The risk of disease transmission from farmed to wild salmon has been greatly exaggerated, say a team of renowned fish pathology experts in a new study that also critiques the Federal Government’s Transition Plan for the aquaculture sector in B.C.
By Fabian Dawson
SeaWestNews
A newly released study directly challenges long-standing claims by anti-fish farming activists that pathogens from salmon farms in British Columbia pose a significant threat to wild Pacific salmon populations.
Authored by a team of renowned fish pathology experts, the report exposes the falsehoods in the activist-driven narrative, arguing that the risk of disease transmission from farmed to wild salmon has been greatly exaggerated.
The authors emphasize that real-world data contradicts alarmist claims portraying salmon aquaculture as a major driver of wild salmon declines.
The study’s findings deal a significant blow to the Trudeau government’s decision to phase out open-net pen salmon farms by 2029 – a move that is politically motivated to secure votes from the activist lobby rather than being based on science.
It concludes that removing salmon farms is unlikely to improve wild salmon productivity and may instead divert attention from urgent conservation challenges such as habitat destruction, climate change, and overfishing.
The authors include Dr. Gary Marty, a veteran fish pathologist who spent two decades with the Animal Health Centre of B.C.’s Ministry of Agriculture, alongside fisheries experts from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Washington State University, Oregon State University, and the University of California.
The report, currently awaiting peer review, cites 40 years of data demonstrating that key salmon populations, such as Fraser River sockeye, have remained stable or even increased despite salmon farming along migratory routes.
Contrary to previous research suggesting that pathogens such as piscine orthoreovirus (PRV), Tenacibaculum bacteria, and sea lice are decimating wild stocks, the study concludes these factors have had, at most, a minimal impact.
The authors specifically call out the flawed methodology used in studies linking sea lice to wild salmon declines, arguing that these conclusions rely on questionable assumptions and selective data that do not accurately reflect reality.
A key weakness in past research, according to the authors, is the reliance on molecular detection techniques such as qPCR, which can identify pathogen genetic material in lab settings but do not confirm active infections or disease outbreaks in farmed and wild fish.
Additionally, they cast doubt on the reliability of predictive modeling studies that link salmon farm pathogens to wild fish mortality, stating that many of these models lack direct evidence of actual disease impacts.
The study—Pathogens from Salmon Aquaculture in Relation to Conservation of Wild Pacific Salmon in Canada: An Alternative Perspective—directly critiques the Canadian government’s rushed push to eliminate open-net pen salmon farms, with a Transition Plan that has been called “reckless” by the industry and its First Nations partners.
The study’s conclusions align with findings from the Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat (CSAS), which, in 10 peer-reviewed government studies, determined that ocean-based salmon farms in B.C. have only a minimal impact on wild fish.
Despite this overwhelming scientific consensus, the Trudeau Liberals continue to push forward with an activist-driven agenda, prioritizing votes over science.
The proposed 2029 ban on ocean-based salmon farms is expected to unleash widespread economic devastation, with taxpayers on the hook for an estimated $9 billion in compensation to fish farmers, suppliers, and First Nations, according to estimates from the B.C. Salmon Farmers Association (BCSFA).
In response to SeaWestNews inquiries, a spokesperson for the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) admitted that the government lacks data proving wild salmon populations recover after shutting down marine-based salmon farms.
The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA), which represents over 15,000 licensed veterinarians, has also urged Ottawa to hit pause on its proposed ban, warning that the decision ignores science and undermines evidence-based policymaking.
“We recommend pausing the proposed ban and re-engaging with the scientific community, including veterinarians, who are experts in salmon population health,” stated Dr. Timothy Arthur, President of CVMA, adding, “The ban will erode the science-based decision-making process in Canada and across other animal sectors.”
(Image shows a salmon farm in British Columbia courtesy of the BCSFA)