Marine Harvest Canada takes immediate action to reduce seal and sea lion kills
Marine Harvest Canada, October 17, 2011
Campbell River - October 17, 2011 Marine Harvest Canada (MHC) is announcing plans to ensure that lethal interactions with seals and sea lions at its salmon farms are drastically reduced, if not eliminated.
MHC experienced higher than normal culls of seals and sea lions during the first two quarters of 2011. 124 seals and/or sea lions were killed in the first quarter, and 92 in the second quarter representing more than a two-fold increase over the same period in 2010 and a four-fold increase over 2009. This unusually high interaction with seals and sea lions was most evident in Quatsino Sound, located on the Northwest tip of Vancouver Island, which witnessed marine mammals move into the area at unprecedented numbers this past winter.
Predator control authorization for salmon farms is included in the Finfish Aquaculture License issued by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO). As detailed in this license, a farmer may only take lethal action as a last resort against a particularly aggressive and persistent individual marine predator if it presents imminent danger to the facility or human life and only after all reasonable measures have been exhausted (acoustic deterrents are prohibited).
Although preliminary third quarter numbers are far lower at about 5 lethal interactions, MHC is taking steps to address the matter. "While we need to prevent damage to our nets and the potential risk of escapes, these unusually high lethal interactions with marine mammals cannot continue" states James Gaskill, MHC's Production Director, "and in response we have invested in additional protector netting at high risk farms that will reduce or eliminate these interactions."
The nets, referred to as winter predator guards, encompass the entire farm and provide a first wall of defense against marine predators. They are constructed of high density polyethylene and include a stainless steel core and will cost $250,000 to outfit each farm site. They will be in place prior to the winter season when seals and sea lions begin to move into the area.
Fisheries scientists suggest that changing ocean conditions and increase in seal and sea lion populations have resulted in the shifting of migratory patterns of these marine mammals to areas further north such as Quatsino Sound.
"Marine users such as commercial fisheries, aquaculture, tourism and transport are all finding ways to accommodate this increase in marine mammal interactions," comments Clare Backman, MHC's Sustainability Programs Director. "It's imperative that we take all necessary steps to eliminate lethal interactions."
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The Finfish Aquaculture License can be viewed here: http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/aquaculture/licence-permis/docs/licence-cond-permis-mar-eng.pdf
Public reporting of marine mammal interactions at BC salmon farms can be viewed here: http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/aquaculture/reporting-rapports/mar_mamm-eng.htm
2011 US Wild Fisheries National Bycatch Report can be viewed here (Canadian wild fisheries bycatch is not made publicly available): http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/by_catch/bycatch_nationalreport.htm
NOAA Marine Mammal Stock Assessment Reports: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/sars/species.htm
Media Contact: Clare Backman, Sustainability Programs Director: 250-850-3276 (7258)
$500,000 for two nets at farm sites
Courier-Islander, Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Marine Harvest Canada says it will spend $500,000 at two farm sites in the Quatsino area to ensure that lethal interactions with seals and sea lions are drastically reduced, if not eliminated.
MHC said they experienced higher than normal culls of seals and sea lions during the first two quarters of 2011. MHC said one hundred and twenty four seals and/or sea lions were killed in the first quarter, and 92 in the second quarter representing more than a two-fold increase over the same period in 2010 and a four-fold increase over 2009. This unusually high interaction with seals and sea lions was most evident in Quatsino Sound, located on the Northwest tip of Vancouver Island, which witnessed marine mammals move into the area at unprecedented numbers this past winter.
Predator control authorization for salmon farms is included in the Finfish Aquaculture License issued by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO). As detailed in this license, a farmer may only take lethal action as a last resort against a particularly aggressive and persistent individual marine predator if it presents imminent danger to the facility or human life and only after all reasonable measures have been exhausted (acoustic deterrents are prohibited).
Although preliminary third quarter numbers are far lower at about 5 lethal interactions, MHC is taking steps to address the matter.
"While we need to prevent damage to our nets and the potential risk of escapes, these unusually high lethal interactions with marine mammals cannot continue," said James Gaskill, MHC's Production Director, "and in response we have invested in additional protector netting at high risk farms that will reduce or eliminate these interactions."
The nets, referred to as winter predator guards, encompass the entire farm and provide a first wall of defense against marine predators. They are constructed of high density polyethylene and include a stainless steel core and will cost $250,000 to outfit each farm site. They will be in place prior to the winter season when seals and sea lions begin to move into the area.
"Marine users such as commercial fisheries, aquaculture, tourism and transport are all finding ways to accommodate this increase in marine mammal interactions," said Clare Backman, MHC's Sustainability Programs Director. "It's imperative that we take all necessary steps to eliminate lethal interactions."
Salmon farm installs netting to limit need to shoot invading animals
By Judith Lavoie, Postmedia News, October 19, 2011
VICTORIA — The largest salmon farming company in B.C. is installing thick netting around its fish farms in an effort to reduce the number of marine mammals killed.
Marine Harvest Canada is using winter predator guards, made of high density polyethylene with a stainless steel core, around farms in areas such as Quatsino Sound, where the number of seals and sea lions killed jumped dramatically this year.
The nets, which cost $250,000 each, will encircle entire farms.
"While we need to prevent damage to our nets and the potential risk of escapes, these unusually high lethal interactions with marine mammals cannot continue," said James Gaskill, MHC production director.
Shootings and accidental drownings at fish farms were made public for the first time last month by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. Critics were shocked by the numbers.
Marine Harvest killed 124 animals — including two Steller sea lions — during the first three months of the year and 92 in the second quarter.
Salmon farmers are allowed to shoot seals and sea lions that try to get into net pens. The company says the figures represent a twofold increase over last year and fourfold increase over 2009, probably because of an enormous increase in the number of marine mammals in areas such as Quatsino Sound.
A complaint by environmental activists from five countries, asking the U.S. to ban imports of salmon from farms where marine mammals are killed, is being reviewed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
"NOAA will respond to the organizations who wrote the letter. It would not be appropriate to discuss the response before it has been officially provided," said spokeswoman Christine Patrick.
The U.S Marine Mammal Protection Act prohibits the intentional killing of marine mammals in commercial fishing operations, including fish farms.
Last year, NOAA Fisheries said it was looking at establishing standards to determine which commercial fish products comply with the act's import provisions.
The proposed rules are now being reviewed and will go for public comment before being finalized.
Mary Ellen Walling, B.C. Salmon Farmers Association executive director, said reducing the number of marine mammals killed is a high priority for salmon farmers and the request to the NOAA from environmental organizations does not look at the whole picture.
"While interaction numbers for Canadian wild fisheries or other food producers aren't reported publicly, as they are for salmon farmers, they are (reported) in the U.S. and we see they are facing similar challenges," Walling said.
