Dramatic Declines In Wild Salmon Populations Are Associated With Exposure To Farmed Salmon
Previous studies have clearly shown that escaped farm salmon breed with wild populations to the detriment of the wild stocks, and that diseases and parasites are passed from farm to wild salmon. However, until now, there has been no assessment of the importance of these impacts at the population level and across the globe. Here, Ford & Myers compared the survival of salmon and trout that swim past salmon farms to the survival of those fish that never pass a salmon farm.
In five regions around the world, Ford and Myers find a significant decline in the survival of wild salmon populations that are exposed to salmon farms. This decline took place as farmed salmon production increased in each region. Combining these regional estimates, the authors find that wild populations suffer a reduction in survival or abundance of more than 50% when associated with farmed salmon.
These new results suggest that salmon farming could seriously compromise the persistence of the world's salmonid populations.
A global assessment of salmon aquaculture impacts on wild salmonids
Ford JS, Myers RA
PLoS Biol 6(2): e33. doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.0060033
Please click here to view article online
Public Library of Science
Plos Biology
185 Berry Street, Suite 3100
San Francisco, CA 94107
USA
Scade dramatic în populaþiile de somon sãlbatic sunt asociate cu expunerea la crescãtorie de somon - Dramatic Declines In Wild Salmon Populations Are Associated With Exposure To Farmed Salmon - articole medicale engleza - startsanatate