A barrier between farmed fish and the marine environment helps protect the ecosystem and wild fish from the impacts of industrial salmon farming. Wastes, disease, parasites, escapes, and other risks are better controlled with closed, contained systems. This protection is the reason why CAAR supports the move to closed containment systems for salmon aquaculture in BC.

The BC public, businesses, and governments have shown strong support for closed containment:

• Polls have shown over 80% of British Columbians favour the move towards closed systems for aquaculture.
• The final report of the Pacific Salmon Forum, a three-year government funded research program, was released in February 2009 and frankly  acknowledged  the  magnitude  of  the problems wild salmon are facing, including those created  by  open  net-cage  salmon  farms. One of the PSF's recommendations  was Provincial  funding  for a commercial-scale  closed  containment  project.
• The BC Legislature’s Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services advised funding a closed containment development initiative in the 2009 budget. The 2009 budget, however, did not contain any funding for closed containment.
• Ten local and regional governments and community associations voiced their support for closed containment development. This community-level support is thanks in part to the ‘Closing in on Sustainable Salmon Farming,’ a presentation given by members of CAAR to interested community members, government officials, and related committees around coastal British Columbia.
• Twenty-five restaurants and retailers – many of which are on the Wild Salmon Supporters program – signed letters in support of closed containment development in BC.[link to WSS]
• In 2007, the BC government’s Special Committee on Sustainable Aquaculture delivered a report with a list of recommendations. One of the Committee’s key recommendations was that “a rapid, phased transition to ocean-based closed containment begin immediately,” and that the industry transition to closed containment within 5 years.

Despite this support, the BC government and industry has yet provide their plan for a transition to closed containment salmon aquaculture in BC. Learn how you can support change and make a difference.

Read about the commercial-scale project for a closed containment salmon facility in Middle Bay, BC, just north of Campbell River.