Marine mammal interactions explained

As part of our commitment to transparency, we report regularly to Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) on several ways our farms interact with the ocean, including with marine mammals.

Recently DFO published information about those interactions as well as some information about how farms work to keep predatory marine mammals away from farmed fish.

Interactions with marine mammals are mostly seasonal, as will be seen in the DFO reporting as time goes on. Marine mammals roam hundreds and sometimes thousands of kilometers in search of food. This search brings them to B.C.'s coast in large numbers as they pursue wild fish such as herring and pilchard/sardines, which in recent years have returned to B.C. in the millions. Small wild fish often use our farms as safe havens to escape predators, leading marine mammals to our sites.

The population of California sea lions is larger than it has been in 100 years. As well, the population of B.C.-native Steller sea lions is larger than it was 100 years ago. There are tens of thousands of these animals in B.C. coastal waters and their hunt for food sometimes leads them to our farms.

Mainstream Canada uses predator nets - secondary nets which go outside the main net pens - to discourage marine mammals from trying to get inside the pens. It is our policy to keep these nets in place at all times. When marine mammals investigate our sites, they find they cannot get at the fish inside our nets and swim away in search of easier prey.

However, sometimes aggressive marine mammals attack our farms and threaten our stocks, employees and contract divers.

As part of our ISO 14001-certified Environmental Management System, all our farm sites follow a Standard Operating Procedure for Predator Management. It states that:

"Any measures taken to protect fish from predators are always carried out in a manner that considers predator welfare and does not endanger the predator population; however, if a predator cannot be deterred and is threatening the security of the containment, it may be dispatched in accordance with Government Policy and Mainstream Management consent."

One of our main goals as we continually improve the way we farm salmon is to minimize wildlife interactions. This is one of our specific targets for improvement. We continue to find better ways to set up our nets and our farm sites to discourage marine mammals from becoming a danger to our fish and farm workers.

For more information, visit DFO's website: http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/aquaculture/reporting-rapports/mar_mamm-eng.htm

Key points and background information

• Culling marine mammals is only ever done as a last resort.
• Minimizing marine mammal interactions is one of our specific targets for improvement.
• Culling is only ever done under the Authority of our Aquaculture License issued by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), the agency also responsible for the management, including conservation and protection, of marine mammals in Canada.
• Provisions in the Pacific Aquaculture Regulations allow for DFO to license fish farms to cull marine mammals that pose an imminent danger to the aquaculture facility or human life, should reasonable deterrent efforts fail.
• In recent years, thanks in part to changes in ocean conditions and a more plentiful food supply off the West Coast of Vancouver Island, California sea lions (which are not native to B.C.) have increased their numbers here. They are smaller than Steller sea lions, which are native to B.C., but are more aggressive and accustomed to being around humans.
• Aggressive sea lions can become a problem for our fish and can even endanger our farm workers, particularly contract divers.
• An adult male California sea lion can weigh up to 850 lbs.
• If culling is the only option to remove aggressive Steller sea lions (native B.C. species) from our farms, an additional, special permit must be obtained from DFO to cull this particular species.
• Culling is only done by selected, qualified personnel.
• No firearms are kept on Mainstream Canada farm sites.
• All culls are recorded and reported quarterly to DFO.
• DFO reporting for Q1 2011 only reports on farms with infrastructure in the water.
• For more information, see DFO's 2010 ecosystem report on the West Coast of Vancouver Island.