Mass Farmed Salmon Die-Offs on the Rise
A new study has found that mass die-offs of farmed salmon are increasing around the world, with Canada experiencing some of the biggest and most frequent mortality events.
Dr. Gerald Singh, a researcher in UVic’s School of Environmental Studies and the study’s lead author, said in some cases fish farmers try to prevent sea lice with chemical treatments, but if water temperatures are elevated, oxygen drops and the combination can be deadly.
“The industry is turning more and more to expanding production in riskier settings and justifying it using different production practices,” says Dr. Gerald Singh. “We shouldn’t take innovation and interventions at their word.”
It’s time to remove ocean-polluting Atlantic salmon farms from BC waters and transition them onto land.