Principal Investigators
Ussif Rashid Sumaila
John Volpe (University of Alberta)
Co-Investigator
Yajie Liu
Collaborators
Canadian Sablefish Association
Research Project Description
Objective
To explore the potential costs and benefits of introducing sablefish farming in BC.
A. Ecological Issues:
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Profile and characterization of disease / parasite issues and likelihood for wild-farm-wild transfers
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Potential impacts of escapees on wild stock genetic structure
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Foreign ecological footprint of sablefish aquaculture in terms of reliance on fishmeal
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Local ecological footprint of sablefish aquaculture in terms of organic / inorganic wastes, therapeutants
with particular reference to site locations and life-history specific impacts -
Future stability of wild stocks and commercial harvest
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Ecological lessons from salmon aquaculture in B.C.
B. Economic Issues:
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Evaluating, in economic terms the potential ecological effects of aquaculture (disease, escapes, and fishmeal)
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Addressing the supply, demand and price effects of sablefish farming
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Analyzing the potential economic impacts of fish price declines on fishers due to sablefish aquaculture
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Contrasting the net social benefit of aquaculture to the private profits to private fish farmers
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Taking into account the income distributional effects of sablefish farming
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Economic lessons from salmon aquaculture in B.C.
Output
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Ecological and economic impact assesstment of sablefish aquaculture in British Columbia (full report available here)