Robert Wager is a well-known fish farm pundit of many pro-industry articles printed in various newspapers, including:
• Sea lice no threat to wild salmon; [Final Edition], Robert Wager. Times - Colonist. Victoria, B.C.: Nov 26, 2007. pg. A.7
• Suzuki 'Bullies' those who Oppose his Views — The Leader-Post via AgNet, Letter to Editor: May 4, 2005
• North Island Gazette, To the Editor, 06/25/05, Re:Tourism operators concerned about aquaculture. Once again pseudo-science is presented to try to trump the real science of aquaculture… Clearly the data from the DFO study is far superior to that of the activist.
And more recently:
2008/3/24, No Matter How You Sea Lice It, editorial, Westcoast News
http://www.westcoaster.ca/modules/AMS/article.php?storyid=3926
In this article, some of his more controversial claims are:
“other forms of animal agriculture use far more antibiotics than aquaculture”
The differences and associated problems with farming aquatic animals in an unenclosed environment, verses a terrestrial one should be obvious - and do not necessarily depend upon the level of antibiotics given to caged fish.
We do not have wild flocks of cows floating over top of and through fenced cattle (like we do in the open net-cage aquatic environment); yet even still - we do have exclusion zones for cattle production and associated buffer zones to mitigate interactions between wild bison and domesticated cattle – based on migration and rearing areas of the wild bison.
Not only do we none of this in Canada for the open net-cage fish farm industry, but we base our environmental assessment on the fact that both DFO, BCMAFF, and the fish farm industry assume that wild fish do not swim more than 1.0 km. This is in spite of the fact that the baby salmon leaving the creeks often swim hundreds of km to the ocean, and then swim potentially thousands of km North along the coast to the Alaskan Gyre , and then back again using the same route.
The assessment and siting criteria are a sham.
Then there is the associated problems with the open net-cage technology, where diseases and parasites freely pass between the caged and wild fish. Salmon farms stock their pens with Atlantic salmon smolts from FRESHWATER hatcheries. They then get SEA lice. They get sea lice through the mechanism of the open net-pen, which allows the free flow of water that contains the free-swimming forms of sea lice, as well as other disease and parasite vectors. No apparent difficulty in getting the salmon farming industry to understand this one.
This proves that the open net-cage technology is INEFFECTIVE in containing the interactions between wild and cultured stocks - and that sea lice move through the cage. They obviously can and do move both ways through the net - pushed along by the tides and winds. To suggest any other reality is being truly dishonest.
This reality of this negative interaction has been proven the world over. Open net-cage technology has to go.
Think about it. If there was a single case – in the world – where the open net-cage industry did not have a serious, negative, population-level effect on the local, adjacent salmon (where they exist, which excludes Chile) – do you not think that the PR firms and industry associations wouldn’t be singing the praises of their industry loud and clear?
Yet – every jurisdiction in the world reports significant problems with sea lice and other parasites, and diseases transmitted back-and-forth with the wild stocks.
The fish farming industry has had well over 30 years to do these studies and submit their findings to peer-reviewed science. Ever wonder why it was not done, or maybe not published? All they can do is to try and create doubt in the public's mind about studies that do not put open net-pens in a good light.
And remember - this is an important point - it is any industry's job to prove that they are not having an impact. They never have done this in over 30 years of operation.
Wagner also claims:
"Without a doubt my biggest complaint about those who claim fish farms threaten wild stocks is how they completely refuse to acknowledge every alleged problem with fish farms is multiplied ten to one hundred times just north of the border where the state of Alaska “ranches salmon.” If these critics truly believe fish farming is a threat to wild salmon then it is very difficult to understand their silence on salmon ranching just north of the border. Not only are the feed, disease and PCB issues identical, the intentional release of over one Billion pink salmon after rearing in net pens definitely should concern these groups."
We discussed this earlier on this thread. The feed, disease and PCB issues are definately *NOT* "identical" between "ranching", and "salmon farming".
With "ranching" - small, newly-released Pacific salmon fry are placed in those pens, and hold them only long enough to get them a little bigger, and then release them before the spawning adults return.
There are no multi-year classes of farmed salmon held overwinter in adjacent pens or adjacent sites (like BC does), with the overwhelming potential to infect the small, vunerable outmigrating juvenile salmon the next spring.
Because of these differences, it's called "ranching", verses salmon-farming; and that's why salmon farming is illegal in Alaska. They know the risk that overwintering multi-year classes of Atlantic salmon pose to their native wild salmon.
We have discussed most of these points already earlier in these postings.
I do agree with these statements of Wager’s:
1. “salmon farming debate should be about reproducible scientific evidence”.
