Guys,
I'm not saying keep net pens. I don't care if the whole BC industry is shut down tomorrow, won't affect me. But I do know that CC's don't work. It takes alot of water flowing in tanks to grow salmon. It takes alot of electricity to pump that water. Even if the power was free, the debt service and depreciation on the capital would make it not feasible. You also need large areas of flat land next to the ocean, and they need to be close to the grid for power, and cheap. I've seen quite a few start and go bankrupt. I can't think of one that is currently in operation.
Cuttle, the DFO analysis was flawed. It made assumptions such as 15 degree water year round but did not include costs for heating the water, and being able to grow a market salmon in 12 months (it takes atleast 16 at 15 degrees). Check out the assumptions on which the model was based.
Net pen farming is far from problem free as you are aware. It is difficult to predict nature and costly to overcome environmental conditions in BC. CC's do offer the ability to control the rearing environment, which makes harvests more predictable. If the costs of production were the same then it would be a no brainer and the farms would all be on land. But they aren't and that's why net pens are used.
I would suggest retaining the current net pen systems, but examine where and how they operate and mitigate impacts. At least that way you will still have a salmon farming industry albeit smaller. Sorry to rain on your parade but CC's, while appearing to be a solution on the surface is the wrong move.
BTW Searun which countries have banned net pens? I can only think of a state Alaska.