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[IronNoggin]

The Release:

Closed containment fish farming viable - DFO
Courier-Islander
Published: Friday, November 26, 2010

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) has released a new report that affirms the economic viability of closed containment technology for salmon aquaculture.

The department also recommends building a pilot scale or demonstration system as a next step. The Coastal Alliance for Aquaculture Reform (CAAR) says it is delighted that the federal government is finally recognizing the potential of closed containment technology as a serious alternative to harmful net-cage operations.

The Feasibility Study of Closed-Containment Options for the British Columbia Aquaculture Industry recognizes that land-based recirculation aquaculture systems (RAS) are likely to show positive returns and that once the technology becomes more widely adopted within the sector, capital and operating costs may continue to go down.

This new study shows that closed containment salmon farming is economically viable, something we have said for years," says David Lane of T. Buck Suzuki Environmental Foundation and CAAR. "In fact, numerous companies are moving ahead with plans for closed containment in B.C., creating a potential multi-million dollar sustainable salmon farming industry, with new jobs and an economic boost for coastal communities."

DFO's report goes on to recommend the construction of a pilot project at commercial-scale to demonstrate the system's technical and financial feasibility in real world conditions. CAAR has long called for government investment to spur development of the technology and is urging the federal government to allocate funds for this purpose in the 2011 federal budget.

"Our federal government must step up to the plate now to ensure that this green technology moves forward quickly so that Canada can capitalize on this enormous opportunity in sustainable aquaculture," says Catherine Stewart of Living Oceans Society and CAAR.

CAAR is also working with Marine Harvest Canada (MHC) on their proposal for a commercial-scale pilot project.

MHC is currently undergoing a site selection process on Vancouver Island, with a preference for the North Island.

© Courier-Islander (Campbell River) 2010                                                 

And the very swift response:

Closed containment press release seen as a joke.

Submitted by editor on November 27, 2010 - 15:04

A report on closed containment fish farming was released this past week by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO). The report looked at the financial viability of several ways to grow salmon, which included land based tanks, ocean net pens and ocean solid walled systems. Land tanks shows a marginal return on investment after 3 years (4%) and ocean net pens returned 52%. All other options failed to return a profit. The government then, and rightly so, recommends a land based system (Recirculating Aquaculture System, RAS) pilot project to see if the estimated financial returns are accurate or can be improved.

The Coastal Alliance for Aquaculture Reform (CAAR), came quickly out of the gate with a press release entitled "DFO study confirms viability of closed containment technology for salmon aquaculture". (note-the CAAR release does not link to the DFO report). We're not sure if they actually read the study? Cause that ain't what it said at all. It said 4% return. Maybe that's why none of these wingnuts have made it in the real world of business.

CAAR was hoping journalists would just take their word for it and not actually read the study. Thankfully, respected journalists are becoming all too aware of the games played by CAAR and their U.S. Foundation friends.
Scott Simpson at the Vancouver Sun did pick up the story and wrote this reasonable article: "Fisheries department recommends salmon aquaculture pilot project."

Yep, that's accurate.

But then Scott must have read a little further and the next day reported, "Open salmon pens more profitable".

Yep, even more accurate.

For comparison sake, the BC Salmon Farmers Association (BCSFA) released a statement about the DFO study as well: "Some answers, more questions for closed containment". And note-it did link to the DFO study.


http://www.farmfreshsalmon.org/blog/closed-containment-press-release-seen-joke

[StillAqua]

I think it's important to note that having a lower profit margin of 4% really means the industry is spending more in BC on jobs, construction, energy, etc. to build and run the farms rather than exporting the profits (52%) to foreign aquaculture investors. Higher labour costs is one of the reasons closed containment has a lower profit. We want an aquaculture industry that has a reasonable profit margin to be viable but that generates a lot of economic activity and jobs in BC. We don't want an industry that is a profit cash cow for foreign multi-nationals on the backs of our environment and wild fish.

[alwaysfishn]

I would suggest that the profit margin that a foreign corporation generates is irrelevant. That's their problem.

Yes jobs are important to BC but not at the cost of our environment and our wild fisheries...

[chris gadsden]

Two thousand people call on the BC government to concede that they have failed to renew salmon feedlot land tenures -  it is time to remove the pens
 

For Immediate release – Echo Bay, B.C. – Six days ago “A Digital Gathering” began and 2,098 people have signed.
 
“Out of respect for the law of this land, the Broughton First Nations and future generations, we recognize that the land tenures under the salmon feedlots in Broughton have expired. We the under-signed affirm that the region known as the Broughton Archipelago (between and including Kingcome and Knight Inlets and west through Drury Inlet) is therefore legally salmon feedlot-free. We call on the Province of British Columbia to honour this reality that they caused by not renewing the salmon feedlot leases and remove the feedlot equipment from Broughton so that wild fish can thrive in these waters to the benefit of all.”
 
https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?hl=en&formkey=dERTSXFqc3pNZTFRaTlRZVVxUUFaV3c6MQ#gid=0

While the BC government appears to support salmon feedlots in the ocean, they have not renewed the land tenure agreements that give each feedlot legal access to anchor over the seafloor in the Broughton Archipelago.
 
