Achievement
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29 November 2024

 

A major step for animal welfare: GAIA has won its appeal against Columbi Salmon’s planned salmon farm in Ostend at the Council for Permit Disputes. This decision puts an end to the plans to farm three million Atlantic salmon annually, blocking the largest intensive salmon farming project in Europe.

Permit Application: From 2020 to Cancellation

In 2020, the city of Ostend announced the arrival of the salmon farm. Two years later, the environmental permit application was submitted and approved by Flemish Environment Minister Zuhal Demir. GAIA immediately appealed to the Council for Permit Disputes to challenge the permit. 

Now, one year later, GAIA has prevailed: not only is the permit nullified, but the Council also ruled that the project is legally unfeasible at this location.

“I feel like jumping three meters high out of sheer joy. We were proven right on all fronts: this project cannot and will not go forward.”

Michel Vandenbosch 

GAIA-President

The Harsh Reality of Intensive Fish Farming

Intensive fish farms, like Columbi Salmon’s planned project in Ostend, cause immense animal suffering. Atlantic salmon, which naturally swim thousands of kilometers, are confined to overcrowded tanks or cages. With densities of 36 fish per cubic meter, they are entirely deprived of their natural environment and instincts. They cannot swim freely, search for food, or hide from threats, resulting in lives filled with stress, disease, and suffering.

  • Physical and Psychological Suffering

The unnatural living conditions in fish farms lead to severe health problems. Overcrowding causes chronic stress, weakening the fish’s immune systems and leaving them vulnerable to diseases and parasites like sea lice. These parasites cause painful wounds, stunt growth, and disrupt the salmon’s nutrition. Many fish suffer severe injuries from infections, abrasions, or damaged gills.

  • Sea Lice and Harmful Treatments

Sea lice, which feed on salmon’s blood and skin, pose a significant challenge in fish farms. The industry uses treatments such as exposing fish to extremely hot water or high pressure to remove parasites. These methods are not only ineffective but also cruel; many fish die during these “solutions.” Additionally, cleaner fish, used to manage lice populations, endure poor living conditions and aggressive interactions.

  • Lifelong Captivity

In intensive farms, salmon cannot display natural behaviors. In the wild, they travel vast distances to spawn, but in cages, they swim aimlessly in confined spaces. They are unable to adapt to environmental changes such as fluctuations in oxygen levels or temperature, exacerbating their suffering.

  • Fish Feel Pain

Scientific research confirms that fish can feel pain. Studies conducted by the Universities of Edinburgh (2003) and Liverpool (2019) prove that the pain system in fish is comparable to that of mammals. Fish even exhibit long-term behavioral changes following painful experiences, underscoring their capacity to suffer.

  • Animal Cruelty at Slaughter

In many farms, salmon are slaughtered without stunning, meaning they die fully conscious. Even when methods such as electrical stunning or a blow to the head are used, these are often ineffective, leading to unnecessary suffering.

  • Environmental Damage

The environmental impact of fish farms is devastating. Waste products such as feces and leftover feed pollute the water and seabed, leading to biodiversity loss and eutrophication, which causes harmful algal blooms. Additionally, the chemicals and antibiotics used to combat diseases pollute the surrounding environment, threatening wild fish populations.

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A Pattern of Success: Baelen and Ostend

The ruling in Ostend is not GAIA’s first success in the fight against intensive fish farming. In 2023, GAIA, alongside concerned citizens, stopped a similar project in Baelen, Wallonia. Plans for a salmon farm with a production capacity of 300,000 salmon were permanently scrapped. The victories in Baelen and Ostend demonstrate that intensive fish farming is increasingly under pressure.

GAIA Remains Vigilant

This ruling confirms what GAIA has been highlighting for years: intensive fish farms like the one in Ostend are unacceptable and contradict the principles of animal welfare and sustainability. While this is an important victory, GAIA remains vigilant. Globally, billions of fish are killed every year under similarly horrific conditions. We continue to call for stricter regulations and a future where respect for animals takes center stage.

The decision in Ostend demonstrates that determination and collaboration can make a difference. GAIA remains unwavering in its commitment to a world where animals are not commodities but are treated with respect and dignity. Together, we can make a difference—for the salmon and for all animals.