Canada: Activists distort data to attack B.C. salmon farmers

Anti-fish farming activists in British Columbia are spreading misinformation about the impact of salmon aquaculture on wild salmon populations, claiming that the removal of salmon farms leads to a decrease in sea lice and an increase in wild salmon numbers. However, data from the Broughton Archipelago and other scientific sources, including the Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat and a comprehensive literature review from Norway, contradict these claims, showing no significant impact of sea lice from salmon farms on wild juvenile salmon. The activists' claims are criticized for oversimplifying complex ecological dynamics and ignoring other factors such as ocean temperature, overfishing, and habitat degradation, which have a greater impact on wild salmon. The British Columbia Salmon Farmers Association is using the most up-to-date science, including traditional ecological knowledge from First Nations, to address these misconceptions and continue operating in a way that benefits both wild salmon and rural communities.