Volunteer moving of farms in new salmon reserves is a utopian idea!

Already the first reactions after the new salmon protection plan was released are almost comical. The government has asked for many of the fish farms located in protected catchments and fjords to join the voluntary moving program. As expected no one is willing to help and maybe the source of diseases and parasites will be here to stay.

This expected reaction from the aqua culture has clearly indicated what they think of the government’s efforts to protect the worlds last great stock of Atlantic salmon. To add salt to the wound the lobby groups (backed by the farmers) have set aside large amount of money to fight the new regulations.
Their response over many years has been that they represent no threat to wild populations. Yet as a writer- park ranger and journalist I see the results of their slack controls and ignorance. Over the last seven seasons over 60% of all salmonoids I’ve caught have been once residents of farms. In fact my local river has statistics of 80% “domestic” fish caught each year.

Yet the need for these farmers to increase their yearly profit has outweighed the need to find a solution to the ongoing problem. The government simply suggested that farms move to fjords that don’t have salmon rivers running into them (of which there are many). Once again greed has proven the only true motivation among many of these companies controlling the farming industry.
We here at fishbooking are not against the idea of fish farming but what it is that upsets us so much is the absolute denial and ignorance of those at the top of this industry fighting the simplest ideas. Maybe the government will see the light and create tougher regulation so as to force the farming trade to lift it’s game!