Public and NGO resistance stiffens at three recirculating aquaculture system farms in France

Published Aug 22, 2024

Tridge summary

Public opposition is growing against three recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) fish farm projects in France, with animal welfare NGO Welfarm and marine conservation NGO Seastemik leading the charge. A petition by Seastemik has gathered 58,432 signatures, calling for a ban on land-based farms until salmon welfare is ensured. Welfarm is critical of RAS farms, citing cruel living conditions, high water and energy usage, carbon emissions, and the need for fishmeal and fish oil, which involve the slaughter of wild fish. The NGO is seeking a moratorium on new RAS farms until certain conditions are met, including the assessment of fish welfare and environmental impact, the limitation of stocking density, and the development of a national plan to reduce the use of fishmeal and fish oil. The projects in contention are Smart Salmon’s farm, Local Ocean’s project, and Pure Salmon’s RAS farm.

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Original content

Three recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) fish farm projects in France are facing mounting public opposition, led by animal welfare NGO Welfarm and marine conservation NGO Seastemik.Metz, France-based Welfarm, a partner of the larger Eurogroup for Animals and World Federation for Animals groups, initiated an oppositional campaign in April 2023, and Seastemik, a French organization founded in 2023 with a focus on eliminating commercial salmon farming, have launched a petition that has collected 58,432 signatures through 21 August, calling for a law prohibiting the construction of land-based farms in France “until the welfare of the salmon is guaranteed.”“Farms that are using entirely RAS are a source of great suffering for fish because of several issues: extreme densities, which are necessary to achieve a return on investments; risks of mass-mortality events, with the survival of salmon depending on the system’s equipment’s state of function; tough living conditions, with this ...

Source: Seafoodsource