Fish Farms
Fish farm moored in Herbert Inlet--Clayoquot Sound, British Columbia. If you’ve cruised through British Columbia, you’ve probably seen a fish farm or two, even if you didn’t know it. The farms are moored in various bays all around the British Columbia coastline. The farms are strange looking contraptions, usually consisting of some buoys, floats that hold the upper part of the pens, and a small floating building for the employees.
Below the floats are pens where thousands of salmon are cultivated. At first, local species were farmed, but over the years farmers have switched to Atlantic salmon because they are easier to farm. The salmon farming practice started in the ‘70s and grew steadily through the ‘80s. Farmers lease their “plots” from the provincial government. Much of the capital for the farms was raised on the speculative Vancouver Stock Exchange. Over the years, there have been many bankruptcies and consolidations in the industry. Salmon caught jigging near Brooks Pennisula--West Coast Vanouver Island.
There are about 100 salmon farms in British Columbia today. About 20 of these are in Clayoquot Sound, the remainder are spread around Vancouver Island with the bulk in Desolation Sound and the Broughton Archipelago. Another 400 – 600 farms are proposed for deployment. Most of the proposed farms are planned for the stretch of coast between the north end of Vancouver Island and Prince Rupert. However, in 1995 the British Columbia government placed a moratorium on fish farms due to environmental and health concerns. The provincial government recently announced a decision to relocate “problem farms”. Farms that are currently located in sensitive areas will be relocated to less sensitive areas.
In the last thirty years, Canada has become the fourth-largest producer of farmed salmon worldwide. Farmed salmon are common in grocery stores and restaurants in the US and Canada. Most consumers probably have no idea if they are eating wild salmon or a farmed Atlantic salmon. I know our nearby Costco stocks Atlantic salmon at reasonable prices. Fishfish farm moored in Herbert Inlet--Clayoquot Sound, British Columbia.
Like most things having to do with salmon, this is a heated issue. The case against farming essentially says that the farmed fish are devastating wild salmon stocks, other sea life and even have the potential to harm humans. The farmed salmon are raised in crowded pens. They are fed either an anchovy meal or a special enzyme cocktail in order to beef up. The crowded environment stresses the fish, making a good recipe for disease. Farmed salmon are treated with antibiotics and other drugs, but infectious diseases can spread to untreated wild salmon. Disease spreads either as the wild salmon swim by the pens, or when Atlantic salmon escape. So many Atlantic salmon escape every year that the Atlantic salmon is now identified in sport-fishing regulations. In addition, due to the effluent and noisemakers, the pens scare away other sea life. You may not be able to hear the 210-decibel Airmar noisemaking device through the water, but the whales, seals and porpoises certainly can.
The case for farming is primarily an economic one. In the past, most of economic sustenance in the coastal areas of British Columbia has come from natural resources—fishing, logging and mining. Anyone from the northwest knows that these industries are in a severe decline. I think fish farming was seen initially as a viable economic and political alternative. Today the fish farming business apparently accounts for C$200 million in revenues. Some believe that the fish farming business could be one of British Columbia’s biggest industries within the next ten years. In addition, farmed salmon is in demand by consumers. Many restaurants only serve farmed salmon because of the predictable availability and reasonable price. Farmers make this argument, and also state the fact that those against fish farming are overstating their case. According to the farmers, much of the information propagated by those opposed to farming is highly biased by misstatements and unproven conjecture. Fishing Boat in front of Raza Passage, Desolation Sound. 5,380ft Mount Hayes in background. Summit is a mere two nautical miles from the water.
One has to believe that a similar type of evolution and debate occurred between 1850 and 1900 in the US with the cattle market. At first cattle roamed free, but eventually most cattle were penned up. Ranchers were able to bring more food to the growing eastern market, while incurring fewer costs. Unfortunately, fencing the cattle and overproduction brought a whole suit of unwanted side effects. After a particularly cruel winter, the industry had a huge fall-out and many firms went out of business. The industry eventually revived, but on a smaller more sustainable scale. Like fish farming, cattle ranching was initially started by a swashbuckling group of rough entrepreneurs motivated for the most part in making a quick buck. Eventually cattle ranching became a business (that you may still not agree with), with acceptance by mainstream society and hopefully more of a long-term conscience.
I have no doubt that given population growth, there is an increasing demand for food in the world. I am sure farmed salmon provide one way to generate that food. My bet is that eventually the market, societal pressures and science will sort things out, and farmed salmon will be able to coexist with wild salmon.











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