As a researcher and former journalist who goes beyond the headlines to study the benefits and challenges of numerous resource industries, it has struck me as peculiar that a beneficial endeavour like salmon farming is facing some vocal opposition rather than being celebrated as a home-grown success story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s true there are real issues regarding protection of wild salmon, which is something we should all be concerned about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If farms were really out of hand, you would expect Chinook salmon populations in places with no farms would be healthier, but that is not the case at all. Wild fish stocks are experiencing the same issues whether they live near farms, or not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some would have us believe we should focus on fishing wild stocks instead of farming. Killing millions of wild salmon is the way to save them? Give me a break. It\u2019s a con job, no more truthful than the old PR claims that cigarettes are good for us. It will no doubt be looked back at as being just as harmful in its own way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Science points not to farming but to over-fishing and climate change as the top issues our wild salmon face. Unethical fishing fleets from around the world devastate wild stocks. Warming ocean temperatures are having a significant impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Habits are sensitive. Developing, building, and operating in full recognition of the sensitivity of local habitats is paying off for salmon farmers, and for consumers who gain healthy and affordable food choices. Here is one example of green progress:<\/p>\n\n\n\n