What's all the fuss about salmon farms?
Courier-Islander September 2, 2011
When I retired here, about three years ago, I was not prepared to hear all this negative talk about the salmon farms in the area.
I have been environmentally aware since I started walking, having grown up with a grandfather who was a forester. We were taught to respect the forest, the water, the animals...to preserve nature!
This salmon farm issue was getting to me, so I called my friends in Norway, in Scotland and Chile...I knew they all dealt with these farms for years. All of them told me the same thing, "Why should there be a problem, there isn't. The demand for salmon is so great, we would never be able to fish it all out of the ocean.''
O.K., so what's the constant "TRARA'' about in this area? Is it political? Does it have anything to do with money? It seems to me that it does. Having lived in the YT\Alaska region for many years, I've heard and seen lots (but that is another matter), however, it does involve big money and fish farming.
I decided that I would take a trip out to one of the farms and check it out, satisfy my curiosity. What I encountered was unbelievable! The place was so clean, I would have eaten a meal off that floor. The staff was very well educated, and incredibly caring. They answered every question with patience, and took the time to show every aspect of the operation, even the lab.
The salmon in their various stages seemed very happy, jumping around...and everything was clean, and very much secured, so they can't escape (that seems to be one issue the protesters have).
Now, I want to make it clear, I am no expert in this field, just an ordinary, caring person, living in this most beautiful area. I informed myself on the website under Fisheries and Oceans Canada..Myth and Realities about Salmon Farming at: http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/media/back-fiche/2005/salmon-eng.htm
These farms are under such strict scrutiny, compared to our hog-farms, feedlots, chicken barns, etc. it is unbelievable! It seems to me, if a worker at the farm as much as sneezes, or a fly lands on the fish, it has to go into a report.
They have underwater cameras, they take samples for the lab constantly...they have come a long way since the earlier years, they are so much more advanced and so very careful.
There are huge oceans out there, and these tiny farms surely won't harm these waters. Why don't we redirect our energy to the much more serious matters, regarding our oceans...like we only hear when something big happens out there... the many, many other issues are not much talked about, it's always ''Hush, Hush''.
Well, there is nothing hush, hush, going on at the salmon farms...it is totally not at all possible to sweep anything under the table there.
So...if you prefer the taste of the wild salmon, that is anybody's choice...but do not pull a face when farmed salmon enters a conversation, because it is clean and safe to eat... and it tastes delicious.
At my parties, when I serve smoked farmed salmon, nobody ever asked me where it came from...they all love it, and it is the first thing gone from the hors-d' oeuvre plate!
Relax and enjoy!!!
H. Becker
