Wild Atlantic salmon 'under threat' from escaped farmed fish and sea lice

[CHIMO]

Fish farms are being frequently hit by parasite infestations and mass escapes that threaten the survival of the UK's wild salmon stocks, a leading anglers' group has said.

Official inspections have revealed that scores of salmon farms around the Scottish coast have had infestations of the sea lice parasite that breached recommended levels or have led to fish suffering wounds or an early death.

The Salmon and Trout Association (S&TA) said that official reports, released to the group under freedom of information powers, showed that the government's inspection regime was failing and was too lenient – a claim disputed by the Scottish Salmon Producers' Organisation.

It said their evidence raised significant questions about the common practice of routinely warning fish farms, often up to 10 days in advance, that an inspection was to take place. This often allowed salmon farms to take action on sea lice and repair damaged nets before the inspectors arrived.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/apr/07/wild-atlantic-salmon-under-threat-fish-farms

Any one interested in an investigation of salmon fish farms should listen to the Ideas program of April 6, 011 on CBC. It was really informative and interesting.


Saving Salmon

For almost forty years, Alexandra Morton studied orcas near the northern tip of Vancouver Island. Those whales eat sockeye salmon. When Morton learned that these fish were endangered, she decided to save the salmon, in order to protect her whales.

Last fall, during an unanticipated and completely amazing run of Sockeye salmon, Paul Kennedy visited with Alexandra Morton near the shore of a feeder stream of the upper Fraser River, in Northern British Columbia.

http://www.cbc.ca/ideas/episodes/2011/04/06/saving-salmon-1/
http://www.cbc.ca/ideas/episodes/2011/04/06/saving-salmon-1/editor-content.html?cs=utf-8#