2. “Unfortunately the debate is pushed by media coverage of negative stories from questionable research and polished PR campaigns”.
3. “These eNGOs are highly critical of any research funded by corporations, suggesting biases towards financial considerations. This is a fair consideration when viewing any research”.
4. “…those who resort to personal/professional attacks are doing so because the real science does not support their position”.
1/ Using Wager’s suggestions – we can then disregard most of the questionable research and polished PR campaigns coming from the multinational open net-cage industry, and include only peer-reviewed research, such as:
A/ Transmission dynamics of parasitic sea lice from farm to wild salmon. Martin Krkos¡ek, Mark A. Lewis and John P. Volpe. Proc. R. Soc. B (2005) 272, 689–696.
Marine salmon farming has been correlated with parasitic sea lice infestations and concurrent declines of wild salmonids. Here, we report a quantitative analysis of how a single salmon farm altered the natural transmission dynamics of sea lice to juvenile Pacific salmon. We studied infections of sea lice (Lepeophtheirus salmonis and Caligus clemensi ) on juvenile pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) and chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) as they passed an isolated salmon farm during their seaward migration down two long and narrow corridors. Our calculations suggest the infection pressure imposed by the farm was four orders of magnitude greater than ambient levels, resulting in a maximum infection pressure near the farmthat was 73 times greater than ambient levels and exceeded ambient levels for 30 km along the two wild salmon migration corridors. The farm-produced cohort of lice parasitizing the wild juvenile hosts reached reproductive maturity and produced a second generation of lice that re-infected the juvenile salmon. This raises the infection pressure from the farm by an additional order of magnitude, with a composite infection pressure that exceeds ambient levels for 75 km of the two migration routes. Amplified sea lice infestations due to salmon farms are a potential limiting factor to wild salmonid conservation.
B/ Epizootics of wild fish induced by farm fish. Martin Krkos¡ek*†, Mark A. Lewis*, Alexandra Morton‡, L. Neil Frazer§, and John P. Volpe
www.pnas.org_cgi_doi_10.1073_pnas.0603525103
The continuing decline of ocean fisheries and rise of global fish consumption has driven aquaculture growth by 10% annually over the last decade. The association of fish farms with disease emergence in sympatric wild fish stocks remains one of the most controversial and unresolved threats aquaculture poses to coastal ecosystems and fisheries. We report a comprehensive analysis of the spread and impact of farm-origin parasites on the survival of wild fish populations. We mathematically coupled extensive data sets of native parasitic sea lice (Lepeophtheirus salmonis) transmission and pathogenicity on migratory wild juvenile pink (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) and chum (Oncorhynchus keta) salmon. Farm-origin lice induced 9–95% mortality in several sympatric wild juvenile pink and chum salmon populations. The epizootics arise through a mechanism that is new to our understanding of emerging infectious diseases: fish farms undermine a functional role of host migration in protecting juvenile hosts from parasites associated with adult hosts. Although the migratory life cycles of Pacific salmon naturally separate adults from juveniles, fish farms provide L. salmonis novel access to juvenile hosts, in this case raising infection rates for at least the first _2.5 months of the salmon’s marine life (_80 km of the migration route). Spatial segregation between juveniles and adults is common among temperate marine fishes, and as aquaculture continues its rapid growth, this disease mechanism may challenge the sustainability of coastal ecosystems and economies.
C/ Effects of host migration, diversity and aquaculture on sea lice threats eats to Pacific salmon populations. Martin Krkosek, Allen Gottesfeld, Bart Proctor, Dave Rolston , Charmaine Carr-Harris and Mark A. Lewis.
Animal migrations can affect disease dynamics. One consequence of migration ration common to marine fish and inverertebrates is migratory allopatry — a period of spatial separation between adult and juvenile hosts, which is caused by host migration ration and which prevents parasite transmission from adult to juvenile hosts. We studied this character characteristic for sea lice (Lepeophtheirus salmonis and Caligus clemensi ) and pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) from one of the Canada’s largest salmon stocks. Migratory allopatry protects juvenile salmon from L. salmonis for two to three months of early mar marine life (2–3% prevalence). In contrast, host dive diversity facilitates access for C. clemensi to juvenile salmon (8–20% prevalence) but infections appear ephemeral. Aquaculture can augment host abundance and dive diversity and increase parasite exposure of wild juvenile fish. An empirically parametrized model shows w high sensitivity of salmon populations to increased L. salmonis exposure, predicting population collapse at one to five motile L. salmonis per juvenile pink salmon. These results character characterize parasite threats of salmon aquaculture to wild salmon populations and show how host migration and diversity are important factor actors affecting parasite transmission in the oceans.
