Witness Statements

I was deeply touched by the pristine beauty of the Falklands when I visited this month (March 2025).

The natural beauty of these islands and fragile ecosystems are one of the main attractions of the Falkland Islands.

I am concerned about potential open-pen salmon farming because I have witnessed the impact of such farms where I live in Australia, such as those in Tasmania where the farms have destroyed the pristine environment and ecosystems. The salmon farms not only destroy the local environment but have significant impacts on wildlife that depend on the waters around the islands.

I am strongly against open-pen salmon farming in any form because evidence shows this industry is harmful to the environment.

Je reviens d’un séjour d’un mois aux Iles Falkland. Notre but était d'approcher les colonies d’oiseaux, dans leur milieu naturel et sauvage. Quelle merveille de savoir qu’il existe encore des endroits sur terre où l’on peut admirer ses paysages et cette faune d’une beauté à couper le souffle. Je ramène de ce voyage des images inoubliables. Imaginer qu’il pourrait y avoir sur ces îles magiques des fermes d’élevage de saumon me révolte et m’attriste profondément. L’Homme est prêt à tout pour assouvir son besoin d’argent, toujours plus, toujours plus loin, et peu lui importe les conséquences néfastes sur l’environnement et la vie. Et ce n’est pas en ajoutant des fermes d’élevage de saumon que l’on réduira la faim dans le monde. Alors je crie NON, STOP à ces nouveaux projets que l’on sait polluants et dangereux pour les espèces qui ont encore la chance de vivre dans ces lieux.

English translation:

I have just returned from a month-long stay in the Falkland Islands. Our goal was to approach bird colonies in their natural and wild environment. How amazing to know that there are still places on earth where you can admire landscapes and breathtakingly beautiful wildlife. I brought back unforgettable images from this trip. To imagine that there could be salmon farms in these magical islands revolts and saddens me deeply. Man is ready to do anything to satisfy his need for money, always more, always further, and he does not care about the harmful consequences on the environment and life. The addition of salmon farms will not reduce world hunger. So, I shout NO, STOP to these new projects that we know are polluting and dangerous for the species that are still lucky enough to live in these places.

I am opposed to offshore salmon farming in the Falkland Islands due to its well-documented environmental risks. The introduction of intensive aquaculture threatens our pristine marine ecosystems with pollution, disease transfer to wild fish populations, and the potential for escaped non-native species to disrupt local biodiversity. The Falklands' waters are among the cleanest in the world, and we must protect them from the devastating ecological consequences seen in other regions where salmon farming has caused habitat degradation and declining wild fish stocks. Sustainable fisheries and responsible marine stewardship should be our priority, not industrial fish farming that prioritises profit over environmental health.

I am, however, open to exploring sustainable alternatives such as land-based, onshore salmon farming. If thorough investigations demonstrate that a closed-containment system can operate without harming local ecosystems, depleting marine resources, or introducing invasive risks, then it could provide a more environmentally responsible option. Any such development must be carefully assessed to ensure it aligns with the Falklands’ commitment to protecting its unique environment while fostering economic opportunities.

I visited the Falklands in January 2025. I was awed by the rugged natural beauty of the place and am deeply concerned about the potential impact of open pen salmon farming on this exceptional location. I've seen the negative impact of open-pen farming in other locations and it is clear that it negatively impacts tourism as well as the overall environment.

I am against open-pen salmon farming in any form because evidence shows this industry is harmful to the environment, but am particularly concerned that it not impact this special place.

I live in Tasmania. We have open pen salmon farming here - although calling them farmers is an insult to true farmers. This is a polluting industry and a divive influence. Salmon companies here are foreign owned, secretive and bullying.

Do what you can to keep them out.

As a guide working on expedition ships to Antarctica, South Georgia and the Falkland Islands for the past 3 years I have seen how interconnected and delicate our marine ecosystems are.

Working as a kayak guide in British Columbia as well I know all too well the effect of Salmon farms on the environment they are in. As a keystone species, wild salmon play an important role in nourishing the forest around the streams in which they head up to bread and complete their life cycle. Salmon farms pose a huge risk to the ecosystem they live in including the wild salmon that live around these areas. From sea lice, PRV and decomposing feces and flesh destroying the ocean floor, nothing in salmon farming is any good for the ecosystems they are raised in. The salmon Farming industry has greenwashed and made us believe that this practice is needed to feed the human population on the planet but it is only run by corporate greed and political lies.

These salmon farms should not operate not only in the Falkland islands but also close its doors everywhere around the world. They have been banned by the Norwegian government, where they originated, because of all the risks it posed on their ecosystems. These cooperate greedy companies weaseled their way into other government agencies around the world promising a wealthy economy while hiding the true impacts.

I am completely opposed to open net fish farming in any ocean setting around the world.

My name is Chris Peck. I am a Falkland Islander and love my home. We are so very lucky to live where we do and love the wildlife and getting out and about, enjoying the scenery and the fresh air and the peace and quiet. I feel so strongly against any form of salmon farming. If I remember rightly, at Foxbay, many years ago, they had salmon in tanks at a place called Doctors Creek. I went out to live and work on the west in 1982. Going to Doctors Creek to go fishing was mind blowing, the amount of fish there (mullet) was incredible.

