Farmed Atlantic salmon: potential invader in the Pacific Northwest?

Abstract

Commercial farming of Atlantic salmon in marine net-pens has become a booming industry. At present, approximately 130 salmon farms exist along the Pacific coast of North America. Most of these farms are in cold marine bays within British Columbia, where farmed salmon have become the province’s most valuable agricultural export. Each year, thousands of farmed Atlantic salmon escape their pens, and could potentially impact native fishes. The PNW Research Station has recently examined the risk of population establishment by escaped Atlantic salmon in the Pacific Northwest, and assessed the potential implications of invasions for native fishes inhabiting streams within national forests.

Citation

Thompson, Jonathan; Bisson, Pete. 2008. Farmed Atlantic salmon: potential invader in the Pacific Northwest? Science Findings 100. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture,  Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 5 p