Are predators problem in aquaculture?
Predators are a problem in aquaculture. Other animals that occur naturally in or around the aquatic environment where fish farms are located will often view farmed fish as a potential food source. Marine finfish predators include seals and birds such as kingfishers, herons, mergansers and gulls. Freshwater finfish predators include otters, mink and raccoons, and eagles and osprey. Eagles and osprey are endangered species and are therefore managed and handled in a non-lethal manner. Shellfish predators include starfish and diving ducks (e.g. eider and scoter), crabs and sometimes lobsters. Although in many cases, farmers have a legal right to protect their livestock from predatory wildlife, there are certain limitations to the types of methods employed to achieve this protection. Before any control method is considered, aquaculture producers should first determine, 1) whether predatory control is economically justified, and 2) if federal or provincial laws protect the predatory species
