Environment Something fishy in BC waters By Holly Keyes _ fhe at almon raised in pens suspended in the ocean are risking the lives of the wild salmon population. It is a growing industry in the coastal region of BC and is seen by some as an answer to our declining wild fish stocks. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans supports fish farming even though their mandate is to manage and protect the federal (wild) fish stocks. Unfortunately, aquaculture of salmon may be degrad- ing the rfacural populations of the species that our fishery industry relies so heavily on. Charles McKee of the Pacific Coast Fisherman's Union believes “There is no doubt in my mind that expanding the salmon farming industry in BC will lead to the eradication of wild salmon within 10-15 years, and the resulting eradication of the commer- cial, sports and Aboriginal fisheries.” Farmed fish live in overcrowded conditions and therefore don’t get enough exercise and are easily suscep- tible to contagious diseases. The hematopoietic necrosis virus and furunculosis are two endemic condi- tions in penned fish; both are highly contagious to wild species and nearly always fatal. In the current system, the smolts are placed in open water net pens to There are worms living Melinda saw them the other day; wrigley, squirmy and covered in dirt. Yes, INSIDE the college walls. Downstairs, deep in the dungeon of the college, where man fails to see natural daylight, in the maze they call the zero-hundred level, there are worms! Luckily for the weak at heart the little critters are confined to a plastic container with air holes, munching away at food. Their food is our leftover food. These worms eat my garbage! Believe it or not, in an office down there somewhere, there is a worm composter. It is quiet, odour- less, harmless and not one of those suckers has escaped yet. So, how is a worm composter executed in the con- fines of an institution? It’s easy, actu- ally. And, at the end of this little arti- cle, | expect every program with booked rooms to have a little worm composter as well. First of all, the benefits of a worm composter. Statistics state that in a common household, 33 % of all waste is compostable. Compostable food waste being: raw/uncooked fruits and vegetables, any part of them, cof- fee grounds, tea bags (remove the sta- ple part) and crushed egg shells. Avoid cooked meats, dairy products and oily foods or grains. And, from those crazy commercials, we know that 33% is a lot more than we real- ize. So, the whole composting thing reduces the amount of waste going into dumps. Also, the process turns the food waste into a rich soil that can be used to return nutrients to the earth and condition your or your grow to marketable size. Water passes through the nets but the fish are cap- tive. Also passing through the nets are diseases, fecal matter and uneaten food. As wild salmon swim past the fish farms, they pick up the dis- eases of the farmed fish and pass them on to other wild fish. In this manner, an outbreak of the necrosis virus in one fish farm in an inlet can be spread along the shoreline. ‘ moms garden soil. Secondly, the composter is achieved off pure will. Although the idea of a worm composter sounds cool, it takes regular maintenance and upkeep. Even though feeding the worms once a week doesn't sound like much, it gets to be a chore. At first it is really fun, then it gets less fun, then it gets boring. But, you know this is good for the environment, and it keeps you going. And, worms are unique crea- tures with the right to live blissful lives, so it is important to provide them with a healthy environment in which to live. So, the logistics of a worm com- poster. You start off with a container, made of wood or plastic. The one in the dungeon is a plastic container with a snap on lid. Two air holes are cut through the lid and air vents are installed. The air vents are covered with nylon, as in stockings, to prevent other creatures from escaping (as in fruit flies, but that’s a different story). The container is filled with red- worms, purchased from the worm guy, who happened to have 2000 worms to sell us for something like 10 bucks. So, the worms are put in the bottom of the container and covered with a layer of shredded newspaper. The newspaper layer is known as bed- ding and it is always kept damp. Feeding the worms involves popping the lid of the container, pushing the bedding aside, burying the food waste in different places and covering it up with the bedding before closing the lid. Over the duration of a month or two, the worms eat the organic mate- rial and bedding, producing rich Necrosis kills the fish by rotting it from the inside out. The virus attacks the cells in the blood-forming organs causing cell death and then organ death and, finally, the death of the fish. Necrosis is not harm- ful to humans and : infected fish to maturity and slaughtered for mar- ket for human consumption. The fecal matter and uneaten food pellets settle along the bottom where the current deposits the material. This sludge can choke shellfish beds and bury habitats and animals. This mate- rial also contains the antibiotics fish farm operators put in the fish food to encourage growth. These antibiotics make the shellfish they pollute inedi- ble, which is a major concern for the : First Nations groups who have traditionally harvested the shellfish for A worm’ eye view of the college. Can't you tell we're desperate for graphics? compost. It’s that easy. Okay, and as easy as this all sounds there are a few things to keep in mind. You didn’t know there is a worm composter in that office with a window into the hallway because we are doing it right. We feed the worms once a week, paying special attention not to overfeed the worms. When there is too much food in the con- tainer the worms can't keep up with; the food rots and odours emanate. But, knock on wood/plastic, that is not a problem. As well, the food waste is kept in an air tight covered container until the worms are fed. And, a word on fruit flies. It is vital to bury the food completely, and not overload the bin. The fruit flies grow (and grow) on exposed fruit peels, and once they start to breed, they are out of control, fast. Details Containers need to be between 8 and 12 inches deep and provide one square foot for every pound of food waste per week. Covered containers help to conserve moisture and provide a dark space for the worms. To provide additional darkness for the worms, place a sheet of dark plastic or burlap over the con- tainer. Typically, composters also have drainage holes drilled into the bottom Aquaculture is the farming of water- eR -10 im Oh C-Me-TaLe| includes salmon, oysters, clams, scallops, arctic char, sablefish, halibut, sea urchin, geoduck, alec lile Mae sal i cee ter trout. food. The aquaculture business is one of the biggest agricultural-food pro- ducing industries in the province. It is estimated that the industry could be worth over $200-million by the year 2000, which means jobs and income to many people. Most of the jobs pro- duced by this growing industry are minimum wage and seasonal and can't possibly compensate for the eco- logical damage they will cause. The loss of Native shellfish harvesting grounds, the polluting of the water- ways and the possibility of the farmed fish escaping and wiping out the native populations can’t be compen- sated for with mere money. inside the college! of the container. In this case, raise the container on blocks to encourage drainage and air circulation. Redworms are ideal for composting as they thrive on organic materials. For one pound of food each day, you will need two pounds of worms (approximately 2000). Kidnap worms from your friend’s composter or pur- chase through your very own worm guy (call the Compost Hotline 736- 2250). Bedding material includes shredded newspaper and cardboard, shredded leaves, dead plants, and grass clip- pings. The moisture in the container should be énough the dampen the fresh bedding. Every other week or so, fluff (aerate) the compost material by mixing the bedding into the com- post and add new bedding material. The worms will also eat the old bed- ding material. That should be enough info on how the worm composter downstairs works and how you can get started on your own. And, naturally, there is more info that goes with the info pro- vided above. If you are serious about starting your own worm composter (cuz if we can do it, so can you, trust me), contact the Institute of Urban Ecology, room 0615 (in the dun- geon), or contact the GVRD Compost Hotline, 736-2250. And, a word to the wise, nobody tell admin- istration that we have a worm com- poster; they'll probably freak. Thanks! Reference: GVRD Guide to Worm Composting, 02/93/42000. AViCAUIITAM aCeN MM NIUITCONITIITONTCTIN ANTIBES BCA IC ITTTTT 6 The Other Press April 1998