Impacts of Salmon Aquaculture on the Coastal Environment: A

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Review

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6613

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Conservation Council of New Brunswick

2001

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Abstract

By the end of this decade, world-wide production of farmed salmon is estimated to reach 2,000,000

mt and almost all farmed salmon production takes place in sheltered areas of the coastal zone. This

paper reviews the main activities associated with the marine phase of salmon aquaculture

production, the pathways to the environment of the various activities and the potential effects on

the coastal environment. The review is based on a extensive survey of the last ten years of

published scientific research. It concludes there are large gaps in our knowledge of the impacts

salmon aquaculture has on the marine environment. At the same time, the review reveals that

salmon aquaculture: 1) contributes to coastal nutrient pollution, exacerbating existing problems from

agricultural runoff, sewage discharges and atmospheric deposition; 2) releases toxic compounds,

exacerbating existing pollution of coastal ecosystems; and 3) interferes with the performance of

existing wild salmonid stocks, exacerbating the continuing dec line in wild Atlantic salmon stocks.

Given the large gaps in our knowledge and the universally acknowledged poor state of health of

estuaries and coastal waters, it is recommended that regulatory agencies and policy-makers apply

the precautionary principle to decisions concerning expansion of salmon, as well as other finfish,

aquaculture in coastal waters and to maximizing mitigative measures (e.g., closed containment

systems, restrictions on the use of pesticide and acoustic deterrent devices, moratoriums, and

comprehensive environmental assessments) on existing operations.