Making Sense of the Salmon Aquaculture Debate

Vancouver, January 13, 2003 - Today the Pacific Fisheries Resource Conservation Council released an independent, commissioned report investigating the potential impacts of salmon farming on wild salmon and their habitat in British Columbia. To obtain a copy of the report and the Executive Summary, go to: www.fish.bc.ca

The report, titled Making Sense of the Aquaculture Debate: Analysis of issues related to netcage salmon farming and wild salmon in British Columbia, takes a look behind the debate, examines the information and assumptions supporting the arguments of opposing interests, and deepens the current public understanding about the potential impacts of salmon aquaculture on wild salmon.

The report's focus on the interplay of salmon farming and wild salmon means that the analysis does not cover all aspects of the potential impacts of salmon farming. Nor does it explore all the pressures on wild salmon. Instead, the report concentrates on the most pressing issues pertaining to farmed salmon/wild salmon interactions.

The report also includes an extensive reference list, which serves as a valuable resource to interested observers of this issue. For the first time since the Provincial Government lifted its moratorium on salmon aquaculture expansion, salmon farming information from a broad range of sources and viewpoints much it from outside Canada has been accumulated and assessed in one document.

The report's three main areas of investigation are: disease and fish health; escapes; and, habitat impact. Its objectives are:

To clearly present the strengths and weaknesses of the arguments;

To identify areas of agreement, areas of disagreement and areas in which more information is needed; and,

To make information available to the public and the Federal and Provincial Governments.

The authors of the report are Dr. Julia Gardner and Mr. David L. Peterson. Dr. Gardner, of Dovetail Consulting Inc., specializes in marine conservation and sustainable development issues. Mr. Peterson, of Devon Knight Events, is a specialist in investigative research. (For more information about the authors and their research approach, consult the main report or review the accompanying backgrounder.)

Some of the report's key conclusions are:

Sea Lice: While there is no absolute proof directly linking the spread of sea lice from farmed salmon to wild salmon populations, there is a growing body of compelling evidence suggesting that this is a very real possibility. Of all the fish health issues considered in this report, sea lice from fish farms constitute the most serious and immediate risk.

Bacteria and Viruses: Disease outbreaks on salmon farms add to potential sources of infection for wild salmon. While Pacific salmon have some natural resistance to the bacteria and viruses that occur in coastal waters, concentrations of these pathogens at farm sites can increase the risk of disease to migrating salmon.

Atlantic Salmon Escapes: Though colonization of Atlantic salmon in B.C. waters has not been proven, it is possible that it may occur. Since small numbers of Atlantic salmon have already successfully spawned, and could experience continued and improved success, enhanced monitoring of Atlantic salmon escapes is necessary.

Pacific Salmon Escapes: The implications of farmed Pacific salmon establishing themselves in BC waters pose a much greater risk to wild salmon than Atlantic salmon escapees. While it is very unlikely for Atlantics to successfully breed with wild Pacific salmon, escaped Pacific salmon can—and with potentially devastating consequences. Furthermore, while identifying Atlantic salmon in BC waters is made simple due to the fact they are a foreign species to this coast, identifying escaped Pacific salmon in the wild is nearly impossible given the total lack of any identification or marker program in the B.C. salmon farming industry.

The Pacific Fisheries Resource Conservation Council was established in 1998. Its role is to provide independent, strategic advice and relevant information to Canada's and British Columbia's Fisheries Ministers, as well as to the Canadian public on the status and long-term sustainable use of wild salmon stocks and their freshwater and ocean habitats.

For more information, contact:

John Paul Fraser
Media Liaison Pacific Fisheries Resource Conservation Council
604-775-5789
fraser@fish.bc.ca

Final Advisory Letter