British Columbia salmon farmers cite new studies to challenge 2029 net pen ban

The BC Salmon Farmers Association (BCSFA) has highlighted two new peer-reviewed scientific studies which it states add to a growing body of evidence concluding that salmon farms in British Columbia do not harm wild Pacific salmon populations. The industry group is using the findings to urge the Canadian Government to reconsider its planned 2029 ban on marine net-pen salmon farms.

One study, published in Aquaculture Research, examined whether Tenacibaculosis, or mouthrot, could be transmitted from farm-raised Atlantic salmon to Chinook salmon. The study concluded that Chinook salmon cohabitating with infected Atlantic salmon showed no illness or mortality, even when exposed to high pathogen concentrations.

A second paper, published in the journal Scientific Data by Nature, compiled over two decades of sea lice data from nearly 100 farm sites and more than 365,000 wild fish. The association noted that this study highlights the variability in sea lice prevalence across regions and years and cautions against drawing sweeping conclusions from limited data.

Brian Kingzett, Executive Director of the BCSFA, stated that four major peer-reviewed studies have emerged this year alone reaffirming this conclusion. He cited a recent paper in the Journal of Fish Diseases and another in Aquaculture, Fish, and Fisheries.

"With the 2029 marine net-pen ban on BC salmon farms approaching, we respectfully urge the federal government to reconsider this decision," said Kingzett. "This policy...is not supported by science and will significantly impact coastal communities and Canadian food security."

The association adds that the ban risks $9 billion in taxpayer costs and “significant” economic losses to Canada.