The Escape of Farmed Salmon into the Wild

Public concern has emerged over the possibility that farmed salmon could escape and interfere with wild salmon stocks. Salmon farmers share the concern, and take precautions for preventing escapes.

With proper maintenance of responsibly located, well-built farms that are managed by well-trained individuals, the escape of farmed salmon can be almost completely prevented. In recent years, farms have been re-built with an emphasis on durability to better withstand strong winds and storms. Divers regularly inspect and maintain the salmon net pens to precent escapement. As a result of this combination of investment and efforts, escapes are a rare occurrence. Location, anchoring, maintenance, and most importantly, the farm staff make all the difference.