Fishy Business -Anouk Ride Jackie Mills GGS-12 Mrs. Aliphat

Introduction  Salmon fishing as well as other commercial fishing is becoming a serious problem worldwide. The effects are felt by both consumers and producers alike. In 1995, salmon fishing, processing and related occupations employed over 60, 000 people in the US, now only half of US salmon fishers are still working.  Nearly one in five populations are experiencing overfishing, ten years after laws were set to make it illegal for federal fisheries managers to allow fishing at unsustainably high rates, overfishing continues. Instead of making the tough decisions necessary to sustain healthy fish populations and healthy fishing communities, they have allowed political and economic pressure to outweigh sound science in managing fisheries.

“According to a Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimate, over 70% of the world’s fish species are either fully exploited or depleted.”

How is it then that salmon at the local grocery stores is still in abundance and cheaper than ever?

The answer is fish farming. Currently around a third of all fish eaten is from farms. The World Bank predicts that fish farming will completely overtake fishing in the next ten years. Almost all salmon available is farmed.

Wild Salmon vs. Farmed Salmon

The Environment At a conference of the world’s marine biologists, it was concluded that fishing, not global warming or pollution, was the greatest threat to biodiversity of marine life. The impact that overfishing has on our environment is extensive. By overfishing we contribute to the decline of sea birds and other mammals because it is reducing their food supply. Fish play an important and intricate role in marine food webs.

While salmon farms are an effective way to help reduce overfishing, they also have raised environmental and economic concerns. Many fishermen, scientists, conservationists and consumers have voiced their concerns about the negative effects of salmon farms on the marine environment and coastal communities. These concerns include: -the escape of millions of farmed salmon into the wild, -disease transfer from farms to wild salmon, -pollution from fish waste, -threats to human health from the antibiotics and artificial colorants given to farmed fish and, -the economic impacts of industrial salmon farming on wild salmon fisheries

Economic and social benefits of salmon farming Creating jobs for many people Creating jobs for many people Decreasing the price of all salmon (farmed and wild) Decreasing the price of all salmon (farmed and wild) Helping to reduce hunger worldwide Helping to reduce hunger worldwide

The Canadian Salmon Industry  The Canadian fishing industry is one of the most valuable in the world, generating $5 billion a year and providing more than 120, 000 jobs. Export of farmed salmon is one of the most significant exported agricultural products. With improvements in farmed fishing exploding and the possibility of genetically modified fish hitting the markets just around the corner, Canada’s economy will boom. Both British Columbia and New Brunswick pose excellent breeding conditions for farmed salmon.

The Ocean Conservancy Though farm fishing is an effective approach, we must help repopulate and restore balance to our oceans. The Ocean Conservancy is working to end overfishing by a variety of approaches: -Research on ocean ecosystems and sustainable fisheries management -Promoting legislation that requires sustainable fishing -Helping managers implement existing laws that govern fishing -Legal action to enforce laws that protect fish -Creating no-fishing areas to let fish populations replenish

Conclusion Our seas are being overfished, and while we are looking for new ways to increase fishing, we must also look for ways to help repopulate the fish supply. A start is a better use of resources if we are to make them last. Each year approximately 27 million tons of fish are killed and thrown overboard, a very wasteful practice. Farm fishing does have its positives, but its negatives are just as extreme. We must not be naïve and think that fish are in limitless supply, our carelessness will catch up with us one day. Our seas are being overfished, and while we are looking for new ways to increase fishing, we must also look for ways to help repopulate the fish supply. A start is a better use of resources if we are to make them last. Each year approximately 27 million tons of fish are killed and thrown overboard, a very wasteful practice. Farm fishing does have its positives, but its negatives are just as extreme. We must not be naïve and think that fish are in limitless supply, our carelessness will catch up with us one day.

Works Cited overfishing overfishing overfishing overfishing reports/Vol24No07/countries reports/Vol24No07/countries reports/Vol24No07/countries reports/Vol24No07/countries