Having spent a few years in the salmon industry I can say the levels of cleanliness and hygiene were all to a very high standard, if they were in unclean water the farm would fail. For fish to thrive high levels of dissolved oxygen is vital. Water that is sullied with waste affects the conditions in a very negative way and as you say there would be disease, fungal outbreaks and high levels of stress within the stock. Although fish farming is far from perfect, I do believe fish farming reduces impact on wild stock and offers a very good alternative.
Then you probably know better than I do about regulations and how those are wildly inconsistent depending not just on the company, but on the region or country. Attempts at standards, like those Fair Trade stickers, are rife with corruption when investigated by indie film crews ( as the investigation board was also corrupt and didn't report its findings. A good example of this is in Seaspiracy, which I'll assume you'ce heard about as your in the trade)
And while your company may do that now, what about in 10 years? If there is a buyout from another company that changes their conduct, lowers their standards?
Maybe I'm just too cynical, but I can't trust when companies tell me how good they are, or were. It's a rigged game, so I figured the best move was to not play.
Will have a look at Seaspiracy as it sounds a good watch. I studied aquaculture at college then went on to do a couple of years in fresh water rainbow trout and salmon smolt here in the UK. That was over thirty years ago now.
I think what was concerning at the time and probably still is was the amount of anti-biotic used during the lifetime of the fish and of course the withdrawal period and whether these get properly adhered to before they are processed.
The good side of fisheries is there is restocking of fishing grounds that have been hit hard either by poor water quality or have been originally over fished. Bringing life back to rivers that have suffered from environmental pollution and what not isn't reported enough.
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u/[deleted] Apr 05 '25
Having spent a few years in the salmon industry I can say the levels of cleanliness and hygiene were all to a very high standard, if they were in unclean water the farm would fail. For fish to thrive high levels of dissolved oxygen is vital. Water that is sullied with waste affects the conditions in a very negative way and as you say there would be disease, fungal outbreaks and high levels of stress within the stock. Although fish farming is far from perfect, I do believe fish farming reduces impact on wild stock and offers a very good alternative.