Even while the retail consortium reports continuing strong food price inflation this morning, it’s worth remembering how salmon prices have fallen over recent years.

What was a luxury has become commonplace in the 40 years since the first commercial haul of 14 tonnes of salmon from cages in Loch Ailort near Fort William.

Celebrating that anniversary with its annual report today, the Scottish Salmon Producers Association has set out a goal of 4% growth per year over this decade, increasing production from 144,000 tonnes last year to 210,000 tonnes by 2020.

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Note: Newswire stories are provided as a courtesy of OceanDoctor.org. Content of these articles is provided by external sources.

Scottish government figures showed that over the past five years, the industry used a broader range of chemicals and more of them.

Campaigners claim the figures are evidence the natural parasite is becoming resistant to the treatments.

Fish lice have been blamed for damaging salmon and sea trout stocks.

According to the government’s figures, the use of chemicals used to fight the parasite increased significantly between 2005 and 2009.

Andrew Wallace, from the Association of Salmon Boards, said that when young fish migrate from rivers to the sea they can be susceptible to naturally occurring sea lice.

He added: “Now in normal circumstances there aren’t that many lice around, and the lice that are around originate from existing wild fish populations.

“But if you have a million farmed fish in a cage on the migratory route of those fish, then suddenly you’re encountering an entirely different scale of problem.

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Note: Newswire stories are provided as a courtesy of OceanDoctor.org. Content of these articles is provided by external sources.

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First Nations' totem art in British Columbia depicting a man with salmon. Representatives from the Canadian First Nations participated in the Vancouver workshop toward the goal of developing a more sustainable salmon industry for the region.

Serious environmental problems from traditional forms of marine finfish aquaculture — especially salmon aquaculture — are well-documented. The use of “net pens” in coastal areas around the world have resulted in local pollution, spread of disease and parasites, and escapement of non-native species. These problems are especially evident in the fjords of British Columbia where dozens of large-scale Atlantic Salmon farms have led to public outcry following the publication of peer-reviewed scientific papers demonstrating that nearby wild salmon populations are becoming infected with “sea lice,” (small parasitic crustaceans) from the captive salmon.

On April 26 and 27, 2010, Simon Fraser University’s Centre for Coastal Studies partnered with Tides Canada and the SOS Marine Conservation Foundation to host a workshop to explore the viability of land-based closed-containment recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS). Over 60 participants from industry, government, investors, academia, First Nations, and environmental and conservation foundations (including 1planet1ocean, long an advocate for RAS or “next-generation” aquaculture systems) came together to examine the current status closed-containment aquaculture, discuss potential barriers to creating this new growth industry in British Columbia (B.C.) and develop an action plan to aid in moving this industry forward. There is now consensus that it is time to explore this technology further as a mechanism to establish B.C. as a leader in creating a globally renowned, stable and viable aquaculture industry. Already, major Canada food retailer Overwaitea, a participant in the workshop, is sourcing salmon from a small closed-containment system for Coho Salmon in Washington State and indicated during the workshop that it would purchase much more if there were a supply.

A report just released by Canada’s SOS Marine Conservation Foundation concludes that land-based, closed-containment RAS for growing salmon in B.C. would be profitable and could sustain an aquaculture industry that is both sustainable and profitable. RAS systems recirculate their water and have no contact with natural water bodies or wild fish populations and therefore do not create problems of disease, parasites (sea lice) or escapement typical of traditional in-water net pen fish farming. The report demonstrates that closed containment systems can be made even more profitable by growing hydroponic vegetables using excess nitrogen waste from the fish.

On June 7, 2010, Tides Canada, in collaboration with Simon Fraser University’s Centre for Coastal Studies, will be hosting an invitation-only educational workshop (see details below) designed for socially responsible investors to learn more about the technical and economic feasibility of land-based closed-containment salmon aquaculture, the opportunities and challenges, and the initiatives underway to demonstrate this new technology. In addition, input from the investment community is sought to better identify what is required to bring investors together to move this industry forward at a commercial scale.

Learn More:

SOS Marine Conservation Foundation Report: Technologies for Viable Salmon Aquaculture – An Examination of Land-Based Closed Containment Aquaculture by Dr. Andrew S. Wright

Vancouver Sun: Fish Farms Should Be On Land

CBC Radio (Audio) : Dr. Andrew Wright interviewed on BC Almanac (12 May 2010)

Next-Generation Aquaculture: The Future of Fishing on Planet Earth

WORKSHOP ANNOUNCEMENT The Technical and Economic Feasibility of Closed-Containment Salmon Aquaculture: An Educational Workshop for Socially-Responsible Investors June 7, 2010 Vancouver, British Columbia Request an Invitation and Meeting Agenda Invest in Building British Columbia’s New Sustainable Aquaculture Industry Tides Canada, in collaboration with Simon Fraser University’s Centre for Coastal Studies, is hosting an invitation-only educational workshop designed for socially-responsible investors to learn more about the technical and economic feasibility of land-based closed-containment salmon aquaculture, the opportunities and challenges, and the initiatives underway to demonstrate this new technology. Contact Us for More Information

Produced by Canadian film-maker Damien Gillis, the film reveals the problems caused by open net cage salmon farms worldwide, including the pervasive nature of the issues plaguing salmon aquaculture and features testimonials by witnesses discussing the environmental and socio-economic damage caused by poorly managed salmon farms.

