SOS Progress

SOS RESOURCES HAVE BEEN INVESTED IN:

The SOS Solutions Document has been presented to MAL, DFO and the Premier’s Office.
SOS submitted recommendations for the Development of a New Regulatory Framework for the Management of Aquaculture in B.C. to DFO in response to the Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s discussion document Federal Regulation in British Columbia and National Strategic Action Plan Initiative for Aquaculture. A summary of these recommendations can be accessed here.
These documents have been discussed with many MPs in the spring and fall of 2010.
Testimony has been provided to the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans. Click here to access.

SOS commissioned a land-based closed containment technology report by Solutions Advisory Committee member, Dr. Andrew S. Wright. The report entitled "Technologies for Viable Salmon Aquaculture - An Examination of Land-Based Closed Containment Aquaculture" is available here.
Building on the positive findings of the Report, the SOS Foundation is working with the ‘Namgis First Nation to establish a land-based closed containment pilot project in the area of Northern Vancouver Island. A site has been selected, a Project Manager has been hired, environmental assessment is underway, and plans are to begin building in the summer of 2011.
In late April 2010, in collaboration with Simon Fraser University’s (SFU) Centre for Coastal Studies and Tides Canada, SOS hosted a workshop to explore the viability of land-based closed-containment aquaculture. Over 60 participants from First Nations, government, industry, investors, environmental and conservation foundations, and academics came together to examine the current status of land based closed containment salmon aquaculture, discuss potential barriers to creating this new growth industry in B.C. and develop an action plan to aid in moving this industry forward. There was a convergence of views that one or more closed containment demonstration projects should be pursued.

Contribution to peer-reviewed, published studies on the link between wild salmon, sea lice and open net-cage salmon farming, including:

Declining Wild Salmon Populations in Relation to Parasites from Farm Salmon -  Martin Krkosek, Jennifer S. Ford, Alexandra Morton, Subhash Lele, Ransom A. Myers, Mark A. Lewis (2007) Science Magazine: American Association for the Advancement of Science, (AAAS)
Sea Louse Infestation in Wild Juvenile Salmon and Pacific Herring Associated with Fish Farms off the East-Central Coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia  A. Morton, R. D. Routledge, M. Krkosek (2008) North American Journal of Fisheries Management.
Sea Louse Infection of Juvenile Sockeye Salmon in Relation to Marine Salmon Farms on Canada’s West Coast. Price MHH, Proboszcz SL, Routledge RD, Gottesfeld AS, Orr C, et al. (2011) PLoS ONE 6(2).

To be published in 2011:

Salmon Farm Antibiotic Resistance, Dr. Michael T. Kelly (Raincoast Research)
Relationship Between Wild Salmon Productivity, Sea Louse Exposure and Farmed Salmon Production Brendan Connors, Simon Fraser University
Clayoquot Sea Lice Research, Kurt Beardslee and Audrey Thompson (Wild Fish Conservancy)

Development of social media, educational presentations and materials; includes Twyla Roscovich’s “Calling from the Coast” productions and the Global TV Finfish Aquaculture Series.

Support has been provided to ensure regulators act in accordance with existing law.
Support is being provided to the Musgamagw Tsawataineuk Tribal Council (MTTC) for well-informed participation in the Cohen Commission of Inquiry into the decline of the Fraser River Sockeye.

Development of economic research into understanding the costs and benefits of salmon farming.