How do you respond to allegations that sea lice from fish farms in the area are killing juvenile pink salmon as they migrate out to sea?
Pink salmon populations have varied greatly from year to year over the last fifty years [see chart]. Our research to date has not shown that sea lice originating from fish farms are causing these fluctuations. Our findings from the 2003 monitoring study also did not show that juvenile salmon follow any predictable corridor therefore it is difficult to draw linkages to sea lice infestation of juvenile salmon to salmon farms. Our analysis of the data suggests that sea lice “over winter” or are being passed onto to juvenile salmon from other fish species, like sticklebacks.
Pink salmon populations have varied greatly from year to year over the last fifty years [see chart]. Our research to date has not shown that sea lice originating from fish farms are causing these fluctuations. Our findings from the 2003 monitoring study also did not show that juvenile salmon follow any predictable corridor, therefore it is difficult to draw linkages to sea lice infestation of juvenile salmon to salmon farms. Our analysis of the data suggests that sea lice “overwinter” or are being passed on to juvenile salmon from other fish species such as sticklebacks.
