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[alwaysfishn]

We are all aware of how salmon feedlots pollute the ocean floor, spread diseases and sea lice...... however I wonder how many people are aware that the feedlots use night lights to attract wild fish to the pens. Is this where some of the sockeye smolts are disappearing as they migrate past the feedlots? Is this a way for the feedlots to cut down on fish meal costs? Why is it allowed?

http://www.iasproducts.com/aLUWLightingSel.html

Effect of artificial light on wild fish and zooplankton in an area of active salmon farming http://salmoncoast.org/artificial_light_effects_mcconnell
 
Project Summary

This project looked at the effect of artificial light on wild fish and invertebrates. Artificial light can change the behaviour of aquatic organisms, though the direction of response can be species and life-stage specific. Open net-pen salmon farms in British Columbia routinely illuminate their net pens during the winter and spring, with unknown consequences on the abundance and distribution of marine fish and invertebrates.

This project conducted paired lit and control samples consisting of plankton hauls and purse seines around a 400W underwater light such as those used on salmon farms. Invertebrates were marginally more abundant on lit nights, while larval fish and non-larval fish were significantly more abundant on lit nights. In particular, the invertebrate taxa Gastropoda and Bivalvia were significantly more abundant on lit nights, as were the fish species, Pacific herring (Clupea pallasi), sand lance (Ammodytes hexapterus), threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus), soft sculpin (Psychrolutes sigalutes), and great sculpin larvae (Myoxocephalus polyacanthocephalus). These results suggest that lights commonly used in open net-pen aquaculture may increase the abundance of some fish species around pens, thereby increasing the probability that farmed fish and wild species directly and indirectly interact in coastal marine environments.

[aquapaloosa]

We are all aware of how salmon feedlots pollute the ocean floor, spread diseases and sea lice...... however I wonder how many people are aware that the feedlots use night lights to attract wild fish to the pens. Is this where some of the sockeye smolts are disappearing as they migrate past the feedlots? Is this a way for the feedlots to cut down on fish meal costs? Why is it allowed?

Thanks AF.  This is yet another fine example of the lengths you and others will go without any actual facts.  We all well know you will not listen to the farmer and that is why none of your group has ever asked.  The reason the lights are used is to fool the fish into a response that helps them grow/feed during the short daylight portions of the year. Its photo manipulation that fools smolts into feeling they are in the middle of summer.  This method is used for more than just livestock.  I believe this is only done with small fish or smolts.  It is not done to feed the fish wild products.  One minute you complain the fish are not eating natural products the next minute you are.  Anyway, This lighting is only used on atlantics when required.     Besides, wasn't it Morton and all the rest that believe that salmon farms are dead zones?  Guess you changed your minds again.  I am not surprised.

If light could travel through water the same as it does the air perhaps the lights would have some far reaching effect.  They just do not.

[alwaysfishn]

I appreciate that the feedlots are doing it to fool the fish, however like most of what they do, there are side affects. I just posted up a scientific study showing that these lights do attract fish.

While you are a fish farmer and seem to be an honest guy......  as Absolon would say "show me a scientific study that shows the lights have no affect on attracting wild salmon."

Logic suggests that the fish are attracted to the lights as well as the food source....  and if they don't get eaten, at the very least they are exposed to the sea lice and viruses the feedlot salmon are carrying.

[alwaysfishn]

Here's a company that knows quite a lot about attracting fish with light.... http://www.fishinglightsetc.com/Howtheywork.html

"........... light starts a natural food chain reaction by attracting a concentration of small microscopic animals called plankton.  Bait fish such as shad and minnows are drawn to the light to feed on the plankton; and larger game fish move in to feed on the bait fish.  It's not uncommon to see bait fish stacked in columns 15 feet thick under the lights, with game fish suspended directly below them."

[aquapaloosa]

It all sounds like your usual speculations posted in a factual manor.  Whatever.....   For all you know wild salmon could benefit from lights being placed in the ocean but you have proven it time and time again that your rules you use to appose salmon farming do not apply to your reality in terms off all the other foods your consume.   I always think of you as a skinny frail little man based on your food rules.

[Bently]

Shhhhhhh!, maybe if everybody refuses to comment, AF will continue this thread on his own.

[alwaysfishn]

It all sounds like your usual speculations posted in a factual manor.  Whatever.....   For all you know wild salmon could benefit from lights being placed in the ocean but you have proven it time and time again that your rules you use to appose salmon farming do not apply to your reality in terms off all the other foods your consume.   I always think of you as a skinny frail little man based on your food rules.

   That's actually quite funny.... and it might even be true......   but it's off topic.   

[aquapaloosa]

Honours Thesis, Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 2008.

McConnell, A., R. Routledge, & B. Connors. The effect of artificial light on marine invertebrate and fish abundance in an area of active salmon farming. Marine Ecology Progress Series. In press.

