Fish Farms in B.C. Lowkey Spreading Germs? 🐟🦠

The Deets

Okay, so, word on the street is that open-net salmon farms in B.C. might be kinda sus. A study by some conservation peeps dropped, and it's not looking good for the salmon. They found, like, four times more pathogens that can mess up wild salmon in the water near active farms compared to the spots where the farms dipped. That's a major L.

They hit up 11 spots in the Broughton Archipelago, scoping out both active and ghosted fish farms. They were all about collecting samples – live fish, dead fish, and even environmental DNA from the water. Basically, they were tryna catch the tea on what's going on underwater.

Turns out, these open-net farms might be amplifying the germs that can infect wild salmon. And if salmon get sick, they're more likely to, like, not make it, or get clapped by predators. The study is saying Chinook salmon, who chill near the shore for their first year, are especially at risk. That's not the vibe.

But hold up, the B.C. Salmon Farmers’ Association is not having it. Their fish pathologist, Dr. Gary Marty, was like, "Nah, this study ain't giving us convincing evidence that farm salmon diseases are a big threat to wild salmon." He even threw shade, saying wild salmon have always been exposed to pathogens, and couldn't prove the infections were because of the farm fish. Shade alert!

Despite all the drama, the government is standing firm. They're planning to yeet all open-water fish farms in B.C. by 2029. So, it looks like these fish farms might be getting canceled. Stay tuned for more updates, fam.