Aquaculture Blamed For Alarming Shrinkage of Wild Salmon in Finland

Researchers in Finland have used genetic methods to pinpoint how fish feed from aquaculture to fisheries, and changes in salmon fisheries may be related to changes in the size of wild salmon.

Aquaculture is the cultivation of aquatic animals and plants under managed and partially controlled conditions. Aquaculture is primarily for the cultivation of aquatic plants and animals for human consumption, although this can be done for aesthetic or recreational purposes, such as maintaining aquariums, aquatic gardens, and sports ponds.

The salmon shrinkage in Finland due to aquaculture

(Photo : OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)

Recently published in the news scientific journal, Teno River in Northern Finland, showing the shrinkage of the Atlantic salmon, and instantly, it may not be relevant to salmon. Rather, the impact can be hit from an indirect effect: One of the most favorite wild salmon in the sea is a commercial fishing: a small omega 3 rich fish called Capelin. As per Phys.org.

The indirect effect defined in this study inserts detection of salmon forms. Some fishing classes Capelin is used as fish powder for salmon form products, assuming a rich decline in powerful harvesting and carbonate, and can be an indirect way of indirect salmon in a salmon form.

Professor Craig Primmer at the University of Helsinki stated that the aquaculture industry has made significant progress in finding alternative protein sources for feed for farmed fish, and our study shows that these efforts have not been in vain as capelin fishing appears to have an impact on wild salmon populations.

With 18 million tonnes of wild fish such as capelin being harvested as pet food worldwide each year, much remains to be done to further reduce the impact of aquaculture on wild fish populations.

Read more: To Save Wild Salmon From Extreme Heat, Scotland Will Plant Millions of Trees Along Rivers

Salmon are tested for genetic analysis

The team studied salmon scale specimens for 40 years and linked variations in the genes that determine the age and breeding size of salmon with the effects of different fishing methods. The scale samples used in the study were taken from Luke's unique multi-year scale archive.

The archive contains more than 150,000 salmon samples collected by trained volunteer fishermen since the 1970s on the Teno River, one of Europe's most productive salmon rivers. The scale was used to determine the age structure of the salmon population. They were also a source of DNA for genetic analysis.

As per Luke, Research and monitoring information prepared by the Natural Resources Institute of Finland and Norwegian colleagues is used to assess the status of various salmon populations and plan fisheries management measures.

This information is also used by the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization (NASCO) and the International Commission on Marine Exploration (ICES).

The most important monitoring studies included the collection of fisheries and catch statistics, assessment of fry density using electronic fishing, calculation of adult salmon and small numbers in surface rivers, age and size of salmon, and size of origin (wild/farm).

What is aquaculture?

Aquaculture is the breeding, rearing and harvesting of fish, shellfish, algae and other organisms in all types of aquatic environments. As per National Ocean Service.

As the demand for seafood increases, technology has made it possible to grow food both in coastal waters and offshore. Aquaculture is a technology used to produce food and other commercial products, restore habitat, restore wildlife, and restore populations of endangered species.

There are two main types of aquaculture: marine and freshwater. NOAA's efforts are primarily focused on marine aquaculture, which refers to agricultural species found in seas and estuaries.

Also Read: Salmon Use Earth's Magnetic Field to Navigate: Study