4 ms·

Here in BC, Canada, another problem with the farmed salmon is that diseases and parasites (e.g. parasitic sea lice) from the fish farms, which are in the ocean

by YZF 2y ago

Here in BC, Canada, another problem with the farmed salmon is that diseases and parasites (e.g. parasitic sea lice) from the fish farms, which are in the ocean (surrounded by nets), get to the native population. My family avoids farmed salmon. I think as long as it's fished sustainably in the ocean (and we take care of the rivers) that's a better option.

pprotas 2y ago
I know you might have not meant it this way but the way I read your last sentence makes it sound like fishing in the ocean is per definition sustainable, which is far from the truth.
ein0p 2y ago
I find farmed salmon to be fatter and tastier. In fact I prefer it to wild salmon, even though it sometimes costs more.
kortilla 2y ago
What is special about farmed salmon that makes it happen there? Do you have sources indicating the disease rates?
- Tiktaalik 2y ago
  You have an enormous amount of salmon in tiny pens in various sheltered bays and this artificial closeness breeds disease and parasites rapidly. The lice and diseases are then passed onto the wild salmon that pass through these bays on their migratory lifecycle routes. Thus wild salmon become dramatically more impacted from parasites and disease than they otherwise would be and thus the farmed salmon start to drag down the health and viability of the wild population.
tyfon 2y ago
Norwegian here. I live not that far from some fish farms (Mowi), and the wild fish around the farms are also inedible. Large fat bodies that taste weird. Most people here would never eat the farmed salmon either.
- alexey-salmin 2y ago
  > I live not that far from some fish farms (Mowi), and the wild fish around the farms are also inedible. Large fat bodies that taste weird. Curious, is there any theory what mechanism is behind this?
  - pvaldes 2y ago
    Is a fact that marine cages boost biodiversity or, being more precise, alter biodiversity. There are clear visible benefits on the fish schools and damages on the bottom invertebrate communities. I had seen tuna cages at the sea ant there are small breams everywhere under the cage. Young fishes used their surrounding areas as a sort of sanctuaries with plenty of food scraps and no fishing. The cage acts as a protecting physical structure that big predators avoid to no get entangled. Wild fishes living near salmon cages learn soon also that in this places it rains tasty fatty food every few days at exactly the same hour. The cons is that the overlooked pellets falling in the bottom attract invertebrates able to stand the pollution that multiply exponentially and conquer the whole community.
  - tyfon 2y ago
    > Curious, is there any theory what mechanism is behind this? They eat the food that falls through the net, and the food is designed. To maximize growth. It also includes artificial colour, the farmed salmon really has white flesh. This colour also affects the fish living beneath the fish farm.

by YZF 2y ago

pprotas 2y ago

I know you might have not meant it this way but the way I read your last sentence makes it sound like fishing in the ocean is per definition sustainable, which is far from the truth.

ein0p 2y ago

I find farmed salmon to be fatter and tastier. In fact I prefer it to wild salmon, even though it sometimes costs more.

kortilla 2y ago

What is special about farmed salmon that makes it happen there? Do you have sources indicating the disease rates?

Tiktaalik 2y ago
You have an enormous amount of salmon in tiny pens in various sheltered bays and this artificial closeness breeds disease and parasites rapidly. The lice and diseases are then passed onto the wild salmon that pass through these bays on their migratory lifecycle routes. Thus wild salmon become dramatically more impacted from parasites and disease than they otherwise would be and thus the farmed salmon start to drag down the health and viability of the wild population.

tyfon 2y ago

Norwegian here. I live not that far from some fish farms (Mowi), and the wild fish around the farms are also inedible. Large fat bodies that taste weird. Most people here would never eat the farmed salmon either.

alexey-salmin 2y ago
> I live not that far from some fish farms (Mowi), and the wild fish around the farms are also inedible. Large fat bodies that taste weird. Curious, is there any theory what mechanism is behind this?
- pvaldes 2y ago
  Is a fact that marine cages boost biodiversity or, being more precise, alter biodiversity. There are clear visible benefits on the fish schools and damages on the bottom invertebrate communities. I had seen tuna cages at the sea ant there are small breams everywhere under the cage. Young fishes used their surrounding areas as a sort of sanctuaries with plenty of food scraps and no fishing. The cage acts as a protecting physical structure that big predators avoid to no get entangled. Wild fishes living near salmon cages learn soon also that in this places it rains tasty fatty food every few days at exactly the same hour. The cons is that the overlooked pellets falling in the bottom attract invertebrates able to stand the pollution that multiply exponentially and conquer the whole community.
- tyfon 2y ago
  > Curious, is there any theory what mechanism is behind this? They eat the food that falls through the net, and the food is designed. To maximize growth. It also includes artificial colour, the farmed salmon really has white flesh. This colour also affects the fish living beneath the fish farm.