FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 22, 2006
CONTACT
Dave Bard, 202.486.4426 (c)
NEW STUDY SHOWS HOW CURRENT CHILEAN FARMED SALMON INDUSTRY WILL DECIMATE WILD FISH STOCKS
Food Conversion Ratio Poses Enormous Risk to Ocean Ecosystems
Washington, DC — Today, Terram Foundation, a Chilean group concerned about the environmental, social and economic problems associated with salmon farming practices, published a study on the food-feed debate that shows that the current salmon farming industry is not only unsustainable, it also poses serious ecological and social dangers. Terram is a partner in the Pure Salmon Campaign.
The study, Salmon Piranha Style: Feed Conversion Efficiency in the Chilean Salmon Farming Industry, finds that it takes nearly 10 kilos of wild, pelagic fish to produce one kilogram of farmed salmon. Chile is the world’s second largest producer of farmed salmon and salmon farming production is expected to double by 2013. If the composition of the feed does not change, this industry will continue to put tremendous pressure on wild fish populations, many of which are already overfished or are severely depleted.
"The U.S. is one of the largest consumers of Chilean farmed salmon," said Andrea Kavanagh, director, Pure Salmon Campaign. "The American public's love for this fish is actually decimating wild fish populations in the southern hemisphere. It’s not just the ocean ecosystems that are taking a hit. Chilean fishermen who typically catch and eat those species lower on the food chain are now seeing their meals turned into feed for farmed salmon."
According to the study, the salmon farming industry is the primary source of demand for fish meal and fish oil in Chile, consuming one-third of the domestic production of fish meal and 1.3 times the total production of fish oil. The demand continues to soar as this industry continues to grow.
"The results are surprising, and questions the viability of the industry," said Giuliana Furci, co-author of the study and coordinator of the salmon farming campaign of Terram Foundation. "The study puts the food-feed debate and food security at the center of the international debate on salmon farming."
For more information
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The Pure Salmon Campaign is a global project of the National Environmental Trust. It has partners in the United States, Canada, Europe and Chile all working to improve the way salmon is produced.
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