Farmed fish flee damaged BC net pen

An estimated 21,000 farmed Atlantic salmon escaped from the damaged net pen in a fish farm near Port Hardy, British Columbia, following a fire, the Canadian Press has reported.

Reports said that the fish farm company Mowi, formerly known as Marine Harvest, had notified federal regulators and First Nations contacts in the area about the fire that damaged the net pen, which was discovered on Dec. 18.

The net pen was to be towed to land and an investigation was planned to determine the cause of the fire.

The Canadian Press reported that environmental and indigenous groups in the area issued a statement saying the escape presents ecological and environmental risks to wild salmon stocks.

Advertisement