What can WE do to help save the salmon?

[Dave S]

http://www.vancouversun.com/Fisherie...454/story.html

LAME! Whoever voted for these douche bags better think twice next time! Looks like we've got a big fight coming.

[Dave S]

So, what have I done to help save the salmon?

Well, I check all our household cleaners for toxic ingredients and recycled the ones that are bad for our waters. http://www.springbreakup.ca/cleaners-101/mobile/

I have also cleaned up around the storm drain by my house to prevent the garbage and sediment from running down the pipe.

I have contacted Uvic's Enviromental Law Centre for advise or assistance regarding a complete disregard for our environment by a local big box store. Oil running into the storm drain....not cool.

I have volunteered my time with couple groups regarding fish counting and hatchery work.

[Little Hawk]

I read nothing in the Conservative's Act amendment about protecting fish that 'have value' to animals or wildlife, only people?

We didn't start the fire!

[Rockfish]

http://www.timescolonist.com/opinion...068/story.html

This is how a professional lobby for an industry with lots of tax dollar support molds public opinion. The spin in this case is: riding on the coat tails of First Nations, creating jobs and that fish farms are key to saving wild salmon; not the problem.

No talk of course of the many more jobs they put at risk and what it will mean to First Nations if the wild salmon disappear.

They are sure good at though aren’t they and little gems like this usually go unopposed. Corporate media laps it up and avoids all critical analysis of the reality of the situation.

[Foxsea]

http://www.timescolonist.com/opinion...068/story.html

This is how a professional lobby for an industry with lots of tax dollar support molds public opinion. The spin in this case is: riding on the coat tails of First Nations, creating jobs and that fish farms are key to saving wild salmon; not the problem.

No talk of course of the many more jobs they put at risk and what it will mean to First Nations if the wild salmon disappear.

They are sure good at though aren’t they and little gems like this usually go unopposed. Corporate media laps it up and avoids all critical analysis of the reality of the situation.

Well, as you and I have discussed, Rocky, we can respond:


To the Editor, Times Colonist
In an April 28, 2012 Opinion piece, Mary Ellen Walling, a lobbyist for the Norwegian salmon farmers says: “Our iconic Pacific salmon face many challenges, some of which we as citizens can alleviate and control.”

Many of the challenges our wild salmon face are created by the very salmon feedlots that Ms. Walling represents. For example, the open net pens allow millions of tonnes of untreated waste into our previously pristine waters. Farmed salmon propagate at least 2 killer, highly contagious viruses that are released into our coastal waters . These viruses have been identified by Dr. Marty and Dr. Miller from the D.F.O. and have been found in 94% of the farmed salmon recently tested, from supermarket shelves. These viral infections damaged the hearts of wild salmon and have contributed to the collapse of the Fraser wild sockeye runs. The fish died before spawning.

Ms. Walling asserts that “Government has established clear, strong regulations, monitoring and auditing to ensure our farming practices are successfully protecting wild and farm-raised fish.” Unfortunately this is no longer true. The Harper government has weakened environmental protection legislation and has dramatically cut the D.F.O. budget, to the point that they can no longer monitor or audit the fish farms. Fish farmers have, in fact, refused to allow independent scientific testing. Perhaps they are fearful that public awareness of the disease in their fish will hamper the sales of their product.

Several First Nations, the Kwicksutaineuk, Ha-xwa-mish, Tsawataineuk, Gwawaenuk, Namgis,
Mamtagila and the Mamalilikulla peoples have a certified, class-action lawsuit now pending before the Courts. Their case states that salmon farms have damaged wild salmon runs and destroyed economic opportunities and a way of life for their people. Salmon farms are destroying wild salmon, coastal culture and a vital piece of West-coast life, for people and for our wildlife.

As Ms. Walling says, there certainly are challenges for wild salmon that they can alleviate and control. If salmon feed-lots would only use closed containment and water filtration, they could enhance our wild salmon stocks and our coastal way of life.

[Charlie]

I read nothing in the Conservative's Act amendment about protecting fish that 'have value' to animals or wildlife, only people?

We didn't start the fire!

Section 35 of the Fisheries Act now states:
35(1) No person shall carry on any work or undertaking that results in the harmful alteration, disruption or destruction of fish habitat.

(2) No person contravenes subsection (1) by causing the alteration, disruption or destruction of fish habitat by any means or under any conditions authorized by the Minister or under the regulations made by the Governor in Counsel under this Act

The proposed new Section 35 of the Fisheries Act is as follows:
35(1) No person shall carry on any work, undertaking or activity, other than fishing, that results in an adverse effect on a fish of economic, cultural or ecological value.

