salmon in a market, Seattle, USA (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
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