Media Releases & Recent Articles

"Salmon farms and wild stock can co-exist"

Prince Rupert Daily News, Page 4, 14-Jun-2005

By James Boland

Dear Editor,

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) officials held a media briefing Friday June 10th to release the 2004 sea lice monitoring results in the Broughton Archipelago and Knight Inlet.

Adult pink salmon returns to the Broughton in 2004 were exceptional, the highest in 50 years. Comparison of juvenile pink and chum salmon infected and non-infected with sea lice in 2004 did not indicate any evidence of impact on the condition or size of these fish. This is in spite of an increased percentage of infected fish and an increase in the number of lice per fish, as compared to 2003 results.

There are a number of factors which influence wild fish survival, including climate change, predator and prey abundance, fishing as well as the impacts of naturally-occurring disease and parasites. Of all Pacific salmon species, pink salmon populations are traditionally the most variable.

Sea lice are a naturally-occurring parasite that have existed on wild ocean fish like salmon, stickleback and herring for centuries. Over this time, Pacific salmon species have developed a natural tolerance to this parasite. While salmon farms may contribute sea lice to the environment in the absence of treatment on the farm, the significance of this to the health of wild salmon populations is not clear.

Since 2003, DFO has been monitoring sea lice and their possible effect on wild salmon in the Broughton Archipelago. The source of sea lice on wild juvenile salmon is a complicated question. We are looking at all causes of sea lice on wild salmon, including environmental factors that influence sea lice abundance like water temperatures and salinity. This work is strengthening our understanding of the marine ecosystem in the Broughton area and will serve to improve our management of wild and farmed salmon.

DFO is continuing to fund and support collaborative research in this complex area in order to ensure that the best science possible underpins management decisions on salmon farming. Our scientific assessment is that with proper management, sea lice can be carefully controlled on the farm. It is our view that salmon farms and wild stocks can co-exist.

James Boland, Acting Regional Director-General, Pacific Region, Fisheries and Oceans Canada