Farmed salmon is BC's largest Agri Product and a significant contributor to our local economies.
Farmed salmon is raised naturally. That means no hormones or genetic modification to enhance growth.
Medications are never used preventatively or near harvest time.
We take steps to reduce stress on our fish.
In the Pacific Northwest, Atlantic salmon have not taken over rivers forcing out native salmon.
Salmon are incredibly efficient eaters.
Salmon farms employ thousands of workers in BC's coastal region.
Farmed salmon is the only way we can get fresh salmon year round.
Farmed salmon is a healthy food choice that's available fresh all year round.
Salmon farming is the most regulated agricultural industry in British Columbia.
Salmon farm locations are selected for their low environmental impact.
Atlantic salmon and sockeye salmon differ in colour because they're different species.
Farmed salmon are vaccinated to prevent disease and rarely need additional medications.
We don't dye farmed salmon. The colour comes from an important ingredient in their food.
Farmed salmon are rich in heart-healthy omega 3 fatty acids.
Farmers work to protect wild salmon from sea lice.
Salmon farming provides real economic and social benefits to First Nations people.
Salmon feed is designed specifically to conserve wild fish stocks.
Farmers work with scientists to maintain fish health.
Farmed salmon are mistreated and are raised in a stressful environment.
Farmed salmon is genetically modified and contains growth hormones.
Salmon farms can be located anywhere, even in environmentally sensitive areas.
Salmon farm information is highly guarded and not available to the public.
Farmed salmon is bad for you.
Sea lice come from farmed salmon and devastate wild salmon stocks.
Farmed salmon consume more food in order to grow than the amount of food they produce for human consumption.
Farmed salmon contain medicines that are harmful for human consumption.
Salmon farmers can do whatever they want and routinely ignore loose government regulations.
Escaped farmed salmon take over local river systems forcing out native wild salmon.
There are no nutritional benefits realized from eating farmed salmon.
The process of salmon farming severely depletes wild fish stocks.
22 Comments
BC Salmon Facts says
Everything human beings do carries some kind of risk. We manage the risks associated with farming salmon in the ocean effectively, so the risk of any harm to wild salmon is very low. It's important to point out that land-based salmon farming is not risk-free, either, as the increased power consumption and water consumption would contribute to other environmental problems, such as climate change and ocean acidification, which would still pose a risk to wild salmon in the ocean.
Aug 24 2011 5:27 PM
sd8192 says
This is not good enough, "farmers take every step possible to protect wild salmon from sea lice encounters". Exxon and BP probably say they take/have taken every step possible to prevent oil spills, but it still happens and it is NOT acceptable. It costs more, but if farmed salmon is necessary, let's farm them on land to protect our wild salmon in the ocean.
Aug 23 2011 1:33 PM
BC Salmon Facts says
Hi Luckylarry, we have posted many scientific studies that show farmed salmon do not impact wild stocks. For example, here are two studies from late last year showing that sea lice from salmon farms are not harming wild stocks: faculty.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/faculty/gdmarty/2010PNAS107_52_22599-22604.pdf icesjms.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2010/10/09/icesjms.fsq146.abstract
To be clear about our ads, BC Salmon Facts intent is to provide valuable context and important information about salmon farming in BC. The ads encourage people to think for themselves, and do not attack anyone. BC salmon farmers have made significant positive changes to our business over the past 25 years, yet incorrect information about our business (fish meal use is one example, “dyes” another) still persists. The goal of BC Salmon Facts is simply to assist salmon farmers in communicating our business as it operates today. If you any specific questions about this information, please feel free to ask us.
We have posted our thoughts, and other information on closed containment here (bit.ly/flaExa). While BC salmon farmers currently use closed-containment technology for a part of the salmon growing process, there are currently no commercial scale closed-containment facilities growing Atlantic salmon to harvest size. While cost is one hurdle, there are numerous others to consider such as; animal welfare, carbon emissions, freshwater use, power consumption and land availability. The Canadian government has studied this issue and concluded that while closed-containment can successfully grow fish, the technology has not advanced to the point of being a viable business - bit.ly/hMDgUE
Apr 4 2011 4:47 PM
BC Salmon Facts says
Hi Susan, we have posted our thoughts, and other information on closed containment here (bit.ly/flaExa). While BC salmon farmers currently use closed-containment technology for a part of the salmon growing process, there are currently no commercial scale closed-containment facilities growing Atlantic salmon to harvest size. While cost is one hurdle, there are numerous others to consider such as; animal welfare, carbon emissions, freshwater use, power consumption and land availability. The Canadian government has studied this issue and concluded that while closed-containment can successfully grow fish, the technology has not advanced to the point of being a viable business - bit.ly/hMDgUE
Apr 4 2011 4:44 PM