D/ A Global Assessment of Salmon Aquaculture Impacts on Wild Salmonids
Jennifer S. Ford*, Ransom A. Myers_
Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Since the late 1980s, wild salmon catch and abundance have declined dramatically in the North Atlantic and in much of the northeastern Pacific south of Alaska. In these areas, there has been a concomitant increase in the production of farmed salmon. Previous studies have shown negative impacts on wild salmonids, but these results have been difficult to translate into predictions of change in wild population survival and abundance. We compared marine survival of salmonids in areas with salmon farming to adjacent areas without farms in Scotland, Ireland, Atlantic Canada, and Pacific Canada to estimate changes in marine survival concurrent with the growth of salmon aquaculture. Through a meta-analysis of existing data, we show a reduction in survival or abundance of Atlantic salmon; sea trout; and pink, chum, and coho salmon in association with increased production of farmed salmon. In many cases, these reductions in survival or abundance are greater than 50%. Meta-analytic estimates of the mean effect are significant and negative, suggesting that salmon farming has reduced survival of wild salmon and trout in many populations and countries.
Citation: Ford JS, Myers RA (2008) A global assessment of salmon aquaculture impacts on wild salmonids. PLoS Biol 6(2): e33. doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.0060033
2/ We should be highly critical of biases and conflicts of interests, which includes Robert Wagner’s.
I find it unfortunately disingenuous that Robert did not declare that:
A/ The college he works for (Malaspina University-College) gets funding for aquaculture research and is closely associated with the aquaculture industry, and
B/ he is closely associated with a co-worker named Linda Hiemstra,
Mz. Hiemstra worked in the aquaculture industry for over 17 years , is associated with BC Centre for Aquatic Health Sciences (BC CAHS), is Past Chair of the Aquaculture Association of Canada (
http://www.mi.mun.ca/mi/aac/com102.html), has been the Conference Coordinator of the Aquaculture Association of Canada (
http://www.aquacultureassociation.ca/ac07/welcome.html), is the Conference Co-ordinator for Aquaculture Pacific Exchange (
http://www.masterpromotions.ca/press-show.asp?news_id=12), has managed the Aquaculture Extension Program at Malaspina University-College, is connected with the 2007 Women of Resource Communities Conference sponsored by First Dollar Alliance (
http://www.womenofbcresourcecommunities.org/), has been part of the Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance when David Rideout was Executive Director (
http://www.aquacultureassociation.ca/ac02/abstracts/hr.htm#Rideout) – and most importantly has had a close relationship with Yves Bastien, the ex-Commissioner for Aquaculture Development when he was President of the Aquaculture Association of Canada.
Recently, Mz. Hiemstra has become part of the Canadian Aquaculture Portal Society – Société du portail canadien de l’aquaculture (CAPS-SPCA) - a registered not-for-profit corporation, formed to enable knowledge mobilization in Canadian aquaculture, along with other people, such as:
Yves Bastien, Retired, Aquaculture Expert
During his 24 year career in aquaculture, Mr. Bastien was a member of several steering committees and boards. He received the Herb Dhaliwal Sustainable Aquaculture Award in 2004 and has extensive expertise in all aspects of public management and support. He brings with him a wealth of experience with the aquaculture industry policies and protocols and expertise in developing corporations from start-up to success.
Cyr Couturier, Chair, Masters Science Aquaculture Program, Memorial University
Mr. Couturier is the Chair of the Masters in Science Aquaculture Program of the Marine Institute of Memorial University, St. John’s Newfoundland. He has worked for 27 years in aquaculture applied research, project development and management, teaching, and extension services and not for profit association development and management. He has strong relationships with government and industry people in eastern and Atlantic Canada.
Linda Sams CEO, BC Centre for Aquatic Health Sciences
Ms. Sams is the CEO for the BC Centre for Aquatic Health Sciences, Campbell River BC and has over 20 years of business and management experience in the private sector. She has served on the boards of the BC Salmon Farmers Association, the Campbell River Chamber of Commerce and the Board of Governors for North Island College. Ms Sams brings a wide network of west coast aquaculture industry, government, research (national and international) and First Nations contacts.
Gavin Last, Assistant Director, Aquaculture Development, BC Ministry of Agriculture and Lands
Gavin Last has lived in BC for most of his life. He began his career in aquaculture in 1988 at Capilano College where he completed the Aquaculture Technician’s Certificate program. He worked briefly in the salmon farming industry before completing degrees in English (1993) and Law (1999). He has worked at the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Lands (formerly Agriculture Food & Fisheries) in Victoria since 2000. He is currently the Assistant Director of the Aquaculture Development Branch.
