Salmon and Pesticides

Just in case you needed more proof that farmed raised salmon is bad for the environment.

A drug long used by the fish farming industry to control sea lice infestations has become increasingly ineffective on the East Coast and is under scrutiny on the West Coast, according to federal government documents obtained under Access to Information.

Slice, which is administered to farmed salmon in their feed, is the only fully registered sea lice treatment in Canada. But the documents show its declining efficacy has forced the industry to seek alternatives – raising concerns that toxic pesticides are being released into the ocean under emergency authorizations.

LINK (Via: The Globe and Mail)

Alpha Max is the alternative being used in areas where Slice has become ineffective.

According to the Fisheries and Oceans Canada website:

While AlphaMax ™ is used successfully in other jurisdictions; concerns may arise about its effect on other marine species and the eco-system in the vicinity of aquaculture cage sites. With this in mind, the release of AlphaMax ™ in the region includes specific environmental requirements, such as research, monitoring, and surveillance as components of proper risk management.

Testing will take place while the pesticide is in use to efficiently observe any negative effects against other species. Should this occur the use of the pesticide would stop immediately.

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[Fishing Charter Vancouver Island]

But the documents show its declining efficacy has forced the industry to seek alternatives