Making Sense Of The Debate About Hatchery Impacts

This report provides an objective summary of available information on the impacts of salmon hatcheries and other enhancement activities on wild salmon and steelhead in British Columbia and the Yukon Territory. It explores the opinions and arguments surrounding the impacts of salmon enhancement on wild salmon, and explains the various concepts, theories, practices and research in this field.

The first comprehensive, agenda-free book on the subject of BC's fish-farming industry. To date, there has been little objective information on the topic, and this book fills that void. It includes history, information and context that will equip experts, lay readers and everyone in between with everything they need to know to develop an informed opinion about fish farms in BC. Because of the polarised nature of the issue, most information has been biased to a particular side. The aquaculture industry and its government supporters say that fish farming makes good economic sense and is not an environmental threat. Critics of the industry want salmon farming stopped; they say it pollutes the ocean waters and is unsustainable, that farmed fish will spread disease to wild fish and escaped fish will displace wild salmon. Consumers and their questions have been lost in the middle of the controversy. Is it safe to eat farmed salmon? Does the industry harm the environment? Will this practice threaten our wild fish stocks? In this book, Peter Robson explains the biology and the effects of salmon farming, using a balanced approach supported by up-to-date information to shed an objective light on this important and contentious subject.