New research offers more evidence that open-pen salmon farming is causing "major declines in wild fish populations," according to a news release from the Coastal Alliance for Aquaculture Reform.
The release cited two reports published online in the Journal of Applied Ecology:
The first paper, co-sponsored by Watershed Watch Salmon Society, indicates that sea lice transmitted from pink salmon prey to coho predators increased infection on coho by 2 to 3 fold in salmon farming areas.
The second paper, which looked at coho salmon returns from 1975- 2007, found that infected coho in the Broughton Archipelago suffered a 7-fold decrease in productivity during a period of recurrent sea louse infestations associated with salmon farms, relative to unexposed coho populations.
The release says this is the "first ever look at impacts on coho."
"Wild coho populations throughout B.C. have been in serious decline in recent years, moreover, they are a staple of B.C.'s sport fishery," says Craig Orr of Watershed Watch Salmon Society. "This should be a much-needed wakeup call to all who value wild salmon."
The release also said:
The B.C. Salmon Farmers Association and the Conservation Coalition – both participating in the Cohen Inquiry into the decline of Fraser sockeye salmon – presented opposing arguments to the Commissioner at a recent hearing regarding the release of disease, sea lice and stocking information from salmon farms along the known migration routes of Fraser River sockeye.
The Conservation Coalition argued that the release of these data are critical to understanding the full impact of open net pen salmon farming on wild salmon that pass by the affected farms and a decision is pending. Connors' latest work argues strongly for full disclosure from industry and government with regards to fish health data on salmon farms.
Meanwhile, biologist Alexandra Morton has been blogging the Adams River and other sockeye runs before she and other wild-salmon supporters paddle down the Fraser to the Cohen Inquiry into the crash of the 2009 sockeye run.
Crawford Kilian is a contributing editor of The Tyee.
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Sask Resident
1 year ago
Do you trust these studies?
The results of these studies were know before they began and, surprise, they were correct. The researchers may have a point but the studies were so bias that they have to be taken with a lb of salt. Also, how do the researchers know which are exposed and unexposed coho populations? GPS on all of them?
blackie
1 year ago
desperation
Well, CAAR had to do something dramatic. All the previous extinction theories and dire warnings of imploding salmon runs are looking a little lame right now, given record sockeye returns and robust pink returns. Naturally the next try would be to link farm-generated lice to Coho.
It will be interesting to see if the media -- sucked in several times now by all this anti-farm BS -- gives these latest studies much play. I figure it will be a few weeks before the real scientists debunk this latest salvo.
I wonder what they'll invent next.
snert
1 year ago
It still wouldn't hurt.....
to go to closed pen farms.
Illahie
1 year ago
It amases me
That Crawford writes about fisheries seemingly without consulting anyone knowledgeable in the field.
Is he really that gullible?
Andy
1 year ago
If at first you don't succeed...
First it was pink salmon that were supposed to go 'bye-bye'. They didn't.
The they said sockeye are going extinct. We all know that didnt happen (they were about 30 million out this year).
Now, of course, it makes sense to go to another species of salmon. Try, try, try again.
Are these people actually biologists? Rhetorical question, don't waste time answering.
I googled "salmon extinction", and got this beauty - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPb7a954ssk&feature=player_embedded
Andy
Frank
1 year ago
We'll see
Of course next year (and the year after that) when the salmon numbers are down again we'll hear how its not from fishing or disease or climate change... it'll be because of seals or whales or something as if these species arrived from Mars 10 years ago.
Salmon Supporter
1 year ago
Easy to skip the details
It is important to be mindful of the details that back up statements such as the warnings about Pinks in the Broughton and the Fraser River sockeye.
When CAAR warned of the potential extinction of Pinks in the Broughton, they also stipulated "if nothing was done". This was based upon independent science. Well, something was done- the Broughton Archipelago Monitoring Program. Fish farm companies agreed to make a serious effort to reduce sea lice levels (albeit with pesticides) and it made a difference. Sea lice levels were reduced through this emergency measure and low and behold- the Pinks bounced back!
As for the Fraser River sockeye, a little biology lesson. The Fraser sockeye are actually 40 or so genetically distinct "families' that usually have four year life cycles. This years run was comprised of several families, the biggest and most robust being the Adams Lake group. This group was expected to have a strong showing this year because of it's four year "cyclic dominance", but nobody knows why this occurs. Other families aren't so strong and others like Cultus and Sakinaw are recommended to be listed as endangered by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC). A true recovery of Fraser sockeye would require recovery of all 40 families.
Andy
1 year ago
Easier to pretend to know the details
Dear CAAR member calling themselves "Salmon Supporter". When giving details, be sure not to "miss" some. For example:
1. Pesticides aren't used by salmon farmers. A drug milled into the feed is, and at levels that hardly matter. Started in 2000 and are about the same today - not really a change; http://www.al.gov.bc.ca/ahc/fish_health/Slice_1996-2008.pdf.
2. Sea lice has been reducing steadily on pink salmon for about 5-6 years now. No one can prove that has anything to do with salmon farming, but we can say for sure that "emergency measures" you speak about never really happened. And in CAAR's own words, nothing happened until 2009 anyways (that year had nothing to do with last years record high return of pink salmon). http://bit.ly/B9zoM
3. This years return of pink salmon in the Broughton Archipelago went to see with some of the lowest recorded sea lice on them. http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/science/aquaculture/pinksalmon-saumonrose/results-resultats/index-eng.htm And "low and behold" they didn't "bounce back". Kinda kicks the "cause and effect" theory in the ass.
By the way, for full transparency, I work in the Broughton Archipelago as a fish farmer, but you can also call me "Salmon Supporter".
But, hey, I'm glad to hear the you think all the salmon returns are now good because of what salmon farmers are doing well. I'll take that compliment. Thanks!
Salmon Supporter
1 year ago
Or is it easier to obscure the details?
1. Yes, pesticides are used by salmon farmers. It is commonly known as SLICE and it is a pesticide. You are right that it is put into the feed.
2. Preliminary results of the emergency measures in the Broughton, including fallowing and SLICE applications, show that sea lice populations are declining. Yes, we have to wait for the final studies to be completed but other independent science has shown us that background populations of sea lice are higher around fish farms.
3. It appears that the emergency measures may be working then.
Who said all of the returns are now good? Certainly not me but it does serve your argument to make it appear as though I had. SLICE is not a healthy, sustainable or effective means of reducing sea lice over the long term. Fallowing is only an interim measure until the net cages are removed from the ocean and the industry is moved to closed containment.
Andy
1 year ago
No, just easier to tell the truth
Dear CAAR member calling themselves "salmon supporter" but not admitting it:
I was wondering how long it would take you to say the words "independant science" and "closed containment". You did. So, I guess we're done conversing. You've made your mind up, farming fish should be done on land, well done.
So it really doesn't matter to you what science tells us or if wild fish tell us everything is OK - you have a goal in yer head.
I love the fact you keep repeating the words "emergency measures". I'm here right now and have been for a few years, and I don't see the "emergency" you refer to.
But one last thing (and I keep providing you links, so hopefully you're actually looking), Slice is not a pesticide. You can keep repeating it, but it doesn't make it true. http://bit.ly/cdgFkH
Andy
Illahie
1 year ago
Andy
It is great to finally have a contribution from a representative of the fish farm industry.
But I have to ask where the heck have you and your fellow farmers been all of this time?
Why have you let all the misinformation, lies and distortions be repeated time after time without defending yourselves?
Thanks for standing up to the plate.