The Salmonid Association of Eastern Newfoundland is challenging the local aquaculture industry to put its money where its mouth is and invest in a long-term study on wild salmon stocks in Placentia Bay prior to the expansion of aquaculture operations in the area.
SAEN has written an open letter to the Newfoundland Aquaculture Industry Association, expressing concern about plans to expand aquaculture operations in Placenta Bay.
The Salmonid Association says there are no fish farms in Placentia Bay at this time, but current plans by Grieg NL Seafarms will see up to 11 sites established, each with multiple cages.
The Salmonid Association says Placentia Bay has almost 30 scheduled salmon rivers, most of which appear to be relatively healthy, but there have been no studies on rivers in the area.
SAEN is challenging the aquaculture industry to commit to funding a long term study on wild Atlantic salmon stocks in Placentia Bay, including counting fences on rivers near fish farm sites, genetic studies to track changes in salmon populations, smolt counting, and tracking studies to clarify migrations routes as well as the impact of sea lice blooms.
President Robert Bishop says the ball is now in the Aquaculture Industry’s court to prove that open pen salmon farming has no negative impact on wild Atlantic salmon.
Aquaculture Association Responds
Mark Lane of the Aquaculture Association says groups like SAEN and the Atlantic Salmon Federation keep pointing the finger at aquaculture while, he suggests, ignoring the real impacts to wild salmon stocks.
“Like Greenland last year exceeding their quota…I think they’re taking 30 tonnes of intercepted fish from Newfoundland and Labrador every year,” says Lane.
He also points to the commercial fishery in St. Pierre et Miquelon, angling and catch and release, which he calls some of the true causes of salmon decline.