Effects of mariculture on populations of wild fish

In the OSPAR area, the degree of interactions may be moderate between finfish mariculture and wild fish populations at the scale of a river local to a salmon farm, but are lower at a broader scale. The supply of food for mariculture creates a demand for small pelagic fish. ICES has advised that the fishing mortality on some small pelagic stocks should be reduced. A risk assessment is presented that identifies the research needed to more fully understand the nature and impact of these interactions and pressures.