Research Document - 2001/142

Salmon farm - Pinniped interactions in British Columbia: an analysis of predator control, its justification and alternative approaches

By G.S. Jamieson and P.F. Olesiuk

Abstract

Predator control is widely practised in most forms of agriculture and aquaculture, including salmonid fish farming. Canada has a process whereby fish farmers can obtain authorisation to kill predators, particularly pinnipeds (seals and sea lions), but to date, the details of this process, how it is being used by industry, and alternative measures to minimise the need for such killing have not been scientifically assessed. Here, we describe existing Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) policy and culling permit requirements associated with predator control; the impacts marine mammals are having on cultured fish production; the annual, seasonal and spatial pattern of kills; how this pattern is related to the abundance, distribution of haulouts and seasonal movements of pinnipeds; and the availability, effectiveness and use of alternate methodologies to deter pinniped impacts on fish farms. Establishment of Canada's Oceans Act in 1997 gave DFO the mandate for marine ecosystem management. With the recent growth in the coastal ecotourism industry and the economic value and public interest now associated with pinnipeds, there is a current need for this information. Pinnipeds are near the top of the marine food chain, and although they are not commercially exploited, their continued presence and occurrence in natural ecosystems at appropriate levels of abundance are important resource management objectives.

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