Research Document 1998/169
A review and assessment of mitigative measures to eliminate or minimize potential impacts of farmed salmon operations on wild Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) stocks
By J.A. Ritter
Abstract
An overview is provided of mitigative measures for Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) freshwater hatcheries and marine farms to minimize genetic, fish disease and ecological effects on wild salmon in the Maritime Provinces. Measures to prevent or reduce interactions with wild salmon stocks include maintaining healthy wild stocks, improved containment of cultured salmon in both hatcheries and marine farms, selected siting of hatcheries and farms to minimize interactions between farmed and wild salmon, use of local stocks to minimize genetic effects, sterilization of farmed fish to prevent genetic introgression, and application of good husbandry and disease prevention measures to produce healthy farmed salmon. Other measures discussed include recapturing escapees, enhanced training and education of aquaculture workers, reporting farmed escapees, more rigorous enforcement of existing regulations, domestication of the farmed strains, blocking passage of farmed escapees into salmon rivers and gene banking. Mitigative measures are assessed in terms of their effectiveness as a conservation measure for wild salmon, their technical and economic feasibility, and their acceptability to industry. Effective implementation of mitigative measures is dependent upon the support and involvement of the aquaculture producers.
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