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British Columbia’s Fish Health Regulatory Framework’s Contribution to Sustainability Goals Related to Salmon Aquaculture

EcoHealth volume 5, pages 472–481 (2008)Cite this article

Abstract

Salmon farming is a significant contribution to the global seafood market to which the goal of sustainability is often applied. Diseases related to farms are perhaps the most contentious issues associated with sustainable salmon farming. We reviewed literature and policies in British Columbia, Canada, as well as interviewed key informants to examine how fish health regulations do or could support sustainability goals. We found four main obstacles to the development and application of a sustainability-based health management system. First, salmon farming faced the same challenges as other industries when trying to establish an operational definition of sustainability that captures all stakeholders’ interests. Second, there was no program responsible for integrating the various regulations, responsible departments, and monitoring efforts to develop a comprehensive view of sustainability. Third, there was inadequate research base and social consensus on the criteria that should be used to track health outcomes for sustainability purposes. Fourth, the regulatory and management paradigm for salmon farming has been focused on diseases and pathogens as opposed to embracing a more inclusive health promotion model that includes biotic, abiotic, and social determinants of health. A transparent and inclusive participatory process that effectively links expert views with community and industry concerns should serve as the foundation for the next generation of health management regulations for salmon farming.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Dr. Mark Sheppard, of the British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture and Lands, for his editorial input and critical review of the manuscript.

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Affiliations

  1. Centre for Coastal Health, 900 5th Street, Nanaimo, BC, Canada, V9R 5S5

    Craig Stephen & Emiliano DiCicco

  2. Department of Ecosystem and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada

    Craig Stephen

  3. Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy

    Emiliano DiCicco

  4. College of Veterinary Medicine, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA

    Brandon Munk

Authors
  1. Craig Stephen
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  2. Emiliano DiCicco
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  3. Brandon Munk
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Correspondence to Craig Stephen.

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Stephen, C., DiCicco, E. & Munk, B. British Columbia’s Fish Health Regulatory Framework’s Contribution to Sustainability Goals Related to Salmon Aquaculture. EcoHealth 5, 472–481 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10393-008-0199-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10393-008-0199-4

Keywords

  • salmon
  • aquaculture
  • sustainability
  • health
  • disease
  • regulations