Fish Farm Fiasco

April-May 2002

This is an article from WaveLength Magazine, available in print in North America and globally on the web.
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by Ted Leather

Suzanne Connell is the Georgia Strait Alliance's fish farm campaigner. Photo: Laurie MacBride

The BC government has decided to throw caution to the wind and lift the province's seven-year moratorium on finfish farming (salmon and non-salmon, marine and fresh water). This will mean that as of April 30th there will be no limit on the number of fish farms in the province and as a result, the industry is expected to at least double or triple in size.

The government defends its decision to expand fish farming by promising new "standards" for fish escapes, fish waste and fish health. But not surprisingly, almost all of the "New Era" Liberal government's significant policy decisions have been developed to suit the needs and interests of the fish farming industry. For example, the proposed waste management regulation establishes a high tolerance level for pollutants and the anticipated regulation on fish escapes is even weaker than the existing version.

The government's shortsighted decision to expand fish farming has caused the level of public concern around this issue to reach an all time high. Many people are concerned about increased threats to wild salmon stocks. Every year thousands of farmed fish, including non-native Atlantic salmon, escape into the wild where they compete with wild Pacific salmon for habitat, disturb wild spawning beds and eat food that is required by juvenile salmon. As recently as January an estimated 8,000 adult Atlantics and an unknown number of juveniles escaped from the Pacific National Aquaculture site on Saranac Island in Clayoquot Sound.

If the industry is allowed to expand, wild salmon stocks will also become more threatened by diseases that can spread from fish farms. In February of this year, for example, the provincial government confirmed seven cases of deadly Infectious Hematopoietic Necrosis (IHN) outbreaks on Vancouver Island. In one case 1.6 million Atlantic salmon infected with IHN were removed from a Heritage Aquaculture farm site and composted at a facility near Courtenay. Questions about the removal, transport and disposal of diseased fish also raise many environmental concerns.

An important issue related to the lifting of the moratorium involves BC's rapidly growing tourism and recreation sector. People from around the world come to this province to experience its wild and undeveloped coastline and to enjoy its whales, wild salmon and other marine life. With increased industrialization due to fish farms, more of the province's pristine marine environment will be lost. For kayakers, boaters and other recreational users this will mean fewer stretches of shoreline and less access to sheltered anchorages.

The government's decision to expand netcage aquaculture in BC is ill-thought and irresponsible. Contrary to what industry and government would like us to believe, the problems of fish farming are increasing. Time is of the essence: before April 30, please write or fax Premier Gordon Campbell, your own MLA, and John van Dongen (BC Minister of Agriculture, Food & Fisheries) to urge them to maintain the moratorium and to adopt a deadline for requiring all fish farms to be converted to safe, closed containment systems, preferably on land. (Ed. Note: US citizens are also encouraged to fax the Premier: 250-387-0087.)

To find out more or to get involved, contact the Georgia Strait Alliance.

Suzanne Connell joined the staff of the Georgia Strait Alliance in January as Salmon Aquaculture Campaign Coordinator. You can reach her at GSA's Victoria office, 250-381- 8321 or suzanne@georgiastrait.org. Much more information on this topic is available at www.georgiastrait.org.

Editor's Note: May we point out that your visit to small communities (eg. Port Hardy, Alert Bay, etc.) helps them achieve more environmentally sustainable economic activity than fish farming. We all have a role to play in keeping our marine environment healthy.