Fishy BusinessFishy Business-Anouk Ride-Anouk Ride

Jackie MillsJackie Mills

GGS-12GGS-12

Mrs. AliphatMrs. Aliphat

IntroductionIntroduction

Salmon fishing as well as other commercial fishing is becoming a Salmon fishing as well as other commercial fishing is becoming a serious problem worldwide. The effects are felt by both serious problem worldwide. The effects are felt by both consumers and producers alike. In 1995, salmon fishing, consumers and producers alike. In 1995, salmon fishing, processing and related occupations employed over 60, 000 processing and related occupations employed over 60, 000 people in the US, now only half of US salmon fishers are still people in the US, now only half of US salmon fishers are still working. working.

Nearly one in five populations are experiencing overfishing, ten Nearly one in five populations are experiencing overfishing, ten years after laws were set to make it illegal for federal fisheries years after laws were set to make it illegal for federal fisheries managers to allow fishing at unsustainably high rates, overfishing managers to allow fishing at unsustainably high rates, overfishing continues. Instead of making the tough decisions necessary to continues. Instead of making the tough decisions necessary to sustain healthy fish populations and healthy fishing communities, sustain healthy fish populations and healthy fishing communities, they have allowed political and economic pressure to outweigh they have allowed political and economic pressure to outweigh sound science in managing fisheries.sound science in managing fisheries.

““According to a Food and According to a Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimate, over 70% of the world’s estimate, over 70% of the world’s

fish species are either fully fish species are either fully exploited or depleted.”exploited or depleted.”

How is it then that salmon at How is it then that salmon at the local grocery stores is still the local grocery stores is still

in abundance and cheaper in abundance and cheaper than ever?than ever?

The answer is fish farming. Currently The answer is fish farming. Currently around a third of all fish eaten is from around a third of all fish eaten is from

farms. The World Bank predicts that fish farms. The World Bank predicts that fish farming will completely overtake fishing farming will completely overtake fishing in the next ten years. Almost all salmon in the next ten years. Almost all salmon

available is farmed.available is farmed.

Wild Salmon vs. Farmed Wild Salmon vs. Farmed SalmonSalmon

The EnvironmentThe EnvironmentAt a conference of the world’sAt a conference of the world’smarine biologists, it was concludedmarine biologists, it was concludedthat fishing, not global warming orthat fishing, not global warming orpollution, was the greatest threat pollution, was the greatest threat

to to biodiversity of marine life. The biodiversity of marine life. The

impact impact that overfishing has on our that overfishing has on our environment is extensive. By environment is extensive. By overfishing we contribute to the overfishing we contribute to the decline of sea birds and other decline of sea birds and other mammals because it is reducing mammals because it is reducing

their their food supply. Fish play an food supply. Fish play an

important important and intricate role in marine food and intricate role in marine food

webs. webs.

While salmon farms are an effective way to While salmon farms are an effective way to help reduce overfishing, they also have help reduce overfishing, they also have raised environmental and economic raised environmental and economic concerns. Many fishermen, scientists, concerns. Many fishermen, scientists, conservationists and consumers have voiced conservationists and consumers have voiced their concerns about the negative effects of their concerns about the negative effects of salmon farms on the marine environment salmon farms on the marine environment and coastal communities. These concerns and coastal communities. These concerns include: include: -the escape of millions of farmed salmon -the escape of millions of farmed salmon into the wild,into the wild,-disease transfer from farms to wild salmon,-disease transfer from farms to wild salmon,-pollution from fish waste,-pollution from fish waste,-threats to human health from the antibiotics -threats to human health from the antibiotics and artificial colorants given to farmed fish and artificial colorants given to farmed fish and,and,-the economic impacts of industrial salmon -the economic impacts of industrial salmon farming on wild salmon fisheriesfarming on wild salmon fisheries

Economic and social Economic and social benefits of salmon benefits of salmon farmingfarming Creating jobs for many peopleCreating jobs for many people Decreasing the price of all salmon Decreasing the price of all salmon

(farmed and wild)(farmed and wild) Helping to reduce hunger Helping to reduce hunger

worldwideworldwide

The Canadian Salmon IndustryThe Canadian Salmon Industry

The Canadian fishing industry is one of the The Canadian fishing industry is one of the most valuable in the world, generating $5 most valuable in the world, generating $5 billion a year and providing more than 120, billion a year and providing more than 120, 000 jobs. Export of farmed salmon is one 000 jobs. Export of farmed salmon is one of the most significant exported agricultural of the most significant exported agricultural products. With improvements in farmed products. With improvements in farmed fishing exploding and the possibility of fishing exploding and the possibility of genetically modified fish hitting the genetically modified fish hitting the markets just around the corner, Canada’s markets just around the corner, Canada’s economy will boom. Both British Columbia economy will boom. Both British Columbia and New Brunswick pose excellent and New Brunswick pose excellent breeding conditions for farmed salmon.breeding conditions for farmed salmon.

The Ocean ConservancyThe Ocean Conservancy

Though farm fishing is an effective approach, we must Though farm fishing is an effective approach, we must helphelp

repopulate and restore balance to our oceans. The Ocean repopulate and restore balance to our oceans. The Ocean Conservancy is working to end overfishing by a variety ofConservancy is working to end overfishing by a variety ofapproaches:approaches:-Research on ocean ecosystems and sustainable fisheries -Research on ocean ecosystems and sustainable fisheries

managementmanagement-Promoting legislation that requires sustainable fishing-Promoting legislation that requires sustainable fishing-Helping managers implement existing laws that govern -Helping managers implement existing laws that govern

fishingfishing-Legal action to enforce laws that protect fish-Legal action to enforce laws that protect fish-Creating no-fishing areas to let fish populations replenish-Creating no-fishing areas to let fish populations replenish

ConclusionConclusion Our seas are being overfished, and while we Our seas are being overfished, and while we

are looking for new ways to increase fishing, are looking for new ways to increase fishing, we must also look for ways to help we must also look for ways to help repopulate the fish supply. A start is a better repopulate the fish supply. A start is a better use of resources if we are to make them last. use of resources if we are to make them last. Each year approximately 27 million tons of Each year approximately 27 million tons of fish are killed and thrown overboard, a very fish are killed and thrown overboard, a very wasteful practice. Farm fishing does have wasteful practice. Farm fishing does have its positives, but its negatives are just as its positives, but its negatives are just as extreme. We must not be naïve and think extreme. We must not be naïve and think that fish are in limitless supply, our that fish are in limitless supply, our carelessness will catch up with us one day.carelessness will catch up with us one day.

Works CitedWorks Cited

www.atn-riae.agr.ca/seafood/farmed_salmon-e.htmwww.atn-riae.agr.ca/seafood/farmed_salmon-e.htm www.ecobcorg/News/2005/08/NewsRelease536/index.cfmwww.ecobcorg/News/2005/08/NewsRelease536/index.cfm www.oceanconservancy.org/site/PageServer?pagename=isswww.oceanconservancy.org/site/PageServer?pagename=iss

ue-overfishingue-overfishing www.wildernesscommittee.org/campaigns/marine/policy/fiswww.wildernesscommittee.org/campaigns/marine/policy/fis

h_farms/reports/Vol24No07/countriesh_farms/reports/Vol24No07/countries