Effects on Other Wildlife

Salmon farms on the B.C. coast create a number of direct and indirect problems for other forms of wildlife in the area – in both the short and long-term.

The disappearance of wild salmon from the food chain would put the survivability of other species that rely heavily on these salmon for food, including bears, eagles and Orca whales at risk.

Already the open net-cage farms are taking a toll on other species. Dolphins, seals and seabirds have become entangled in the nets and have drowned.

In addition, more than 500 harbor seals are reported as shot each year by farm operators who fear the animals will eat the farmed salmon held captive in the nets.

Non-fatal, but equally disruptive to the natural marine environment, is the use of noisemakers to keep the seals away. These acoustic harassment devices (AHDs) are designed to cause seals pain, but the success of the devices as a deterrent is doubtful.

In fact, a study by the Raincoast Conservation Foundation found seals were actually attracted to the AHD noise as an indication of where a free meal could be found. While seals may be largely undeterred by the noise pollution, the same study indicates AHDs do appear to drive porpoises and Orca whales away from the source of the sound, and out of their natural habitat.