Editor:
Regarding last week’s article on Atlantic salmon escaping from a Washington State salmon farm and concerns that wild Pacific salmon are at risk of being replaced by Atlantic salmon, the evidence suggests otherwise. Not everyone is aware that millions of Atlantic salmon have been intentionally released in B.C. by government agencies in an effort to establish them as a viable species.
Here is a direct quote from a paper (www.yumpu.com/en/document/view/37532854/on-the-risk-of-colonization-by-atlantic-salmon-in-bc-waters) published by Ron Ginetz, a DFO employee, in 2002: “From 1905 to 1935 in excess of 8.6 million Atlantic salmon of various life stages (predominantly advanced fry) were intentionally released to more than 60 individual lakes and streams. Historical records indicate that in a few instances mature sea-run Atlantic salmon were captured in the Cowichan River; however, a self-sustaining population never materialized.” Similar introductions in California and Washington State were also unsuccessful. The last introduction in Washington State on the Olympic Peninsula was in 1991.
Salmon farmers do not like to see any escapes, but since the start of the industry in B.C. and Washington State there have been escapes recorded. The same Ron Ginetz paper reported that (Table 10) from 1991-2002, over a million (1,034,669) Atlantics escaped from B.C. and Washington fish farms; only 1,056 of these fish were seen in streams, and there is no evidence that any of them established sustained populations.
In light of all this, it would seem to be a very remote chance that Atlantic salmon will be able to establish themselves on the B.C. coast. A Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife report (wdfw.wa.gov/ais/salmo_salar) concurs. It says: “Evidence suggests this (colonization) is an unlikely event; attempts to establish Atlantic salmon outside the Atlantic Ocean have failed.”
Greg Deacon, Sechelt
