I don't think you need to worry much about water supply! Last time I checked, BC is on the west coast with some pristine wilderness with access to the waters of the Pacific Ocean. Are you aware the Pacific Ocean has 707.5 million km(3) of water, which is more than Atlantic and Indian Ocean - combined? IF... your industry can't figure out how to filter it, maybe you should contact 'SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment,' as they have been doing it for YEARS!
If you don't believe YOUR "open net fish pens" are on their way out, I suggest you read the
'CLOSED CONTAINMENT SALMON AQUACULTURE' Report of the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans
Ocean-Based Solid-Wall Systems:
"The water intake allows water to be drawn into the tank from varying depths (which provides for control over water quality and temperature). Supplemental oxygen is pumped into the tank to maintain optimal dissolved oxygen levels. Waste feed and feces are filtered out via a drain at the bottom of the tank and pumped away with the expectation that it could be treated for disposal on land as a fertilizer, while the remainder of the relatively clear water is allowed to overflow over the top of the tank into the surrounding waters.
" Such systems are not completely closed because the intake water is not treated before entering the tank and water from the tank is released back into the ocean. Nevertheless, the system is successful in removing 90% of settleable wastes, which, in an open-net pen aquaculture system, would otherwise settle to the ocean floor or be dispersed by ocean currents. In addition, due to the solid walls, the system provides for separation of wild and farmed populations and reduces the risk of escapes and predation.
Land-based Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS):
"Land-based RAS use large, circular concrete tanks arranged in modules on land. Because the tanks are land-based, they must be located in proximity to an adequate supply of either groundwater or seawater. Water is pumped into the tank and continually recirculated; water quality is maintained through various means, including mechanical filtration, UV irradiation, CO2 strippers and ozone injection. Solid wastes are drained out the bottom of the tank and removed to a settling basin, and can ultimately be treated to be used as compost or fertilizer. Through this constant recirculation and treatment of water,these systems can reuse 98% of the input water.
" Land-based RAS are designed to physically separate fish from the external environment. Because water is treated before entering the tanks and no water is released to the natural environment, there are virtually no vectors for disease, pathogen or parasite transfer between wild and farmed populations. These systems also offer near complete control over water quality, temperature, oxygenation and other parameters, although electricity and technology requirements are necessarily greater.
"The Committee heard from Marine Harvest that their salmon spend approximately the first third of their lives in closed containment RAS (up to the point where the smolts are transferred to the net pen sites). In addition, half of their broodstock is raised entirely in a dedicated RAS facility. These practices are now common in the industry in order to exercise greater control over environmental factors and reduce business risk.
Recommendation 1
The Committee recommends that the Government of Canada study the socio-economic impacts of a possible transition to closed containment technologies, including the resulting impacts on employment in rural and coastal communities.
Recommendation 2
The Committee recommends that the Government of Canada continue to work with rural, coastal and First Nations communities to encourage economic growth through the development of aquaculture operations, including the use of closed containment technologies.
Recommendation 3
The Committee recognizes the important contributions made by Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) and recommends that the Government of Canada work with SDTC to ensure that its application and reporting requirements facilitate the funding of research and development of sustainable closed containment technologies.
Recommendation 4
The Committee recognizes that any commercial adoption of closed containment aquaculture or other innovative aquaculture technologies will require public and private financial support to complete research and ultimately to allow promising new and viable technologies to advance from demonstration to commercialization. Therefore, the Committee recommends that the Government of Canada, in conjunction with industry, review the financing options to ensure that resources are available to close the commercialization gaps. The Committee further recommends that the government-industry review considers a dedicated fund for closed containment demonstration projects.
Recommendation 5
The Committee recommends that the Government of Canada develop a national policy and regulatory framework for aquaculture including an aquaculture act.
CONCLUSION
During its study the Committee was exposed to many opinions and positions on the development of Atlantic salmon aquaculture in Canada. Presentations on technology, fish health, environmental concerns, socio-economic benefits and many more issues provided representatives, for example, acknowledge that their activities have certain environmental impacts, while representatives of environmental groups acknowledge that the aquaculture industry has come a long way over the past decade in terms of its environmental management practices. The industry's future is strong with our competitive advantages and opportunities to diversify with supporting technology to provide strength to rural Canada. However, we still have much to learn.
Recommendation 6
The Committee recommends that the Government of Canada, supported by industry, establish a canadian centre of excellence for salmon aquaculture development at a university to study all aspects of salmon aquaculture development, including its impact on surrounding communities.
The Committee is optimistic that ongoing pilot projects will demonstrate the commercial viability of closed containment technology for salmon aquaculture. As one of a suite of different technologies, the Committee recognizes the potential for closed containment to contribute to the development of a thriving and sustainable aquaculture industry in Canada. The Committee understands the need for the right policies and programs to be in place for Canada to capitalize on its advantages and realize the full
economic benefits of the aquaculture industry.
http://www.parl.gc.ca/content/hoc/Committee/411/FOPO/Reports/RP5994887/foporp03/foporp03-e.pdf