| Archived Press Release
- April 14th, 1999 |
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A Conservation Vision for Salmon
Farming
April 14th, 1999
Vancouver, BC - As the Provincial Government
approaches a decision on the Salmon Farm Moratorium,
the Steelhead Society of BC advocated today that protection
of wild salmon and steelhead runs must be the government's
priority. "Not only should the moratorium on net-cage
salmon aquaculture be extended, but there should be
a move to convert all existing net-cages to closed loop
systems within three years," stated Society president
Daniel Burns.
To ensure that British Columbia's wild
fish are safeguarded, the Steelhead Society of BC is
urging that the moratorium on expansion be kept in place
until the closed loop containment systems are phased
in and proven effective at protecting wild salmon and
steelhead stocks. The Steelhead Society recommends that
the BC Provincial Government make closed containment
systems mandatory within three years. These closed loop
systems must be escape-proof, have no discharge of net-cage
waste and allow no risk of disease transfer to wild
salmon populations.
"Salmon farms, as currently operated,
present risks to wild salmon that are not taken into
account in the over-the-counter cost of the salmon they
produce," stated Burns. "Thus, any decision,
other than maintaining the moratorium and moving to
closed containment systems, would present an unacceptable
risk to the health of the ocean environment and wild
salmon."
The Society further recommends that
the 49 recommendations of the Salmon Aquaculture Review
be implemented and strictly adhered to.
Backgrounder
April 14th, 1999
Threats to wild salmon associated
with open net cage salmon farming include:
Disease transfer to wild salmon
populations:
The eggs and smolts imported from non-native populations
often result in the transfer of exotic diseases to wild
fish with potentially disastrous results. Importation
of eggs is common practice in BC and elsewhere.
In Norway, escaped non-native salmon
have spread disease to wild salmon streams, devastating
salmon and sea trout populations. In order to kill off
the parasite, Gyrodactylus salaris, Norwegian authorities
have authorized the deliberate and repeated poisoning
of 17 rivers.
Spread of sea lice to wild salmon
populations:
Sea lice are small parasites, which multiply in hundreds
of thousands around the salmon cages. The lice kill
wild smolts as they try to adapt to the salt water.
The transfer of sea lice from salmon farms to wild stocks
is believed to be largely responsible for the collapse
of western Ireland’s sea trout fishery and wild
stocks in Scotland.
Escapes of non-native salmon
species:
Escapes from salmon farms are common place with thousands
of farm fish escaping annually. These escaped farm fish
have the potential to negatively impact wild populations
through the spread of disease, increased competition
and disruption of spawning sites. Escaped Atlantic salmon
have successfully reproduced in the Tsitika River on
northern Vancouver Island.
Direct discharge of wastes into
the surrounding marine environment:
Discharge of fish waste, uneaten feed and pesticides
pollute the surrounding marine environment, resulting
in risk of disease and loss of habitat. Pollution from
net-cage operations in British Columbia is similar to
the amount of sewage produced by a city of 500,000 people.
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