The film features ghillie Brian Fraser from Scotland; John Mulcahy from Save The Swilly in Ireland; Orri Vigfusson from the North Atlantic Salmon Fund in Iceland; Alexandra Morton and Dr Daniel Pauly from British Columbia; Dr Matthias Gorny from Oceana in Chile as well as Sven Helge Pedersen, King Harald and Vegard Heggem in Norway.

Additional events accompanying the launch are focused in British Columbia:

• 29 Hour Canadian First Nations “Fast”
  Beginning on Feb 15th at 5am PT, and ending at 10 am PT on Feb 16th, Canadian First Nations members will fast for 29 hours representing the 29 fish farm Tenures in the territory of the Musgamagw-Tsawataineuk at the Vancouver office of the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs. More information (PDF)
• Rally to Save Wild Salmon
  On Saturday February 20th at 1PM supporters of wild salmon will rally in Vancouver’s Vanier Park. For more details, please visit www.WildSalmonCircle.com.

The Future of the Salmon We Eat

It has become clear that present methods of farming salmon are not sustainable, jeopardizing human health along with wild salmon stocks. Within just a few years, the salmon you eat might be fully grown on land using next-generation aquaculture technology using recirculation technology. Already in large-scale production in Europe and Asia for many finfish species, recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) recirculate nearly 99% of their water, have no contact with the marine environment, use no chemicals or antibiotics and can be located close to the marketplace, reducing carbon miles for transport and resulting in a much fresher fish. Pittsburgh-based Aquaculture Developments, LLC is working with its partners overseas to bring this technology to the Americas.

Led by Food and Water Watch, 2009 saw the creation of the Alliance for Sustainable Aquaculture (ASA), a collaborative group of researchers, business owners, non-profit organizations and interested members of the public working to further Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS) in the United States through research, education, legislative work and advocacy.  ASA members believe that RAS, closed-looped and biosecure aquaculture operations, are the best option to meet our country’s need for a clean, green, sustainable, healthy seafood source to supplement our wild fisheries.

What You Can Do Now

Avoid farmed salmon (unless it’s grown using RAS technology) and opt for sustainably-caught wild salmon or an alternative like farmed Arctic char which is grown using RAS. Of course, that’s easier said than done. Information is the key and fortunately, there’s an app for that. If you have an iPhone, you can download the free Seafood Watch app from iTunes. You can also download the Seafood Watch wallet card in PDF format directly from its author at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Most important: Ask questions! Your grocer and restaurateur need to hear from you and know that you care. Ask them what they’re serving and let them know you want to eat sustainably.

Download the FREE iPhone App

Download the Seafood Watch Pocket Guide

The Pure Salmon Campaign, is a global project with partners in the U.S., Canada, Europe, Australia and Chile.  In November 2009, 1planet1ocean president, Dr. David E. Guggenheim participated in a panel discussion during the Washington, DC premiere of Farmed Salmon Exposed.

On Thursday, November 12th, 2009 at 11:00 AM, 1planet1ocean president Dr. David E. Guggenheim will join a panel discussion following the Washington, DC premiere of the new documentary, Farmed Salmon Exposed: The Global Reach of the Norwegian Salmon Farming Industry, produced by the Pure Salmon Campaign. The 20-minute film illustrates the major environmental problems and impact of global salmon farming industry operations in Canada, Chile, Ireland, Norway, and Scotland.

A panel discussion immediately follows the film, including the following panelists:

• Chef Barton Seaver: Washington, DC chef, writer speaker, advocate – www.bartonseaver.org
• Marianne Cufone: Fish Campaign Director, Food and Water Watch
• Dr. David E. Guggenheim: President, 1planet1ocean, a project of The Ocean Foundation
• Chilean Enrique Yuri: Former employee of the Chilean salmon farming industry

When: Thursday, November 12th at 11:00 AM (lunch will be served)
Where: E Street Cinema, 555 11th St NW, Washington, DC 20004

RSVP for this event by Tuesday November 10th to Sam Haltiwanger at Shaltiwanger@pewtrusts.org or 202-887-1353.

Please feel free to forward this invite to your members and local networks.

PREVIEW

The Pure Salmon Campaign, is a global project with partners in the U.S., Canada, Europe, Australia and Chile, has organized one week each fall to expose the problems with the farmed salmon industry. This year, the Global Week of Action runs from November 9 – 13, 2009. As a coalition member, the Pew Environment Group joins other organizations this year in calling on industry leaders to adopt more sustainable, environmentally-friendly practices.

1planet1ocean president, David E. Guggenheim was interviewed by The Green Guide about next-generation aquaculture technologies featuring land-based, recirculating, enclosed systems.

“I’m convinced that land-based recirculating systems are the future of aquaculture.,” states Guggenheim, who also consults to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based Aquaculture Developments, LLC. “These systems are being rapidly embraced in Asia and Europe as cleaner, more secure, and ultimately more profitable solutions. Unfortunately, these systems have been largely overlooked in the United States and the Americas…until now.” Read the National Geographic Green Guide Article…

The Americas are now taking notice of the benefits of next-generation recirculating aquaculture systems, evidenced especially by Canada’s British Columbian legislature committee on sustainable aquaculture which has recommended an end to salmon farming as it is now practiced in Canada’s northwest, requiring that all such facilities convert to land-based, closed recirculating systems within 5 years. Read the CBC Article…