Assessment of the potential threat posed by escaped farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) on British Columbia's indigenous salmonid stocks and the economic feasibility of the use of all-female triploid Atlantic salmon

The culture of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar in B.C. has become increasingly more popular, the effects of escapes on B.C.'s native salmonid stocks. In response the provincial government may implement a policy to mandate the use of single sex and/or sterile Atlantic salmon. The purpose of this study was to assess whether escaped Atlantic salmon pose a threat to B.C.'s native salmonids and determine how such a policy would impact the economic feasibility of the marine phase of an Atlantic salmon farming operation. Factors were reviewed which would affect the ability of escaped Atlantic salmon to establish a breeding population in B.C. and impact native stocks. Cash flow models are presented for the culture of both normal and sterile farmed Atlantic salmon stocks in order to compare profitability indices.;It is unlikely that Atlantic salmon would directly reduce the genetic integrity of native B.C, stocks through interbreeding given the low incidence of Atlantic salmon immigration into B.C. rivers and the occurrence of reproductive isolating mechanisms. Ecological interactions between Pacific and Atlantic salmonids are not expected to compromise indirectly the genetic integrity of native stocks. (Abstract shortened by UMI.).