By Robert Barron
(Nanaimo Daily News).- Fish farms in the Broughton Archipelago may not be the sole cause of sea lice infestations on young wild salmon in the area, says a report released on Monday by the B.C. Pacific Salmon Forum.

The 600-page report, Broughton Archipelago: A State of Knowledge looks at a number of factors, including higher-than-normal sea temperatures and salinity, changing environmental and climatic conditions and forestry practices in the area over the past 60 years.

The report concludes further studies are required before any definite linkages can be made between the abundance of sea lice and the fish farms in the archipelago.

However, biologist Alexandra Morton dismissed the report and said the devastation caused by fish farms in the archipelago to wild salmon stocks "is as clear as the nose on your face."

Morton's studies conclude that sea lice infestations caused by the farms are driving nearby populations of wild salmon to extinction

"Sure, there's lots going on in the area but it's a fact that sea lice are all over the young wild salmon that come close to the farms," she told the Daily News.

"Some scientists are spinning information in an effort to confuse things to death when the most obvious and easiest thing to do is to take these large farms out of the wild salmon's nursery areas."

The report, written by Dr. Isobel A. Pearsall, states that a link between sea lice levels and environmental factors has been suggested in studies over the years, particularly sea water temperatures and salinity.

"Potential further studies to assist in understanding the ecosystem and the associated impacts are suggested," it concludes.
Nanaimo-Parksville MLA Ron Cantelon served as vice-chairman of the province's legislative committee on sustainable aquaculture, which tabled its report last May.

He said the forum's report shows the issue of sea lice in the archipelago are not clearly understood at this time.

"The salmon returns there in 2000 were at an all-time high even though salmon farms had been operating in the archipelago for 15 years at that point," Cantelon said.

"To say that there's one answer to the sea lice issue is a great leap ahead of real science."

Download here .

Source: http://www.canada.com/nanaimodailynews