Marine Harvest Canada takes immediate action to reduce seal and sea lion kills

October 17, 2011

Campbell River - October 17, 2011 Marine Harvest Canada (MHC) is announcing plans to ensure that lethal interactions with seals and sea lions at its salmon farms are drastically reduced, if not eliminated.

MHC experienced higher than normal culls of seals and sea lions during the first two quarters of 2011. 124 seals and/or sea lions were killed in the first quarter, and 92 in the second quarter representing more than a two-fold increase over the same period in 2010 and a four-fold increase over 2009. This unusually high interaction with seals and sea lions was most evident in Quatsino Sound, located on the Northwest tip of Vancouver Island, which witnessed marine mammals move into the area at unprecedented numbers this past winter.

Predator control authorization for salmon farms is included in the Finfish Aquaculture License issued by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO). As detailed in this license, a farmer may only take lethal action as a last resort against a particularly aggressive and persistent individual marine predator if it presents imminent danger to the facility or human life and only after all reasonable measures have been exhausted (acoustic deterrents are prohibited).

Although preliminary third quarter numbers are far lower at about 5 lethal interactions, MHC is taking steps to address the matter. "While we need to prevent damage to our nets and the potential risk of escapes, these unusually high lethal interactions with marine mammals cannot continue" states James Gaskill, MHC's Production Director, "and in response we have invested in additional protector netting at high risk farms that will reduce or eliminate these interactions."

The nets, referred to as winter predator guards, encompass the entire farm and provide a first wall of defense against marine predators. They are constructed of high density polyethylene and include a stainless steel core and will cost $250,000 to outfit each farm site. They will be in place prior to the winter season when seals and sea lions begin to move into the area.

Fisheries scientists suggest that changing ocean conditions and increase in seal and sea lion populations have resulted in the shifting of migratory patterns of these marine mammals to areas further north such as Quatsino Sound.

"Marine users such as commercial fisheries, aquaculture, tourism and transport are all finding ways to accommodate this increase in marine mammal interactions," comments Clare Backman, MHC's Sustainability Programs Director. "It's imperative that we take all necessary steps to eliminate lethal interactions."

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The Finfish Aquaculture License can be viewed here: http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/aquaculture/licence-permis/docs/licence-cond-permis-mar-eng.pdf

Public reporting of marine mammal interactions at BC salmon farms can be viewed here: http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/aquaculture/reporting-rapports/mar_mamm-eng.htm

2011 US Wild Fisheries National Bycatch Report can be viewed here (Canadian wild fisheries bycatch is not made publicly available): http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/by_catch/bycatch_nationalreport.htm

NOAA Marine Mammal Stock Assessment Reports: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/sars/species.htm

Media Contact: Clare Backman, Sustainability Programs Director: 250-850-3276 (7258)