Aquaculture Facts
Atlantic Salmon Federation
P. O. Box 5200, St. Andrews, NB E5B 3S8
P. O. Box 807, Calais, ME USA 04619–0807
Tel: (506) 529–4581
www.asf.ca
Protecting Wild Atlantic Salmon From Interactions with Salmon
Farmed in Open Sea Cages
The Atlantic Salmon Federation (ASF) works to mitigate these interactions by:
• Advocating for effective government regulation and enforcement at provincial, national, and international levels
• Conducting research, monitoring and documenting interactions between farmed and wild salmon
• Reporting escapes from sea cages to government, media, and public
• Conducting research and promoting freshwater, land-based, closed containment aquaculture
• Working with industry to encourage implementation of the closed-containment technology
• Keeping the media and public apprised of advantages and progress in this technology
. • Appealing to the Nova Scotia Supreme Court, in partnership with EcoJustice and local communities, the decision to allow large-scale open net pen salmon farms in St. Mary’s Bay
Closed containment completely separates farmed salmon production from the environment,
resulting in:
• No transmission of diseases and parasites to wild salmon
• No interbreeding that results in weakening of the wild gene pool.
• No competition between wild and farmed salmon for food and habitat
The Conservation Fund Freshwater Institute in West Virginia, in partnership with ASF,:
• Grows Atlantic salmon in closed containment on land in freshwater
• Is proving the technology is feasible
• In 2011-12, raised Saint John River Strain in 12-month trial
• Achieved excellent survival of fish
• Achieved very good food conversion rate
• Continuously cleaned and reused 99.8% of water
• Captured 99% of fish waste solids and phosphorus during the recycling process
• Had no issues with sea lice, pesticides, or escapes
• Eliminated the need for vaccines, harsh chemicals or antibiotics
• Produced high quality salmon praised by chefs and consumers in taste tests
• Shared the results with the Canadian government’s Standing Committee on Closed Containment
through presentation by Bill Taylor and site visit by Members of Parliament
ASF’s partnership with The Conservation Fund Freshwater Institute in the next three years will:
• Identify best seedstock for land-based closed containment
• Host aquaculture innovation workshops to share progress and encourage use of technology
• Assess harvest techniques and marketing research
August 2012