Not only are salmon they remarkable creatures in the ocean but also extremely palatable on mankind’s plate.The depletion of wild salmon stocks is no surprise and sustainable ways of salmon farming are continually discussed. Two such ways are closed containment technology (fish are kept in containers either in the ocean or inland) and net-pen salmon farms (netted off areas in the ocean along the coast). The article asserts that, “In consumer taste tests, 80 per cent chose the closed containment product over the net-pen product”. This suggests consumers are becoming more environmentally aware as close containment farms are seen to be more environmentally friendly than net-pen farming.
However, as in most cases, the cost of adopting a more environmentally conscious attitude in any business does not come without added complication and costs. The energy required for closed containment farming is greater as land-based salmon farming requires large amounts of seawater to be pumped inland and if hydro-electric power is not readily available, fossil fuels are needed to power generators. The management of waste and costs associated with implementation and logistics can make closed containment farming very unattractive to businesses.
Net-Pen salmon farms have no extra cost to the industry and waste products are released directly into the surrounding water. This causes the waste settles to the sea floor and cause serious harm to the immediate environment and the species that live within it. Thus although there are no costs to the business, the cost to the environment is extremely high and presents a trade-off.
Salmon farming is one example that presents the dilemma in sustainability. Firstly demand needs to be there for more environmentally conscious products, given that most of these will be at a higher price, and secondly the willingness of businesses to enter into environmentally friendly production.
Original article:
http://www.vancouversun.com/travel/Environmental+pressure+creates+demand+sustainable+fish/7564641/story.html