“Some of these operations have not had a valid tenure for several years,” says BC biologist, Alexandra Morton. “They are operating on a month-to-month arrangement. This is rather huge. No one can figure out why and that concerns us.”
 
It is unclear whether the problem is failure to win First Nations approval, failure to clear Transport Canada, constitutional matters that prohibit privatization of ocean spaces, or liability issues. But as it stand the Broughton Archipelago is legally salmon feedlot-free.
 
On December 18, as per a BC Supreme Court ruling, the province must hand management of the salmon feedlot industry back to the Federal Government, which gave it to BC unlawfully in 1988.  Federal authorizations to operate will be issued, but the land tenures agreements (or lack of) will remain with the province.
 
“How can the federal government authorize an industrial activity that appears unable to get legal tenure to the physical sites they occupy,” asks Morton? “Legally, constitutionally and biologically this industry never quite fits and we in the Broughton live with the day-to-day consequences of this. If the province can’t tenure this industry what is it doing in the ocean?  Legally Broughton is salmon feedlot-free and the province needs to own up to that.”
 
Contact – Alexandra Morton 250-974-7086

[Dogbreath]

I would suggest that the profit margin that a foreign corporation generates is irrelevant. That's their problem.

No foreign investment equates few if any jobs.

Yes jobs are important to BC but not at the cost of our environment and our wild fisheries...

Most people here disagree in fact most people couldn't care less about the environment-posters on this board are tiny minority.

Witness the turnout @ a rally downtown Vancouver to protest fish farming-less than 10% of the numbers who showed up to smoke marijuana in public.

[aquapaloosa]

 Since we are now embracing DFO reports thought I would include this one.

Myths and Realities about Salmon Farming

[troutbreath]

Since we are now embracing DFO reports thought I would include this one.

Myths and Realities about Salmon Farming

That hyperbole is from 2005 and a few disasters have occured since then. If they all used the same safe containmnent technique to raise Salmon then their profits would not be an issue. But these scoundrels open up in countries where they can get away with shoddy practices and then complain that they can't do that here. They can chew on my stool !

[aquapaloosa]

That hyperbole is from 2005 and a few disasters have occured since then. If they all used the same safe containmnent technique to raise Salmon then their profits would not be an issue. But these scoundrels open up in countries where they can get away with shoddy practices and then complain that they can't do that here. They can chew on my stool !

TB,

  Please post this "safe closed containment technique" to raise salmon where profits, safety and sustainability would not be an issue.  Did you not read the report?  Closed containment profits=4% apposed to net pens = 54%. 

Yes that DFO report may be from 2005 but the myths are the same today.  For those who missed it: 
Myths and Realities about Salmon Farming

Your posting style on this issue suggests you are chewing your stool, and when you post your chewing with your mouth open.  Lighten up.

[troutbreath]

That's funny I thought the same thing about you aquapastoolbreath.

[aquapaloosa]

Since we are now embracing DFO reports thought I would include this one.

Myths and Realities about Salmon Farming

Pretty plain english I think without talking trash about anyone.

That hyperbole is from 2005 and a few disasters have occured since then. If they all used the same safe containmnent technique to raise Salmon then their profits would not be an issue. But these scoundrels open up in countries where they can get away with shoddy practices and then complain that they can't do that here. They can chew on my stool !

Little input with much trash talk. And you exaggerate.  If this is how you prefer to display your opinion so be it.  I don't think it supports your views very well.
Now are you going to put some content in your post or is the above all you have to contribute?

Again, please post this "safe closed containment technique" to raise salmon where profits, safety and sustainability.

[skaha]

-I just took a quick look at the myths and facts backgrounder... with only a few minutes.. no detailed examination I found the following:

Myth #8: Escaped, farmed salmon are killing wild salmon stocks.

Reality: Stricter regulations and improvements to net cage technology have had a significant impact on reducing the number of escaped farmed fish. For example, only 40 fish were reported to have escaped in British Columbia in 2003. Fears that escaped Atlantic salmon farmed in BC would establish themselves in the wild and harm wild salmon stocks have never materialized.

--I find this not to be a reasonable report, although It may be factual it does not include information that is easily attainable on its own site thus  represses the contradictory view.
-- From  pg 46 of the 2009 regulatory compliance report of a Large.. no number given escape... with the explanation that due to a sudden and large die off of fish accumulating at the bottom of the net the net collapsed.. the report futher indicated that this was a NON Preventable accident as the net used met the industry standard. I can only guess from this that the standards prior to 2003 were much worse than now and that the current standard will not prevent this kind of escapement in the future.

--further the statement we should not fear farmed salmon establishing themselves.. first we were told the could not successfully breed in the wild now we are told they can but not in significant enough Numbers to worry about.. the reason given that  stocking attempts in the past have failed..

--I would say given that large escapemet has and will happen even from those who comply with the industry standard that fish farms use only sterile fish  a technology that is used in BC for stocking lakes  where mixing with wild strains or breeding is not desireable.


--The myth that escaped salmon are killing wild stocks has no relation to the answer given. The fact is that Salmon can and will escape in large numbers... the issue is are these escaped fish a problem. Will the fish that escape  have a transferable disease, compete for existing food for wild fish  or use up valuable breeding areas.

--The question should be  Is it a reasonable risk to continue to allow large escapements of farmed fish into the wild.