May 18th, 2004

Study warns of catastrophic decline in markets and jeopardy to fishermen from proposed sablefish farms

SEATTLE – A new study suggests that rises in the amount of black cod or sablefish available to domestic or overseas buyers as a result of proposed fish-farm production could devastate one of North America’s most successful fisheries.

The study concludes that an increase of just 100,000 metric tons, whether from fish farms or from wild ocean stocks, would drive market prices for sablefish down to nearly zero. At present, there are almost 50 salmon farms in British Columbia that have quietly applied for and received approval to growth sablefish. Some of those farms are now producing more than 1 million fish per cycle, meaning the production from just a few farms would be enough to start causing economic turmoil in the industry.

“Those approvals to grow sablefish instead of salmon took place without any public consultation and with absolutely no environmental or economic assessments. Zero,” said Eric Wickham, executive director of the Canadian Sablefish Association. “There’s growing evidence to suggest that salmon farms have caused serious environmental damage, while also driving down prices for wild salmon to the point where many fishermen are out of business. We can’t allow the same thing to happen to the sablefish sector, which is one of the most economically robust and well managed fisheries in North America.”

Members of the sablefishing community in Alaska, British Columbia and Washington commissioned the study, which was conducted by Barbara Best, with the Department of Economics, and Daniel Huppert, an associate professor at the School of Marine Affairs, both at the University of Washington.

The study shows that even slight increases in availability of sablefish – 20,000 metric tons or 50,000 metric tons – would drive prices down by 19 per cent and 47 per cent respectively.

North America’s sablefish fishery is one of the best managed on the continent. Stocks are healthy, due in part to rigorous assessments paid for by the industry. The fishery’s major market is Japan. The total selling price of all fish caught in sablefish fisheries in Alaska, British Columbia and Washington in 2002-2003 was $141 million, putting it on par with the West Coast halibut fishery ($161 million) and the Alaskan salmon fishery ($195 million). Significantly, the high value of Alaska’s salmon fishery is a major reason why fish farms are prohibited in that state.

With current technology, it is estimated that it would take only two to three years to grow the first crop of farmed sablefish.

For more information contact: Eric Wickham (604) 915-9117.