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Viewpoint: Salmon farming unfiltered

Exposure to an unfiltered conversation about salmon farming is pretty rare nowadays. Most “discussions” on the topic are carefully crafted by an aquaculture proponent or critic, or filtered through the lens of a journalist who is working with a tight deadline, or manufactured by a documentarian who is keen to push a particular agenda.

So good on Aquaculture North America for seizing the opportunity to create a safe space that enables an open, unfiltered discussion about salmon aquaculture. No rules, no strings, no agenda – a podcast titled “Salmon Farming: Inside & Out” that began production in February 2023. At the time of this article, 24 easily digestible episodes have been recorded.

Topics explored so far span the gamut of what have been leading the salmon headlines over the past decade and include climate change, nutrition, fish health, careers, Indigenous reconciliation, and land-based technology.

Material experts have been very keen to share their perspectives regarding their areas of interest and have included a chef, social media influencer, fish pathologist, ecologist, nutritionist, farmer, and journalist.

The podcast has also ventured outside North America to speak with other salmon production countries. Experts in Chile, Australia, Norway, and the United Kingdom have shared their own unique opportunities and challenges. These discussions have highlighted regional differences and identified the many similarities. 

A unique feature in 2024 is the introduction of a new segment in which young professionals propose a question to our international guests. To hear these young women and men express their passion for aquaculture can only leave the listener with confidence that the future of food production is in very good hands.

Probably not surprising to many, download statistics show the top three most streamed episodes mirror the topics we often read in the headlines: fish health, product nutrition, and land-based aquaculture.

Also likely not a surprise to those of us involved in salmon farming is the theme that seems to span most episodes: public relations and social license. Many guests have expressed a concern that important discussions about aquaculture are not being fairly represented in influential mediums, like mainstream media, documentaries, and social media.

As we all know, public discourse drives government policy and recent political decisions in the Pacific Northwest that unfortunately aim to eradicate ocean-based salmon aquaculture, threatens the livelihoods of thousands of families and many fragile coastal communities that have witnessed salmon farming to be a literal lifesaver.

Of course, our podcast must also walk the talk and look to strike a balance in the narrative. True to this, we have invited organizations who have been publicly outspoken against the salmon aquaculture sector, specifically in British Columbia. The David Suzuki Foundation, the Pacific Salmon Foundation, and Wild First Canada have all declined our invitation to participate. We continue to seek a respected and influential critical voice that is willing to share their perspective whilst remaining open to challenge.

While this modest podcast may not have near the exposure of the likes of Netflix et al., we certainly hope it can serve as a repository of important information about salmon farming communicated by material experts. 

Perhaps a politician looking outside their own interest of self-preservation may find time to listen and learn from the experts, rather than base important decisions on click-bait headlines.

You can find the podcast series online at Aquaculture North America or wherever you get your podcasts. 

Please listen, like, and share.

Ian Roberts is a public relations expert with over 30 years experience in the salmon aquaculture sector in Canada and Scotland. He is host of the “Salmon Farming: Inside & Out” podcast with Aquaculture North America.