My mind has been churning since I took an iPhone picture of a whole farmed salmon in my local Tesco Supermarket with an open ulcer on its tail (see recent blog: Farmed Salmon in my Local Tesco Supermarket).
I can’t stop wondering whether this is just an isolated, one-off, or the tip (tail) of the iceberg.
So, my request is, next time you go into a supermarket, wherever you are, talk a good close look at the whole farmed salmon (turning one over to see the other side might be instructive as well) and let me know if you spot any ulcers or otherwise unnatural looking lesions, etc. Take your iPhone or other camera phone or camera along and send me a picture. Also the store and location would be useful. I am going to keep a log of these incidents and just see what comes out of it. Maybe nothing, maybe increased awareness, and yet again . . .
This is an easy way to get involved in an important and growing issue. Disease in farmed fish and shellfish is on the rise, and there is no research yet on the impact of these viruses on humans. We are the guinea pigs for the aquaculture industry. For example, a herpes like virus has recently decimated the French oyster farming industry and a virus has caused a massive reduction in the production of farmed shrimp and prawns in Thailand. The evidence, and the concern, is global.
So, send me your pictures, your comments, your ideas, whatever. Let’s see what we can do!
Tight Lines . . .
John R Childress
john@johnrchildress.com
Filed under: ecosystems, John R Childress, save the oceans, the business of business Tagged: aquaculture, blogging, environment, Farmed salmon, farmed shrimp, fish farming in Thailand, fish farms, food, oyster viruses, salmon, salmon farming, Tesco supermarket fish
