Salmon farming centre. (Photo: Cooke Aquaculture)
About 15pct of escaped salmon recaptured in southern Newfoundland
CANADA
Saturday, August 18, 2018, 02:20 (GMT + 9)
Around 400 farmed salmon of the estimated 2,000-3,000 that escaped from a farming centre in southern Newfoundland have been recaptured, according to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO).
Some time between July 27 and 30, the salmon escaped from the Olive Cove farm operated by Cooke Aquaculture, after net extensions were sewn onto a pen at the site.
"When we had the last large escape incident back in 2013 and there were capture methods deployed, about 10 per cent of those fish were recaptured. So this seems to be a better percentage of success," pointed out Chris Hendry, regional aquaculture coordinator with DFO, in statements to CBC News.
Hendry said the licence to use gillnets for recapturing is set to expire this week, but there will be a meeting with DFO, provincial fishery officials and Cooke Aquaculture to assess the recapture process so far and determine if that should be extended.
In addition, Hendry said there will be an investigation into what happened at the Hermitage Bay site, and further discussions once the capture of salmon is completed.
"One of the questions is, in a case of a release of salmon, is there any type of repercussions, and that's something we would discuss with the province as we both co-deliver the code of containment," he added.
"It also requires us to do an analysis of any type escape incident and recommendations on improvements or identifying any deficiencies."
The captured salmon, meanwhile, will need to be destroyed by the company, Hendry said.
Related article:
- Cooke confirms salmon escape in Newfoundland
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