The B.C. government says the salmon farming industry in the province is in high compliance with provincial regulations, and levels of disease and sea lice were acceptable in 2006.

Studies have suggested sea lice found on fish farms threaten wild salmon.
(Courtesy of Alexandra Morton)

The government released its 2006 compliance and enforcement and fish health reports Tuesday, saying the industry met more than 99 per cent of the standards, said Agriculture and Lands Minister Pat Bell.

"I think the public clearly expressed their concerns around this industry. They want to make sure it's done in an environmentally safe way that protects wild salmon," Bell told CBC News.

The release of the two reports is not an attempt by the government to promote the fish farming industry, he said.

"What I'm doing today is reporting out to you on the standards of the day and is the industry meeting those standards or not," he said. "It is not to sell you on the industry and to tell you the industry is safe."

The reports, which looked at everything from record keeping to fuel storage to waste disposal, say salmon escapes, though up in 2006, were lower than 10 to 15 years ago. The use of antibiotics was down and sea lice outbreaks were within acceptable levels, the reports say.

The reports indicate that in 2006, there were 11 occurrences of fish escapes in B.C., resulting in a loss of 19,085 marine farmed salmon.

There were two investigations into fish escapes. One resulted in the fish farm owner receiving a violation ticket and the other is still under investigation, the reports say.

Critic says reports miss 'central issue'

New Democrat fisheries critic Robin Austin said the reports didn't look at the impact sea lice are having on wild salmon stocks.

"While it's nice to see that the salmon farm industry is upholding the regulations that are in place, they're still missing the central issue," the Skeena MLA said.

Austin chaired a legislative committee that last year recommended open-net fish farming be replaced by closed pens, but eight months later the government has not issued a formal response, he said.

Bell said the committee's concerns will be addressed in a new aquaculture management plan that he hopes will be ready by March.