A Show of Support for Closed Containment Aquaculture

At their July 31 meeting, the Strathcona Regional District passed a resolution asking for a closed system aquaculture innovation and development fund to help the industry transition from open net-cage fin-fish aquaculture to closed containment system aquaculture, reports GrowFish.

“It has been scientifically proven that open net-cage fish farms can have serious negative environmental impacts, particularly on wild salmon runs,” according to the text of the resolution.

“Emerging closed containment aquaculture technologies offer the ability to separate commercially farmed fish from the natural environment limiting negative environmental impacts especially the transition of diseases and parasites between farmed and wild salmon.”

Growfish say that, copies of the resolution will be sent to Stan Hagen, Minister of Agriculture and Lands, Barry Penner, Minister of Environment, Ida Chong, Minister of Technology, Trade and Economic Development, Claire Trevena, MLA-North Island, and members of the Association of Vancouver Island Coastal Communities.

The Georgia Strait Alliance, a citizens' group lobbying to protect and restore the marine environment, applauded the decision.

“We are pleased that the Strathcona Regional District, where many of BCs open net-cage salmon farms operate, recognizes the damage being done to the ocean ecosystem and is supporting a plan that will protect the wild salmon as well as enhance local economies, ” said Ruby Berry, salmon aquaculture program director.

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