New report examines Atlantic salmon in BC waters
United Nations calls exotic species major ecological threat

October 10, 2001 - VANCOUVER - The scientist who discovered feral Atlantic salmon in BC waters says in a report released today that introduced species are a major ecological threat and that many questions remain unanswered about the effects of Atlantic salmon in the Pacific ocean.

Dr. John Volpe, a University of Alberta fisheries ecologist, also cautions that governments have not considered the full costs of the industry, especially to the marine environment and wild Pacific stocks.

"Both federal and provincial policy makers are fully aware of the economic benefits represented by the aquaculture industry. However, to date, these agencies have been unable or unwilling to acknowledge that their calculations do not include much of the costs of aquaculture. In particular are those costs that are externalized to the natural environment and therefore passed on to all of us." (p. 30).

Dr. Volpe presented his report Super-un-Natural: Atlantic salmon in BC waters to the Leggatt Inquiry into Salmon Farming in BC, and explained to Commissioner Stuart Leggatt the possible effects of introducing this alien species here. The report is published by the David Suzuki Foundation.

"Unfortunately, we are no closer to knowing the effects of Atlantic salmon on native Pacific salmon today than when Atlantics were first imported to BC nearly two decades ago," Dr. Volpe writes in Super-un-Natural. "We do know, however, that the assumptions that accompanied Atlantic salmon were false and we must critically re-evaluate Atlantic salmon aquaculture in BC in this light." (p. 30)

The United Nations has declared the introduction of exotic species the greatest threat to global biodiversity after habitat loss, Dr. Volpe told the Leggatt Inquiry.

"This second-place ranking is misleading when we consider habitat loss is itself a major effect of invasive species," he told Commissioner Leggatt during the second of four days of hearings in Vancouver.

Dr. Volpe was the researcher who in 1998 confirmed that Atlantic salmon, escaped from floating net-cage farms, had successfully reproduced to several age classes in a Vancouver Island river. He later discovered feral Atlantics in several other streams, and continues to lead Canadian research on this issue today, said Jim Fulton, executive director of the David Suzuki Foundation.

"Dr. Volpe's ground-breaking research has only been achieved through relentless personal effort," Mr. Fulton said. "In fact, the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) actually hampered his research efforts."

In 1997, just two days before he was to acquire Atlantic salmon from a DFO research centre, the centre director informed him of a policy change preventing release of the fish. Dr. Volpe scrambled to obtain fish from a private salmon farm so that his research could proceed on schedule, Mr. Fulton explained.

"One is led to wonder whether DFO officials were avoiding questions they didn't want answered," Mr. Fulton writes in the report preface.

"In the past year, both Canada's Auditor General and the Senate Fisheries Committee have raised serious questions about how the Department of Fisheries and Oceans deals with salmon aquaculture. The department's treatment of one of the leading researchers in the field is more reason for concern," he concludes.

Dr. Volpe, who received his PhD from the University of Victoria, questions the economic rationale that salmon farming is good for BC.

"Net pens allow virtually complete interaction between the farm and the surrounding environment. Therefore clean, oxygenated water is free to pass into the net pen while uneaten food pellets, feces, antibiotics and toxic anti-foulants flow out. The exchange of clean water into the farm and dispersal of industrial wastes away from the farm means that the industry benefits from a subsidy from nature.

"Unfortunately, not enough is known about the buffering capacity of the natural environment and how close we may be to saturation on this coast. I conclude that there is no scientific evidence that salmon aquaculture on the scale presently practiced in BC will not unduly affect wild stocks or their natural environment."

Mr. Fulton said a similar but less erudite argument was made last week by a man testifying to the Leggatt Inquiry on Vancouver Island.

"It was reported in the media that this man said, 'My presentation is really brief: Why is it that these are the only farmers who don't have to shovel their own shit?'"

Such questions need to be addressed because the impact to the ocean floor beneath salmon farms and the surrounding marine environment can be severe, Mr. Fulton said.

"We have sent divers and biologists to examine underneath and around net cages and they have reported that virtually no living organisms remain. The provincial and federal ministries responsible for this industry should be investigating issues like this instead of spending tax dollars to promote the industry."

Before the BC government considers lifting the moratorium on new salmon farms, it must thoroughly evaluate the benefits and risks of the industry, says Dr. Volpe.

"Only after this is accomplished, can salmon aquaculture in British Columbia be carried out in both a profitable and ecologically sustainable manner," he said.

For more information and to arrange interviews, please contact Jean Kavanagh, 604-551-0145 cell, 604-732-4228.