Aquaculture salmon healthy, disease-free
By Grant Warkentin, Times Colonist May 4, 2012
Re: "Salmon farmers should change their methods," May 2.
There is no evidence that viruses from farm-raised salmon are harming wild salmon and contributing to the collapse of Fraser sockeye runs. This is a speculation with no basis in science.
It is in farmers' best interests to keep their fish healthy. Farm-raised salmon are vaccinated against naturally occurring diseases at our land-based hatcheries, and enter the ocean healthy and free of disease. More than 90 per cent of them make it to harvest healthy.
Our land-based aquaculture system uses closed containment, water filtration and water recirculation to grow salmon on land for the first year of their lives.
We are very familiar with land-based salmon aquaculture, its benefits and its limitations. The fact is, the current mix of land and ocean aquaculture provides a viable, sustainable business model that will continue to be an important economic contributor to B.C.'s coastal communities.
Grant Warkentin
Communications officer Mainstream Canada Aquaculture
Grant was reponding to the following letter:
Salmon farmers should change their methods
By Jim Cooper, Times Colonist May 2, 2012
Re: "Everyone has a hand in protecting salmon," April 28.
The writer says Pacific salmon face many challenges, "some of which we as citizens can alleviate and control."
Many of the challenges our wild salmon face are created by the very Norwegian-owned salmon feedlots the writer represents. For example, the open-net pens allow millions of tonnes of untreated waste into our previously pristine waters. Farmed salmon propagate at least two highly contagious viruses. These viral infections damage the hearts of wild salmon and have contributed to the collapse of the Fraser wild sockeye runs.
The writer says "government has established clear, strong regulations, monitoring and auditing to ensure our farming practices are successfully protecting wild and farm-raised fish." Unfortunately, this is no longer true. The Harper government has weakened environmental protection legislation and has dramatically cut the Department of Fisheries and Oceans budget to the point it can no longer monitor or audit the fish farms.
Fish farmers have refused to allow independent scientific testing. Perhaps they are fearful that public awareness of the disease in their fish will hamper the sales of their product. Several First Nations have a class-action lawsuit pending on the grounds that salmon farms have damaged wild salmon runs and destroyed economic opportunities and a way of life for their people.
If salmon feedlots would use only closed containment and water filtration, they could enhance our wild salmon stocks and our coastal way of life.
Jim Cooper
Duncan
PAA Note: to read - Everyone has a hand in protecting salmon go to: http://www.farmfreshsalmon.org/everyone-has-hand-protecting-salmon
