Aquaculture

By Jill Schwartz

Corey Peet began studying marine ecology in college at the same time a major controversy over sea lice erupted in British Columbia. The event provided an opportunity for Corey, who is fascinated with the relationship between organisms and their environment and committed to protecting the landscape in British Columbia, his homeland.

To help find a solution to the sea lice dilemma, Corey developed and managed a two-year laboratory study and a three-year province-wide study on the impacts of sea lice from salmon farms on Pacific salmon. During that time, he made presentations about sea lice in South Africa, Brazil, Alaska and California.

“This was much more than just a science experiment for me,” said Corey. “It really shaped my thinking about seafood and ecology.”

His experience at the University of Victoria influenced his decision to get involved in aquaculture. Corey now works at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. He manages the aquarium’s Seafood Watch Program, where he acts as the eyes and ears for consumers weighing their seafood options. The centerpiece of the program is a set of guides about what seafood is most – and least -- sustainable. Corey focuses on aquaculture, including farmed fish.  

“Fisheries are not going to be able to provide all the seafood we need for the future,” Corey said. “Aquaculture is a legitimate option for filling the gap. As long as aquaculture is done sustainably it can make a positive contribution to global seafood supplies.”

He’s particularly interested in working on the issue of farmed salmon because it has the potential to impact the type of fish (wild salmon) that he enjoys eating the most and is at the core of the economy and community where he grew up.

Corey also participates in the Aquaculture Dialogues for salmon, shrimp, tilapia and pangasius. He brings to the Dialogues a strong background in science, as well as an understanding of how to engage in multi-stakeholder processes – a skill he picked up while working with governments, industry, NGOs and First Nations on the controversial issue of farmed salmon in British Columbia.

“The Dialogue model is currently the best model we have for developing performance-based standards,” said Corey.

Through this work, he hopes to make aquaculture more sustainable by minimizing the impacts – such as disease transfer (i.e., sea lice) – that aquaculture can have on the environment.

His interest in protecting the environment goes back to his childhood days of camping on Canada’s Vancouver Island, where he became intrigued with the “lure of the ocean.” He became even more drawn in when, in his 20s, he was a naturalist on whale watching trips.  

”My experiences as a naturalist really taught me a lot about the complexity of marine ecosystems and how important they are in sustaining life on the planet.”