Tuesday, March 19, 2013

19/03/13: Smolts released at 'Namgis First Nation farm; lead in sharks used for fishmeal; British Columbia aquaculture management video

On March 18, 2013, the first smolts arrived at the 'Namgis First Nation’s Closed Containment Salmon Farm - the first land-based, closed containment Atlantic salmon farm in Canada, and one of the first in the world that will raise Atlantic salmon to full market size.
The project has been underway since 2009 and has received funding from numerous bodies including Sustainable Development Technology Canada ($2.65m); DFO’s Aquaculture Innovation and Market Access Program ($800K); and Aboriginal Affairs Canada ($257K).

A study published in the open access journal, Tropical Conservation Science,raises concerns about levels of heavy metals, particularly lead, in shark meat used as fish feed. Sharks are primarily caught as by-catch and are used to make fishmeal, which is then fed to farmed fish.
Sharks are susceptible to bioaccumulation (the accumulation of heavy metals and other toxins in the body) through diet.
Read more...

In British Columbia, the aquaculture industry is regulated and managed by the federal government. This responsibility includes monitoring farmed fish health, assessing potential impacts to the environment, and enforcing the Fisheries Act and Regulations. Fisheries and Oceans Canada staff explain their role in the management and regulation of the industry in B.C. This video explains more.


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