This summer organics hit a new low. With funding support from Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) members of the aquaculture industry developed their own draft organic aquaculture standards. The allowances in the standards—including organic certification of fish treated with antibiotics and chemicals toxic to marine organisms—would make any organic label reader turn pale. (more…)
Farmed and Dangerous Blog
Archive for September, 2010
Proposed organic standards for farmed fish fail to reflect the general principles of organic production
Friday, September 10th, 2010Abundant Fraser sockeye returns in 2010 not a sign of general recovery
Thursday, September 9th, 2010
Record returns of some Fraser River sockeye stocks have been making headlines over the past few weeks. With an estimated 34 million expected to return, this is in stark contrast to last year’s dismal return of only 1.5 million. While we celebrate, it’s important to remember that one good return year against a background of steady decline in Fraser sockeye over more than a decade does not signal recovery. (more…)
Chemical sea lice treatments on salmon farms and their unknown effects on the ecosystem
Wednesday, September 1st, 2010Sea lice are a problem for salmon farms worldwide. These parasitic crustaceans (which are related to crabs and shrimp) attach to fish and feed on their mucus and tissue, harming the industry’s product. To minimize economic losses, companies use a variety of pesticides to combat sea lice, each with their own disconcerting set of problems. (more…)