Roddy Morrison, IT Director, Marine Harvest Canada
Roddy Morrison is currently the IT Director for Marine Harvest Canada, a position he has had for over 5 years. Previously he worked for over 4 years with Stolt Seafarms in Scotland. He is responsible for IT and communications for all Marine Harvest Canada locations. He has a degree in computer science and brings extensive experience in development of applications and technical solutions for the aquaculture industry.
Jack Taylor, Retired Aquaculture and Policy Expert
Jack Taylor has been involved with the aquaculture industry since 1998 as a policy analyst with Fisheries and Oceans Canada. He served as Executive Director in the Office of the Commissioner for Aquaculture Development from 1999 to 2004. He moved to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency as Director of the new Aquatic Animal Health Division in 2005. Mr Taylor retired from the federal government in 2006.
Céline Audet, Institut des sciences de la mer de Rimouski, Université du Québec à Rimouski
Céline Audet has worked for 20 years in aquaculture applied research. During this period, she was actively involved in all provincial initiatives that aimed to build effective links among governments, industry and research including Société de recherche et développement en aquaculture continentale (SORDAC), Société de développement de l’industrie maricole (SODIM), Centre de transfert et de sélection des salmonidés (CTSS). She is chair of the Réseau Aquaculture Québec (RAQ) and was an active member of AquaNet. Her own research is oriented towards salmonids and marine fish (flounder and cod), but she also collaborated on projects on crustaceans and trained around 40 M.Sc. and Ph. D. students.
Sam Nakai, Business Development Consultant
Mr. Nakai is a consultant currently working with a private venture consulting company and a Crown agency leading innovation and commercialization in the province of British Columbia. He has eleven years experience in operations in private company and public service organizations related to manufacturing, high technology, internet and general research, innovation and commercialization. He was most recently Director of Programs for the BC Innovation Council, an early supporter of AquaPort.
Adolfo Alvial, Technical Director, Marine Harvest Chile
Since 2000, Mr. Alvial has initiated and managed several innovative businesses and associations in the aquaculture, ecotourism and environmental sectors, including being the general manager of the Technological Institute of Salmon (INTESAL) - the technological arm of SalmonChile, the Chilean salmon farming industry association. Currently he is the Technical Director for Marine Harvest Chile and has extensive business development and global communication expertise.
Officers
Officers of the Board of Directors were appointed in December 2007 augmenting the working organizational structure initiated with the permanent Board of Directors. The officers were chosen to ensure ongoing assessment and strategizing capability within the organization.
President: Tim DeJager, CO3 Consulting
Vice-president: Yves Bastien
Secretary: Linda Hiemstra, Mel Mor Science
Treasurer: Jack Taylor
President:
Tim DeJager, co3 Consulting
Dr. DeJager has been the lead proponent and manager of the AquaPort project since inception. In this role, he managed the survey to determine industry requirements, collection of core content, development of technology requirements, and worked with industry and other stakeholders to build support and pursue funding opportunities. He has over 10 years experience in the aquaculture industry as a business owner, teacher, publisher of research information, and manager of research and consulting projects.
Secretary:
Linda Hiemstra, Mel Mor Science
Ms Hiemstra has worked in the aquaculture industry for over 17 years as a shellfish culture researcher, instructor, and project manager, for research, development and information projects such as conferences, publications, workshops and training events and has extensive contacts throughout the sector in BC and nationally. She has worked with the Aquaport project since January 2007 providing management and assistance to specific development activities.
Contributors and Collaborators
Many agencies and groups have realized the value of AquaPort to the Canadian aquaculture industry and to the Canadian economy and have contributed and collaborated to ensure the success of this project.
• AquaNet, the Network of Centres of Excellence for Aquaculture
• BC innovation Council, BC Aquaculture Research and Development Council
• Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Aquaculture Collaborative Research and Development Program (ACRDP)
• British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture and Lands
• Malaspina University-College, (Faculty of Management, Faculty of Science and Technology and Institute for Coastal Research)
• Societé de développement de l‘industrie maricole
• Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance
• Réseau Aquaculture Québec
• Aquaculture Association of Canada
Collaborating Associations and Organizations
• Aquaculture Centre, University of Guelph
• BC Salmon Farmers Association
• BC Shellfish Growers Association
• Regroupement des mariculteurs du Québec
• Newfoundland Aquaculture Industry Association
• New Brunswick Salmon Growers Association
• Aquaculture Association of Nova Scotia
• Prince Edward Island Aquaculture Alliance
• Northern Ontario Aquaculture Association
• Alberta Fish Farmers Association
• Professional Shellfish Growers Association of New Brunswick
• Carrefour national de l’aquaculture et des pêches de Grande-Rivière
• Interprovincial Partnership for Sustainable Freshwater Aquaculture Development
