Fish farms should be on land: report
Establishing tank-based salmon-growing operations would be profitable and is 'a must do,' author says
Derrick Penner
May 7th, 2010
The Vancouver Sun
A B.C.-based conservation group has put forward a business case to move salmon farms from their contested existence in the ocean onto land.
The SOS Marine Conservation Foundation, on Thursday, released a report that analyzes land-based systems and concludes contained tank-based farms, without ocean pollution concerns or fears of transferring sea lice to wild salmon stocks, would be profitable.
"I would say [establishing land-based farms] is a must do," in a province that needs to develop new industry, report author Andrew Wright said in an interview.
The fish-farming industry does have an opportunity to grow, Wright added, "but because of the current mode of practice, it has no social licence to expand."
The B.C. industry produces some 80,000 tonnes of salmon a year, but its growth has remained stalled over environmental concerns.
Read the full story in The Vancouver Sun
Read related stories:
- The Globe and Mail; May 6, 2010; "Land-based salmon farms make economic sense, report finds"
- CBC Radio, BC Almanac; May 12, 2010; Dr. Andrew Wright interviewed on BC Almanac. Listen to the full BC Almanac podcast (interview is in the last 10 minutes of the program).
- North Island Gazette; May 13, 2010; "On-land fish farms practical, says report"
Posted May 7th, 2010
