Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[RalphH]

Thanks again for keeping us updated Bob. As you know, you're preaching to the choir with me, lol!
 Imo, wild salmon have a dismal future so we really should be embracing the potential for all types of aquaculture here in BC.

Flame away Ralph

Hmm LOL Dave.

Will PM Carney pull back the partial closure of open net farms in BC? There seems to be some thought he will including a recent article in the National Post where shutting farms is seen as a great injustice.

But why would he?

The entire aquacultural industry comprises much less than 1/10th of 1% of Canadian economy which is less than 1/1000th of the National GDP. Salmon farming is smaller than that yet. If you follow what Carney's focus has been since he became PM you'd know he has been looking for much bigger fish to fry. There is no way salmon farming or aquaculture can make a significant contribution to replacing the economic loss of our changing relationship with the USA.

This focus on aquaculture (which is mostly about protein) dates back at least to the 60s. I remember being told in elementary school that by the time I was an adult, most of the world's food would be produced by aquaculture. Well that was a pile of hooey if ever there was one.  Most of what people eat is vegetable matter and it is grown on land. Food from aquaculture will be a tiny supplement to the world diet far into the foreseeable future.

Sometimes I can't believe how bad the level argument for the salmon farming industry is offered here. I remember you once agreed the product tasted like crap compared to the wild alternative.

[Dave]

Hmm LOL Dave.
 I remember you once agreed the product tasted like crap compared to the wild alternative.

I don't remember saying that .. I do remember saying fresh farmed Atlantics tasted, to me, like frozen Pacifics.

I can see Carney backtracking on open net salmon farming in FN territories that want them and, doing so because the economic opportunities for BC are enormous.

 So, at least 3 people still read FWR, lol!

[RalphH]

I don't remember saying that .. I do remember saying fresh farmed Atlantics tasted, to me, like frozen Pacifics.

I can see Carney backtracking on open net salmon farming in FN territories that want them and, doing so because the economic opportunities for BC are enormous.

 So, at least 3 people still read FWR, lol!

Here is my take. In the 2025 election The Liberals lost ground as the campaign progressed and people switched concern to domestic issues. If he were to call an election the same could happen. The Liberals would want to avoid losing possible gains to the Conservatives. Even NDP wins would be important as they would be more likely to support a minority Carney government. Yeah maybe he would support salmon farms in areas where FN groups want them even I don't see am issue with that as long as the Big Aqua groups don't have control.  However I don't see a general return to the pre JT decision to close them. It's not in his interest and the economic gain is minimal.

BTW if the local waters change to the point they can't support wild salmon it's unlikely Atlantics in pens will do better. There have been massive die offs of penned fish in the Maritimes and Nfld. Penned fish can't move to depths or locales where water temperature and other are unfavorable.

[Dave]

As usual Ralph we disagree but that's ok 
 There will always be salmon, they won't be wild though.  Your last sentence is exactly why BC has the potential to be a future aquaculture leader... so many different locations with differing water parameters.

Anyway, stay well Ralph.  I actually think you, agentaqua, and I could get along!

[Fisherbob]

https://seawestnews.com/new-sea-lice-data-debunks-activist-claims-against-salmon-farms-in-b-c/

[Fisherbob]

https://seawestnews.com/coastal-first-nations-tell-carney-to-reverse-b-c-salmon-farm-ban/

[RalphH]

https://seawestnews.com/new-sea-lice-data-debunks-activist-claims-against-salmon-farms-in-b-c/

yet another study where an apparent 'null result' (as in no statistically significant change was found) is represented as proof of "something" when it is not. A null result proves nothing. I'd also note that neither the article linked or the primary MOWI report referenced refers to a study published in a recognized peer reviewed scientific journal. This is further indication the claimed results should be taken with caution.

[Fisherbob]

https://theconversation.com/the-peer-review-system-no-longer-works-to-guarantee-academic-rigour-a-different-approach-is-needed-244092

[RalphH]

nothing new there. Peer review is intended to ensure research meets standard methodological criteria not that the paper is flawless. The flip side is the fish farming industry has been claiming to have the only source of definitive research for decades. Either way bogus research is often published and take decades to refute.

[RalphH]

Over 70% of Farmed Open Net salmon in Canada have viral heart disease (HSMI):

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/fish-farms-study-9.7377727

[Fisherbob]

https://seawestnews.com/pacific-salmon-foundation-study-fuels-fresh-alarm-with-shaky-science/

[Dave]

And around and around we go.  Again, thanks Bob.

[RalphH]

"Fueling shaky science with false alarm" as the Salmon farming industry does with aplomb.


Another good but inaccurate article Fabian. At least there is debate about the findings and acknowledgement the science is not certain and neither are the results of studies by either side.

Viruses & bacteria in new hosts are known to be capable of mutating to pose harm, constitute a risk to wild BC Salmon and it is one the factors that has moved to convince both scientists and laymen the risk is unacceptable

[Fisherbob]

https://seawestnews.com/seismic-political-shift-offers-new-hope-for-b-c-s-salmon-farmers/