Yes, I'd actually agree with that, because young fish going from fingerling to smolt are actually learning as they go about how to cope with the wild environment, an experience that a farmed fish would never have, so I would expect their mortality rate to be quite high. I'm satisfied with that.
In terms of the effect of aquaculture on wild salmon stocks, what's the department's...? Is the jury still out? I was struck by a report that was sent to me from the department. It was a quick report talking about the 2010 Fraser River sockeye returns being the best since 1913. Aquaculture has been going on in B.C. since 1985. I know that circumstantial evidence isn't necessarily cause and effect, but is the department comfortable that aquaculture and wild salmon stocks can co-exist?