![\"Atlantic](\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/biology\/files\/2015\/04\/Female-Atlantic-salmon.jpg\")
<\/a>Atlantic Salmon are a common farmed fish species kept in tanks as juveniles and large marine cages as adults<\/p><\/div>\n
For my presentation in Joshua Lord\u2019s class \u201cGlobal Change in Marine Systems,\u201d I used a scientific case study titled, \u201cProposed Local Ecological Impact Categories and Indicators for Life Cycle Assessment of Aquaculture.\u201d This study done by Ford et al. explores the impacts and indicators on a local scale that relate to the salmonid aquaculture industry. In recent years the fish farming practices surrounding the Atlantic Salmon\u00a0Salmo salar<\/em> have increased at a rapid rate, and have become an international industry. The most prominent salmon aquaculture industries are located in Norway, Canada, and Chile. Since the 1970s Maine has also been a growing hub for salmon farming and as of 1998 was responsible for 18% of the US\u2019s domestic salmon market. Ford et al.\u2019s study and examination of impacts and indicators provides a basis for discussion and further study of salmon aquaculture\u2019s effect on its local environment. This study was divided into two categories, \u201caquaculture\u2019s impact on nutrient release,\u201d and \u201cits impact on biodiversity,\u201d for each impact a series of indicators were created and then hypothesized as accurate or not. The discussion of accuracy stemmed from each indicator having at least one scientific case study related to it. Difficulties acquiring data or unrealistic measurements were also taken into account, e.g. the impact steroids and medicine given to healthy fish create undocumented effects in the environment. The most accurate indicators for nutrient release were \u201carea altered by farm waste\u201d which was an approximation of farm emitted wastes effects on the environment in m^2\/ton of salmon produced. Three different salmon farms in Norway were extensively studied, and it was found that the environment surrounding the farms fragility was a main factor in severity of impact. A larger farm producing a much higher amount of waste (15 m^2\/t), but in a stable and resistant environment accrued less damage then a small farm (1.7 m^2\/t) surrounded by more fragile environment. For example, a smaller Norwegian farm surrounded by a bed of maerle, slow growing coralline red algae which grows 1 cm\/year, would have a more devastating impact over time then a larger one surrounded by a resilient ecosystem. The best indicators for salmon aquaculture\u2019s impact on biodiversity were number of salmon escaped and parasite abundance. The number of salmon escaped was well recorded on fish farms, and the escapades negative effect on local populations was also noted. Alongside diseases, farmed fish carry genes and traits that are ineffective for life outside their net-pen enclosure, causing future wild generations who crossbreed to have inefficient traits in the gene pool. Parasitism, mainly by sea lice, was also found to be a good indicator of impact on ecological diversity, and the number of motile adult parasites per farmed fish was hypothesized to indicate the damage to wild populations. Larger amounts of sea lice were found in Chilean salmon farms which could possibly be a result of less advanced aquaculture technology. This study didn\u2019t have enough statistically significant data to make any concrete conclusions, and thus, should be used to discuss and be the basis for more studies surrounding how salmonid aquaculture affects the environment.<\/p>\n Josh Kolbert<\/p>\n