(2) No person contravenes subsection (1) if

(a) the adverse effect is authorized by the Minister and is produced in accordance with the conditions established by the Minister;

(b) the adverse effect is authorized by a person prescribed by the regulations and is produced in accordance with the conditions prescribed by the regulations;

(c) the work, undertaking or activity is carried on in accordance with the conditions set out in the regulations or with any other authorization issued under this Act;

(d) the work, undertaking or activity is carried on in, on, over, under, through or across any Canadian fisheries waters, and

(i) the work, undertaking or activity falls within a class of works, undertakings or activities, or the Canadian fisheries waters fall within a class of Canadian fisheries waters, established by regulation, and

(ii) the work, undertaking or activity is carried on in accordance with the conditions prescribed by the regulations.
http://www.ab-conservation.com/go/de...s-act-changes/

Well, those little changes just may have some very large long term effects and some bad news, also. The way I am reading this... Right now “fish habitat,” which does include migration routes and if taken to court if there were any ‘Atlantic salmon open net pens’ proved to be harming wild salmon stocks (anywhere in Canada) they would have to be (and required) to be removed IAW the fisheries act anywhere they are creating a, “No person shall carry on any work or undertaking that results in the harmful alteration, disruption or destruction of fish habitat.”

Under the proposed changes, the one and only thing required would be, “the adverse effect is authorized by the Minister and is produced in accordance with the conditions established by the Minister;” Meaning if this is implemented, enjoy your “Atlantic open net pen fish farms”! As they will be authorized by the Minister thus making them no longer subject to or able to be removed by Canada Law.

Harper knows under the "present" Fisheries Act when (if ) this ever does gets to court IAW Canada Law - he will lose, unles the Fisheries Act is changed, so, just keep stalling, until he gets the law changed!

To the Editor, Times Colonist

Nicely done! Short to the point! Well written!

[Foxsea]

Section 35 of the Fisheries Act now states:
35(1) No person shall carry on any work or undertaking that results in the harmful alteration, disruption or destruction of fish habitat.
New legislation - if this is implemented, enjoy your “Atlantic open net pen fish farms”! As they will be authorized by the Minister thus making them no longer subject to or able to be removed by Canada Law.
Harper knows under the "present" Fisheries Act when (if ) this ever does gets to court IAW Canada Law - he will lose, unles the Fisheries Act is changed, so, just keep stalling, until he gets the law changed!


Foxsea: Nicely done! Short to the point! Well written!

The whole Harper fiasco just keeps getting worse - when I though it was as bad as it gets!
Thanks, Charlie. I edited with feedback from Rocky and provided the copy to all Island papers concerned and the Vancouver Sun.

If we get the copy written, do we have a few volunteers to send the stuff in? Thanks.

[Deewar25]

Was very well written Foxsea - I don't see them denying the post based on 'quality', so it will be interesting to see if there is a biased in the media to the big industries, or whether or not they fairly are willing to post both sides of argument. Seems like you nailed it to me.

Did you notice in the paper Friday that they are destroying all the fish at a farm on the east coast for confirmed cases of ISA...yes, even the government admitted to it this time!

[Foxsea]

Was very well written Foxsea ... Seems like you nailed it to me!

Thanks! If anyone sees articles that need to be responded to, I for one am happy to do so. Let's keep the pressure on and make the public aware.

Did you notice in the paper Friday that they are destroying all the fish as a farm on the east coast for confirmed cases of ISA...yes, even the government admitted to it this time!

Nice! That's a big step . . . things may be looking up!

[Charlie]

Was very well written Foxsea - I don't see them denying the post based on 'quality', so it will be interesting to see if there is a biased in the media to the big industries, or whether or not they fairly are willing to post both sides of argument. Seems like you nailed it to me.

Did you notice in the paper Friday that they are destroying all the fish at a farm on the east coast for confirmed cases of ISA...yes, even the government admitted to it this time!

Guess what "STOP"... ISA"v" has already been confirmed on the east coast and westcoast in Canada, and the U.S.! How many "STOPS" does one need to see and/or want?

If, you "THINK" the only way a "closed cantainment" facility could have gotten ISAv is through "eggs"!

FYI... That just might be a "VERY BIG" problem for "Atlantic fish farms" operating in BC; at least until "Harper" gets Canada Law changed!