Another pair of statisticians doing biology work. 

[absolon]

...... as Absolon would say "show me a scientific study that shows the lights have no affect on attracting wild salmon."......

No, absolon would say that this summary of a doctoral thesis apparently soon to be published by Morton's "research institute" suggests that.....

In particular, the invertebrate taxa Gastropoda and Bivalvia were significantly more abundant on lit nights, as were the fish species, Pacific herring (Clupea pallasi), sand lance (Ammodytes hexapterus), threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus), soft sculpin (Psychrolutes sigalutes), and great sculpin larvae (Myoxocephalus polyacanthocephalus)

There is no mention of the presence of wild salmon let alone an increased presence of them as a consequence of the lights. One would expect that given the salmon are the particular subject of concern, any presence of them would certainly warrant a mention. Further, the summary suggests that there was no research into the effects of that increased presence and the lack of information on experimental methods means there is no way to tell if the experiment was designed to replicate actual conditions.

Consequently, your conclusions don't follow from the research and from the summary published,  don't match those of the authors.

[Bassonator]

No, absolon would say that this summary of a doctoral thesis apparently soon to be published by Morton's "research institute" suggests that.....

In particular, the invertebrate taxa Gastropoda and Bivalvia were significantly more abundant on lit nights, as were the fish species, Pacific herring (Clupea pallasi), sand lance (Ammodytes hexapterus), threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus), soft sculpin (Psychrolutes sigalutes), and great sculpin larvae (Myoxocephalus polyacanthocephalus)

There is no mention of the presence of wild salmon let alone an increased presence of them as a consequence of the lights. One would expect that given the salmon are the particular subject of concern, any presence of them would certainly warrant a mention. Further, the summary suggests that there was no research into the effects of that increased presence and the lack of information on experimental methods means there is no way to tell if the experiment was designed to replicate actual conditions.

Consequently, your conclusions don't follow from the research and from the summary published,  don't match those of the authors.

What did you expect its AF.....

[alwaysfishn]

No, absolon would say that this summary of a doctoral thesis apparently soon to be published by Morton's "research institute" suggests that.....

In particular, the invertebrate taxa Gastropoda and Bivalvia were significantly more abundant on lit nights, as were the fish species, Pacific herring (Clupea pallasi), sand lance (Ammodytes hexapterus), threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus), soft sculpin (Psychrolutes sigalutes), and great sculpin larvae (Myoxocephalus polyacanthocephalus)

There is no mention of the presence of wild salmon let alone an increased presence of them as a consequence of the lights. One would expect that given the salmon are the particular subject of concern, any presence of them would certainly warrant a mention. Further, the summary suggests that there was no research into the effects of that increased presence and the lack of information on experimental methods means there is no way to tell if the experiment was designed to replicate actual conditions.

Consequently, your conclusions don't follow from the research and from the summary published,  don't match those of the authors.

So you are saying that the light attracts everything except salmonoids?  Come now Absolon, use a little logic....

The lights attract plankton, which is the main food source for sockeye smolts. Admit it, the feedlots are giant attractors for all sorts of fish and these fish have no chance of survival when they enter those pens.... 

[absolon]

I'm reading directly from the summary of the research and though the researchers list the species found in higher abundance, they make no mention of salmon. Presumably they would know and are in a better position than you to describe their results. Giddyup horsey!

[alwaysfishn]

I'm reading directly from the summary of the research and though the researchers list the species found in higher abundance, they make no mention of salmon. Presumably they would know and are in a better position than you to describe their results. Giddyup horsey!

Still refusing to use a little logic......

The fact that they did not catch any salmonoids in the net only proves there were none in the area at the time the tests were taken.

The study was conducted near Gilford Island which is well away from any salmon migratory route and because the time period was between early February and the middle of April there wouldn't have been any sockeye present as they don't normally start migrating till May.

Admit it, your argument that no salmonoids were caught, and suggesting that proves that feedlot lights don't attract wild salmonoids, is one of the silliest arguments you've ever put forward....    

What I provided was a summary of the actual scientific study. Why don't you read the entire 10 page report before commenting any further....

[troutbreath]

Great bit of information, and one that can be hard to get your maw around if you don't understand pit lamping. Thanks AF but the dinos are going to challenge that the ice age existed, over recognizing repercussions of pit lamping for the sake of making a buck. Your worth 10 Annies though in terms of putting up with their personal attacks against your physical appearance and other kinds of low blow comments.


I thought pit lamping was illegal in BC but I guess the dirty little open pen fish farmer weirdos have found a new angle to it. Shame and fail to them.

[Bassonator]

Awwwww...look TB is back.....where ya been we missed ya.......I must say I guess you didnt read the article either or cant comprehend whats written, and its written by your compatriots too, stataticians turned biologists..