Fish Farms Bad for Lobsters

Inka Milewski has done some more science on the problems with fish farms in Atlantic Canada: https://www.saltwire.com/atlantic-canada/federal-election/strongfish-farms-not-suitable-everywhere-says-biologist-after-shelburne-studystrong-92674/.

This time she shows there is evidence of problems with lobsters and the seabed.

"Not every bay, harbour, or inlet along Nova Scotia's coast is suitable for open net pen fish farming. That message is one of the conclusions of a multi-year study examining the recovery of the sea bottom in Shelburne Harbour during the months and years after the fish cages have been removed."

After two years of study after a fish farm was removed, there remain toxic problems: "She says that long after the last salmon were harvested at the former Sandy Point farm site in Shelburne Harbour, the sea bottom remains toxic and marine life has not recovered."

"Her study found that 50 to 90 percent of the sea bottom under and around the former fish farm remains covered in white sulfur-tolerant bacterial mats and sediment copper and zinc levels are still at toxic levels. Copper and zinc are additives in fish feed and are used in anti-fouling products found in marine paint and coatings for nets and rope.

Sediment sulphide levels, the only measure the Nova Scotia Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture uses to evaluate environmental health, are also still above acceptable limits." Typical for goverment is that they only look at very restricted research and then choose to ignore that limited science.

"Milewski said that her study shows that the location of fish farms matters and she hopes that the recommendations from the independent panel reviewing aquaculture regulations in Nova Scotia will address the need for better site selection criteria and process.

Milewski said that a more robust site selection process would avoid putting open net pen farms where there is a greater likelihood of environment damage, traditional fisheries displacement, and community dissatisfaction."

So, fish farms cause serious problems long after they are taken out of the water, and government fails to enforce laws against them.