Give a man a fish, and he’ll eat for a day. Give some sea lions a fish farm, and they’ll eat for life.
Dozens of sea lions have invaded a salmon farm off the west coast of Canada, where they feasted upon an unknown number of fish. Conservationists have expressed concerns about the effects the breach could have on the lions and the local ecosystem.
“They are having an all-you-can-eat buffet right now,” conservationist Bonny Glambeck told CBC.
INFLATION KILLING OFF FAMOUS NEW YORK CITY $1 PIZZA SLICES
Tuesday, April 5th and the sea lions are still in at least 3 of the pens at the Cermaq Rant Point farm. One was seen swimming between the predator nets and the pen nets – at high risk for entanglement. Staff have been harvesting fish daily but several pens are still full of fish pic.twitter.com/Rshsrp3ALt
— Marcie Callewaert John (@marcie_c_john) April 6, 2022
While the sea lions had previously targeted the salmon farm near Tofino, British Columbia, the problem “intensified” over the last week. As of Saturday, there were at least two dozen sea lions within the fish pens, according to CBC.
The sea lions entered the pens by jumping over the barriers, according to a statement released by the farm’s owner, Cermaq.
Locals are not as convinced, claiming the sea lions entered through a hole in the netting.
“These sea lions did not jump over the barrier. It’s impossible for them to jump over. There is an electric fence all around. They ripped their way through the netting with their teeth,” Ahousaht First Nation officer Skookum John told Terrace Standard.
Another rough day in Clayoquot Sound.
Outrage continues as Cermaq endangers dozens of sea lions trapped in their #fishfarm. The story breaks on @CBC and @CTV to shocked Canadians that this could happen in a @UNESCO Biosphere Reserve@JoyceMurray @Josie_Osborne @LisaMarieBarron pic.twitter.com/zjhQvL7XHD
— Clayoquot Action (@ClayoquotAction) April 5, 2022
Conservationists are concerned about the potential influx of salmon into the Clayoquot Sound UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, although Cermaq claimed there is no evidence of escaping salmon.
The farm is also reportedly experiencing a “mass mortality event,” with hundreds of dead fish weighing down docks, according to a local conservation group.
The situation is deteriorating:
Cermaq’s Rant Point #fishfarm (the same one with 20 sea lions trapped in their pens) is experiencing a die-off (mass mortality event) as well.
As you can see, the mort totes (full of dead farmed fish) are so heavy they are sinking their docks. pic.twitter.com/Jwb545xUNV
— Clayoquot Action (@ClayoquotAction) April 4, 2022
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There are also concerns the sea lions may be stuck in the pens or could drown, conservationists said. Fifty-one California sea lions drowned after they got stuck between nets in 2007.
The farm has contacted Canada’s fishing authorities, and officials will be dispatched to the site, Cermaq said.
