Number: 2002-01
WHEREAS, the wild salmon and steelhead of the Pacific Northwest are essential to the ecosystems, economies and cultures of the region; and
WHEREAS, the National Wildlife Federation has resolved for two decades to advocate for the recovery and protection of salmon and steelhead in the Columbia, Snake, Sacramento, Klamath, and other Western river basins; and
WHEREAS, the marine aquaculture of Atlantic salmon is being conducted in coastal areas of Washington and British Columbia; and
WHEREAS, the Atlantic salmon is an exotic species to the Pacific Northwest; and
WHEREAS, the escapement of Atlantic salmon can negatively affect native wild fish populations through competition for habitat and/or spreading disease and parasites to endangered Pacific salmon populations; and
WHEREAS, the forage fish harvested for fish meal which is used to raise farmed salmon are at least partially obtained from the harvest of wild species and the over-harvest of these species can negatively impact other species in the wild as well as the forage species themselves; and
WHEREAS, organic pollution from the discharge of localized fish waste and unconsumed feed can create locally significant nutrient pollution in areas around aquaculture facilities; and
WHEREAS, chemical pollution from antibiotics and pesticides used in salmon farming operations may cause antibiotic resistance and harm to nontargeted wild species.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation, at its Annual Meeting assembled March 7-9, 2002 in Stone Mountain, Georgia, hereby opposes the marine aquaculture of Atlantic salmon in the waters of the Pacific Northwest and requests that the United States and Canadian governments and the state and provincial government agencies responsible for the management and oversight of aquacultural practices act to safeguard native salmon species from the threats posed by farming Atlantic salmon; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation supports a moratorium on the siting of new Atlantic salmon fish-farms and the elimination of farmed Atlantic salmon stocks on the coast of the Pacific Northwest; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that until such fish farms are eliminated the National Wildlife Federation supports efforts to require that existing Atlantic salmon fish-farms significantly reduce or eliminate the possibility of escapement, significantly reduce or eliminate pollution from these facilities, and to closely regulate the harvest of fish species used to feed farmed salmon; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation continues to support efforts to restore and protect the native salmon and steelhead species and enhance their habitats in the Pacific Northwest.