I left the west and came back into Stanley, then went out to the west with my partner and we called into Foxbay and noticed there were no fish to be seen. I was told this was due to the fact of the salmon they had there in the tanks many years before, the place was dead. We have a good friend who is Chilean and into the echo system in a large way in Chile and he has shown us lots of data about the issues in Chile with salmon farming, everything is destroyed and the impact is, it never recovers. We have had people from Chile come over and explain all this to the people of the Falklands.

I am against any kind of salmon farming in any form because we all know the end results and it will completely destroy the Falklands.

My name is Skip Novak and I am the managing director of Pelagic Expeditions. This is a yacht charter company that uses the Falklands not only as a base for launching off to South Georgia and the Antarctic, but also for providing logistic support for divers, wild life film teams and tourists within the Falkland archipelago itself.

The use and more often mis-use of salmon farming is becoming more well known globally. It is no longer a secret how damaging this type of aquaculture can be and this is well publicized in countries like Chile, Norway and the UK. So much so, that many people have decided to forego what has become a cheap fish food for the table. It is a massive case of over production.

I was shocked when it hit the news that salmon farming was in the pipeline for the Falklands. Irrespective of the damage that will be done to the environment and the inevitable escape of salmon into the ecosystem displacing native species ( what is currently happening in Tierra del Fuego) the last thing a group of tourists would want to see are salmon pens in an otherwise pristine bay or cove. It is a huge negative.

Although the commercial interests are no doubt over bearing, I would hope the MLA's will take an enlightened view on this, looking to the long term in maintaining the unique environment the Falklands has to offer.

I had the good fortune to be in the Falklands where we were able to visit several months ago—great people, beautiful landscape, and unique animal/bird life.

 We did a lot of hiking in that beautiful landscape. We visited the albatross colonies where albatross were nesting, along with rockhopper penguins and blue-eyed shags, all in a symbiotic relationship. All of the birds were using the pristine waters surrounding the islands for feeding.

Not so far away, Tasmania has a huge salmon farming enterprise. It is said by marine scientists that essentially the ocean is dead in the area where this massive industrial complex is happening. The native fish have died.  Therefore, the impact on marine mammals has been dramatically impacted. There are multiple factors involved with this, antibiotics and other chemicals given to the salmon because they are in an unhealthy and unnaturally crowded environment, similar to the cattle feedlots in the United States.  Salmon escape frequently and are suddenly in the open water to continue contaminating other fish.  Effluent which is rich in toxic heavy metals and a wide-range of chemicals is released and has not only damaged and killed the surrounding ocean, but it has permeated the natural drinking water on the mainland. There is a solid bed of evidence about the numerous hazards of salmon farming.  This cannot be news to you.  I am sure you are quite aware of this devastating situation, and choose to ignore and proceed with your proposal.  Washington state in the US has now banned salmon farming because it has been proven to be disastrous to indigenous people, to the ocean, and to nature generally. 

For me, the natural beauty of the Falklands deserves preservation, not exploitation.  This is where the reputation for the Falklands belongs, not with the rotting underbelly of the salmon industry.  Please have a bit of concern for something other than a lame plan to make money.

I recently returned from a two-week holiday in the Falklands, and I am deeply concerned about the potential introduction of salmon fish farms, or any fish farms, to this pristine environment.

As a UK resident with extensive experience on the west coasts of Ireland and Scotland, I have witnessed first hand the devastating impact of salmon fish farms on marine life. The untreated effluent released into sheltered bays in the West of Scotland is equivalent to the untreated sewage from 2.5 million people. In addition to the visible impact the pollution has led to the decimation of shellfish populations, creating toxic zones where marine life is suffocated by waste on the sea floor. Marine predators are notably absent due to disease and deterrent measures employed by fish farms. Orcas are unable to reproduce. The mothers give berth but their milk is toxic for their calves and so they die poisoned by their own mothers milk. The chemicals used by the fish farms may be implicated.

The Falklands are renowned for their pristine marine environment. The introduction of such levels of toxins would inevitably harm penguins and seals. Additionally, the deterrent measures used to protect fish farms would disrupt the behavior of these species. This environmental degradation would also negatively impact the Falkland Islands' tourism industry and tarnish the reputation of the islanders.

Argentina could argue that the Falkland islanders are no longer fit to manage their own affairs if they are willing to jeopardize the unique environment that they are guardians of. Images of drowned penguins stuck in nets is not going to enhance the reputation of the islands. Cruise ship passengers from all over the world are unlikely to visit a place tarred with such negative imagery,

One of my primary reasons for visiting the Falklands was to experience its unspoiled environment and observe the incredible wildlife, including penguins, elephant seals, and albatrosses. Does the Falklands truly want to create "death zones" around its coast, which would be both eyesores of urban decay and catastrophic for the animals that define the islands? Why put the Falklands at risk?

It's difficult to think of a greater act of self harm than to introduce salmon fish farms to the Falkland Islands.

I visited the Falkland Islands in January 2025. I was astounded by its beautiful yet fragile environment.

I could not believe my ears when I heard that open pen salmon farming was to be introduced. Does anyone in their right minds think that the insignificant benefits of this operation will outweigh all the damage it will cause? Obviously the only people that will benefit are the "fat cats" behind the sinister plan.

I have seen the damage cause by open pen salmon farming both in British Colombia and Chile. Both of these places are regretting the day they ever allowed this to take place.

Please halt this madness.