RE: NANFA-- How soon is now?

Jay DeLong (thirdwind_at_att.net)
Mon, 8 Jul 2002 21:09:40 -0700

> A Canadian biologist
> presented what he's found about the escape of non-native Atlantic salmon
> from aquaculture operations in British Columbia over the past 15
> years. The
> government and industry don't want to talk about it, of course,
> but Atlantic
> salmon have now become well-established in many rivers on
> Vancouver Island and probably the BC mainland.

I'm guessing that was John Volpe from Univ of Victoria. He's been right on
it and done the important field studies. First response from the
aquaculture industry was "They can't escape". They did. Then it was "They
can't survive". They did. Then it was "They can't compete". They did.
Then it was "They can't breed". They did.

> It's all about money, of course, since the aquaculture industry
> has about 10
> times the cash value of wild-caught fishes. Atlantic salmon is
> now a fad in
> Japan, apparently (Ed Venn?), and the Japanese are willing to bid up the
> price for farm-raised Atlantics from BC, Canada. I would urge everyone on
> this list to avoid aquacultured Atlantic salmon, especially that
> produced in BC. This biz is badly twisting the original ecosystem.

I don't buy Atlantic salmon anymore, but I don't think a stop-buying
approach will work. I'll take your advice a step further: Stop thinking
cheaper is better. Atlantic salmon are yummy and cheaper in stores than
wild-caught fish, so therefore are quite popular with consumers. If no one
buys farm-raised fish the industry will fold. Who is going to feed the
world then? One result will be that wild stocks already on the decline will
get slammed and never recover. I think we should encourage aquaculture now
and in the future. I just think we need to hold the aquaculture industry to
higher standards-- don't allow escapees, treat effluent, and more-- and be
willing to pay higher prices for their fish. The technology is there but
expensive.

--
Jay DeLong
Olympia, WA
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