A net at a fish factory farm in Washington failed last week,
causing thousands of nonnative Atlantic salmon to get loose just off the state’s
northwestern San Juan Islands.
causing thousands of nonnative Atlantic salmon to get loose just off the state’s
northwestern San Juan Islands.
NPR reported that the farm’s
net pen failed when an anchor broke loose and the floating metal walkways
collapsed. Those nearby said it looked like hurricane debris. There were
approximately 305,000 Atlantic salmon being held in the pen.
net pen failed when an anchor broke loose and the floating metal walkways
collapsed. Those nearby said it looked like hurricane debris. There were
approximately 305,000 Atlantic salmon being held in the pen.
Officials are unsure of the exact number of salmon who escaped
and the reason why the pen’s anchor broke loose. Kurt Beardslee, the director
of the Wild Fish Conservancy
Northwest, called the incident an “environmental nightmare.
and the reason why the pen’s anchor broke loose. Kurt Beardslee, the director
of the Wild Fish Conservancy
Northwest, called the incident an “environmental nightmare.
Factory farms are filthy and overcrowded, making them the
perfect breeding grounds for parasites. Last year an outbreak of sea lice occurred from Scandinavia to
Chile. Now nearly half of Scotland’s salmon farms are infested with the
parasite that feeds on the blood, skin, and slime of salmon.
perfect breeding grounds for parasites. Last year an outbreak of sea lice occurred from Scandinavia to
Chile. Now nearly half of Scotland’s salmon farms are infested with the
parasite that feeds on the blood, skin, and slime of salmon.
With possibly thousands of sick Atlantic salmon swimming
freely in the Pacific, this puts native species at risk. Beardslee said:
freely in the Pacific, this puts native species at risk. Beardslee said:
The Atlantic salmon bring with them
pollution, virus and parasite amplification, and all that harms Pacific salmon
and our waters of Washington. The majority of our salmon migrate
through the straits when they’re leaving as juveniles. You start having a viral
or parasitic outbreak there, when our juvenile fish are moving through—it could
be a disaster.
But disease-ridden conditions are only the tip of the
iceberg when it comes to the horrors of fish factory farming.
iceberg when it comes to the horrors of fish factory farming.
A recent study published in the Journal of
Experimental Biology found that Salmon
bred and raised at fish factory farms are forced to grow at such an accelerated
rate that more than half of them go partially deaf. Another study found that
many farmed salmon suffer from severe depression. Known as “drop outs,
depressed salmon float lifelessly in filthy tanks.
Experimental Biology found that Salmon
bred and raised at fish factory farms are forced to grow at such an accelerated
rate that more than half of them go partially deaf. Another study found that
many farmed salmon suffer from severe depression. Known as “drop outs,
depressed salmon float lifelessly in filthy tanks.
After their terrible lives at factory farms, many fish face particularly
gruesome deaths. Despite fishes’ capability
of feeling pain, the seafood industry treats these innocent beings as mere
objects.
gruesome deaths. Despite fishes’ capability
of feeling pain, the seafood industry treats these innocent beings as mere
objects.
In 2011 Mercy For Animals conducted an undercover
investigation at a fish slaughter facility and exposed fish being skinned alive. As the fish gasped
for oxygen, their skin was ripped off with pliers. They thrashed and fought to
escape the workers’ knives.
investigation at a fish slaughter facility and exposed fish being skinned alive. As the fish gasped
for oxygen, their skin was ripped off with pliers. They thrashed and fought to
escape the workers’ knives.
The best thing we can do to remove our support from the cruel
fishing industry is to leave fish off our plates and switch to a compassionate
vegan diet. Click here to learn more. And check out these cruelty-free, sea-inspired recipes.
fishing industry is to leave fish off our plates and switch to a compassionate
vegan diet. Click here to learn more. And check out these cruelty-free, sea-inspired recipes.
