Global Salmon Farming Revolution: Uniting Communities for Ocean Freedom & Ecological Restoration

August 29, 2023 Giacomo Abrusci, SEVENSEAS Media Editor-in-Chief Aquacultures & Fisheries, Issue 100 - September 2023, Stories from the Sea

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WHO WE ARE

We are an action-driven global alliance of more than 60 NGOs, activists, scientists and individuals from 15 countries united with one same vision: Oceans free from open net-pen salmon farms and allowing depleted marine ecosystems to thrive once again.

OUR HISTORY

Around the world, coastal communities have been raising a flag against open net- pen salmon farming for a very long time. The marine ecosystems where salmon feedlots have been operating are mostly gone, and with them, the livelihoods of coastal communities that relied on a healthy ocean as a way of life.

Under the slogan “Global problem, local solutions” we realized that if we worked together, shared information, assets and experiences, our local campaigns would have a greater impact. It was precisely as a result of a local campaign that the GSFR was born.

In 2018, the Norwegian government and the provincial government of Tierra del Fuego, Argentina, signed the first agreement to install intensive salmon farms in the waters surrounding Peninsula Mitre in the Beagle Channel.

With the help of the Chileans, who have had the salmon industry in their waters for many years, and the invaluable support of international NGOs and activists, local organizations, civil society, community leaders, politicians and chefs from Argentina joined together in a unique and activist campaign against the installation of open net pens in Tierra del Fuego.

After 3 years of campaigning, on July 31, 2021, the local government of Tierra del Fuego unanimously approved the law prohibiting intensive salmon farming in the Beagle Channel. Certainly, an unprecedented event in the world. It should be clarified that Tierra del Fuego is the only province in our country where, due to the geographical characteristics of its coasts, it is possible to install intensive farming farms. By prohibiting this activity in the provincial waters, a tacit limitation to intensive salmon farming in Argentina was created, a turn of events that the industry wasn’t expecting.

Inspired by the abolition of salmon farming in Argentina and by the work done by other activists around the world – such as Doug Tompkins, Yvon Chouinard, Alexandra Morton, Frederik Mowinckel, Cristina Mittermeier, Don Staniford and Corin Smith, among others – we realized the need for collaboration between different communities worldwide.

The GSFR was funded in November 2021, an action driven alliance of NGOs, activists, scientists and individuals working to support local activism and policy change worldwide.

Salmon farming can be deceptive. Seen from the shore or surface, it looks pretty tidy. But when we look underneath, that’s when the mess shows up!

VISION and MISSION

We envision oceans free from open net-pen salmon farming and allowing depleted marine ecosystems to thrive once again. Our mission is to share actions and information that can bring a halt to the expansion of the salmon industry and the complete removal of open net-pen salmon farms from the ocean globally.

The concentration of organic waste that covers the ocean floor; the feed that is not consumed by the fish, along with their feces, has led to the loss of seabed biodiversity. With time, this can cause what is known as “dead zones”, areas on the ocean floor with little or no oxygen, where life cannot thrive.

OUR APPROACH

Our primary purpose is to facilitate a more organized global activist movement against open net-pen salmon farming. This will be accomplished in the following ways:

Fast grants for members: From the GSFR we facilitate fast grants for NGOs or individuals members for communication campaigns and activism plans with proven urgency or deadline.
International outreach: As a strong network of NGOs and individuals with the same goal, each local campaign is supported by GSFR members to achieve global outreach and a stronger impact.
Global awareness of salmon farming impacts: Coordination under the GSFR will ensure consistent messaging around the world to position and create global awareness of the impacts of salmon farming.

COMMUNITY ACHIEVEMENTS

We are an active community driven by the need to act for change. We are a community because we believe that for real change to take root and grow, working together is not only important, it is essential. Since the GSFR was founded we have supported our members in the following achievements:

Tierra del Fuego, Argentina: In June 2021, thanks to the hard work of the local community of Tierra del Fuego, Argentina banned open net salmon farming . This made Argentina the first country to say no to the industry.
Falkland Islands: In April 2022, in response to pressure from environmental NGOs, the Executive Council resolved that large-scale aquaculture, including salmon farming, will be banned in the Falkland Islands.
British Columbia, Canada: The federal government promised to get farms out of British Columbia waters by 2025. In June 2022, thanks to the collaboration among different countries, local leaders, organizations and individuals, the local government limited the renewal of salmon farm licenses to 2 years (licenses renewals were previously for 6 years at a time), a major step towards the federal government’s commitment.
Washington State, USA: In October 2022, thanks to the combined efforts of activists, businesses, local and international organizations, chefs, fishing groups and scientists, Washington’s Commissioner of Public Lands issued an executive order banning commercial net pen aquaculture in Washington state marine waters.