Pollution from Fish Feed and Fish Wastes

Similar to terrestrial agriculture, salmon farming has an impact on the surrounding environment. The majority of waste produced from salmon farming comes from uneaten feed and salmon feces. With the proper location of the farm in deep, fast moving water, and with good feeding supervision, there is only minor build-up of waste on the ocean floor beyond the area directly under the net pens. Since the mid 1990’s, salmon farms have been equipped with underwater cameras to observe the salmon during feeding. These cameras allow fish farmers to minimize the excessive feeding. The ocean bottom directly under the fish farm is routinely monitored by the farm, as required by law in most countries. Fish farms usually fallow a site for a number of months following a harvest, to allow the ecosystem to return to normal. This is similar to a crop rotation program on terrestrial farms.