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By Kathy Cogo
Scientists, tourist operators and environmentalists in the Northern Hemisphere have got it in for salmon farms. They're sending the United Nations a declaration against the practice saying it's unsustainable.It's another attack on sea cage aquaculture - an industry that's struggled for widespread acceptance.Critics say industrial net pen salmon farming started in Norway and has spread to the rest of the world.They want to see salmon farmed in closed tanks to stop disease spreading to wild fish and waters being polluted.But surely Australia's salmon farms, which are predominantly in Tasmania, are immune from such criticisms. Not says Craig Bohm from the Australian Marine Conservation Society. He says there are inherent problems with caged aquaculture. One problem is the effluent. "It's a bit like having raw sewage going straight into the sea from the coast without a sewerage treatment plant being in the way to filter out pollution. Other concerns we have are escapes. In one year in 2004 for example the low level escapes was 135,000 fish escapes."Mr Bohm also has concerns about farming exotic fish that have the potential to upset the ecosystem if they adapted to the environment. If the AMCS is opposed to this type of fish farming, what are the alternatives? Mr Bohm says there are sustainable ways to farm fish. "We say that landbased, closed system, well regulated, pollution managed aquaculture systems are the way to go." Simon Bennison from the National Aquaculture Council says salmon farming in Australia is oceans apart from the problems in the Northern Hemisphere because farms are highly regulated.He says, "And that has specific criteria that limits the industry being able to overload in certain areas. It's very tightly regulated. It's very compliant. You know it's quite a different situation to what's happened in other parts of the world." Is he worried that the reputation of salmon will suffer as a result of the declaration to the UN? Mr Bennison says, "I can't speak internationally about the salmon industry but the credentials of fish farming in Australia in particular are very good and we don't have any quarms about demonstrating the sustainability of the industry. Internationally the implications are difficult to assess. This is nothing new. A number of these groups have been jumping up and down making noises about various industries, not just ours." Tasmanian salmon farmer Mark Ryan agrees and says there haven't been any escapees from salmon farms in Australia for years. He doesn't see any connection between the problems experienced overseas and Australian farms.
In this report: Craig Bohm, Australian Marine Conservation SocietySimon Bennison, National Aquaculture Council
Scientists, tourist operators and environmentalists in the Northern Hemisphere have got it in for salmon farms. They're sending the United Nations a declaration against the practice saying it's unsustainable.It's another attack on sea cage aquaculture - an industry that's struggled for widespread acceptance.Critics say industrial net pen salmon farming started in Norway and has spread to the rest of the world.They want to see salmon farmed in closed tanks to stop disease spreading to wild fish and waters being polluted.But surely Australia's salmon farms, which are predominantly in Tasmania, are immune from such criticisms. Not says Craig Bohm from the Australian Marine Conservation Society. He says there are inherent problems with caged aquaculture. One problem is the effluent. "It's a bit like having raw sewage going straight into the sea from the coast without a sewerage treatment plant being in the way to filter out pollution. Other concerns we have are escapes. In one year in 2004 for example the low level escapes was 135,000 fish escapes."Mr Bohm also has concerns about farming exotic fish that have the potential to upset the ecosystem if they adapted to the environment. If the AMCS is opposed to this type of fish farming, what are the alternatives? Mr Bohm says there are sustainable ways to farm fish. "We say that landbased, closed system, well regulated, pollution managed aquaculture systems are the way to go." Simon Bennison from the National Aquaculture Council says salmon farming in Australia is oceans apart from the problems in the Northern Hemisphere because farms are highly regulated.He says, "And that has specific criteria that limits the industry being able to overload in certain areas. It's very tightly regulated. It's very compliant. You know it's quite a different situation to what's happened in other parts of the world." Is he worried that the reputation of salmon will suffer as a result of the declaration to the UN? Mr Bennison says, "I can't speak internationally about the salmon industry but the credentials of fish farming in Australia in particular are very good and we don't have any quarms about demonstrating the sustainability of the industry. Internationally the implications are difficult to assess. This is nothing new. A number of these groups have been jumping up and down making noises about various industries, not just ours." Tasmanian salmon farmer Mark Ryan agrees and says there haven't been any escapees from salmon farms in Australia for years. He doesn't see any connection between the problems experienced overseas and Australian farms.
In this report: Craig Bohm, Australian Marine Conservation SocietySimon Bennison, National Aquaculture Council
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