Food for thought - Fish Farming

[TylerM4]

For those of you against fish farming, here's something to chew on:

The idea of farming food isn't new. The problems and concerns associated with fish farms apply to all animal farming practices.

The only thing new, is that we're now talking about fish instead of chickens, pigs, oysters, or what have you. Many of the animals farmed are now so domesticated that they have no hope of survival in the wild anymore.

Are you against all kinds of farming, or just fish. If it's just fish - why?

[generalposter]

For those of you against fish farming, here's something to chew on:

The idea of farming food isn't new. The problems and concerns associated with fish farms apply to all animal farming practices.

The only thing new, is that we're now talking about fish instead of chickens, pigs, oysters, or what have you. Many of the animals farmed are now so domesticated that they have no hope of survival in the wild anymore.

Are you against all kinds of farming, or just fish. If it's just fish - why?

Fish farming in the open ocean is entirely different than any domesticated land animals. The nature of the environment is far more conducive to the spreading of disease and parasites. Any disease, parasite or escaped fish cannot be contained nearly as well as on land. If a sick cow or pig escapes the chances of it spreading its illness before recapture are far slimmer. Even oysters, once established, do not move freely through their habitat. Imo the comparison you have made is not a reasonable one.

[alanjh595]

Here is a list of diseases from farmed animals that can be transferred to humans.

https://www.doh.wa.gov/YouandYourFamily ... edDiseases

Here is one from that list that everyone should recognize, and it more often comes from wild animals.

What is plague?
Plague is an uncommon infectious disease of animals and humans caused by Yersinia pestis (Y. pestis) bacteria. Y. pestis is present in wild rodents and their fleas in many areas around the world, including most of the western United States.

Here is another one.

What is Lyme disease?
Lyme disease is a bacterial disease caused by Borrelia burgdorferi. Typical symptoms include a characteristic "bull's-eye" (target) shaped rash along with fever, headache, and muscle or joint pain. Not everyone with Lyme disease will develop a rash, though sometimes multiple "bull's-eye" rashes will occur. In some cases, other more severe symptoms may occur. Lyme disease can be successfully treated with antibiotics, but if left untreated, people can develop serious infections in the joints, heart, and nervous system.

[TylerM4]

Fish farming in the open ocean is entirely different than any domesticated land animals. The nature of the environment is far more conducive to the spreading of disease and parasites. Any disease, parasite or escaped fish cannot be contained nearly as well as on land. If a sick cow or pig escapes the chances of it spreading its illness before recapture are far slimmer. Even oysters, once established, do not move freely through their habitat. Imo the comparison you have made is not a reasonable one.

Pretty thin there and certainly a reasonable comparison if that's all you can come up with.

Land animals can travel just as far if not farther than sea animals. Bird flu's are a good example. Other animals are shipped across country to be slaughtered and sold. Ever heard of Mad Cow disease? Not long ago they were taking extra precautions at border crossings in North america due to an outbreak in Europe.

[cutter7]

when the fish farm industry realized their pens were killing the sea bottom directly underneath them, their solution was to move them into tidal areas where the tide dispersed their waste along the ocean floor.

Atlantic salmon is an alien species to this coast, escapes add another predator to the food source for local species.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-c ... -1.4257369

They are a year round host to sea lice vs wild salmon which pass through our waters for only a few months.

Most people are not against farm fish , we are against open pen farming and hope the fish farms move to land based containment.

The Namgis people of alert bay started a land based fish farm a few years back although i have not heard how they are doing.

[TylerM4]

when the fish farm industry realized their pens were killing the sea bottom directly underneath them, their solution was to move them into tidal areas where the tide dispersed their waste along the ocean floor.

Atlantic salmon is an alien species to this coast, escapes add another predator to the food source for local species.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-c ... -1.4257369

They are a year round host to sea lice vs wild salmon which pass through our waters for only a few months.

Most people are not against farm fish , we are against open pen farming and hope the fish farms move to land based containment.

The Namgis people of alert bay started a land based fish farm a few years back although i have not heard how they are doing.

All valid concerns and problems. I'm not saying that farming is all roses - I'm just saying farming fish is little different than farming other animals except it's in the sea vs on land.

[cutter7]

I hear what you are saying, one big difference is farms are usually on private land and negative impact belongs to the land owner.

The ocean belongs to all of us and foreign owned fish farms are polluting our water and having a negative impact on other species that depend on it.

[TylerM4]

I hear what you are saying, one big difference is farms are usually on private land and negative impact belongs to the land owner.

The ocean belongs to all of us and foreign owned fish farms are polluting our water and having a negative impact on other species that depend on it.

Sure. Except what about cattle ranging rights? Huge swaths of crown land is regularly leased to cattle owners to allow their cattle to roam the bush.

[Cactusflower]

Here you go:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTCQ2IA_Zss

[alanjh595]

Here you go:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTCQ2IA_Zss

From 2013? Really? How about something from at least 2017 and provided by a reliable and credible source?

[TylerM4]

Here you go:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTCQ2IA_Zss

You fail to see the point of this thread. This thread isn't a "Everything is cool with fish farming, what you guys all worked up about?" thread.

I'm simply saying it's no different than any other type of farming. Nothing in that documentary is fundamentally new or unique to fish farming. Diseases have been spread by farmed animals for 1000's of years now. Whole populations wiped out, contaminants/hormones have made their way up the food chain, diseases transferred to other animals species/humans, damage to habitat, etc.

If you look there are similar documentaries about most other types of animal farming as well - all with the same arguments and reasons for why it's bad. Chickens being the most common.

I hate when people cite documentaries as a source of information. You do realize that when it comes to finding unbiased and factual information documentaries are just a small step up from "I saw it on Facebook" right? Documentaries are made for profit not public education.