Farmed salmon infect wild fish

Farmed salmon 'infect wild fish'

BBC NEWS

Thursday, 3 October, 2002, 11:13 GMT 12:13 UK

Fish farmers deny blame for declining wild stocks

The strongest evidence so far that wild fish are being
infected by farmed salmon is to be presented to a conference
in Denmark on Thursday.

Scottish Executive scientists found large numbers of sea lice near
the mouth of the River Shieldaig in the Western Highlands, where
young trout emerge into the sea. And their research indicates the

devastating parasites came from nearby salmon cages. But farmers
say the sharp decline in wild salmon and sea trout along the Scottish
coastline began long before they were there, and they are developing

better techniques to control disease. Conservation groups say wild
salmon have declined by two thirds in the past 30 years, and are
increasingly susceptible to impacts from industry. And, they claim,
the rapid growth of salmon farming is one of the main threats to the
wild fish.

Campaigners say farmed fish are a problem

'Working together'

The research suggested that every second year, when farms are at
an early stage of breeding, numbers of sea lice fell. Samples taken
offshore also showed sea lice moving from cages to the shore -
not the other way around.
But John Russell, from trade body Scottish Quality Salmon, said:
"This report may be new but the information it contains is old.
"Fish farmers have learnt a lot. Under area management agreements
we have worked with the government and anglers to tackle these
issues.
"An extremely effective treatment for sea lice as well as improved
farming techniques have made a dramatic difference."

Salmon farming has increased hugely

Mr Russell added: "Our aim is to minimalise the burden of sea lice on farm salmon and wild fish, and we have to work positively together to do that. "We are doing that in this area."
Salmon farmers around the North Atlantic produced 4,783 tonnes in 1980, and 658,735 tonnes in 2000.

Sale ban
The Atlantic Salmon Federation, Greenpeace and the global environment campaign, WWF, are calling for "fish-farming free zones" to protect rivers and bays.
They also want commercial wild salmon fisheries on migratory feeding grounds in the Faroes and West Greenland to close.
Meanwhile, the Scottish Executive has banned the sale of salmon and sea trout caught by rod and line in an attempt to conserve wild fish stocks.
Deputy rural development minister Allan Wilson said the ban had "overwhelming" support from the individuals and organisations consulted.
"In many of our rivers, anglers are being encouraged to release salmon and sea trout they have caught.
"And increasing numbers of them are doing this.
"It is unacceptable that sport fishermen try to catch as many as possible so they can sell them," Deputy rural development minister Allan Wilson
A Scottish Executive spokesman said the research provided "further useful information about sea lice interactions which we will be considering".
It reinforces the need for an "area management" based approach and close co-operation between farmed and wild fishery interests, he added.