Link to petition ( written by Alexandra Morton) that demands Fisheries and Oceans Canada to
apply the Fisheries Act to the Salmon Farming Industry and immediately:
#8722; Place observers during feedlot salmon harvest to assess unlawful by-catch;
[?][?]?? What fish are unlawfully breaking into the net?... herring, eels, small lings which grow into big lings from dining on the salmon? Salmon smolts cruising in & staying around because dinner's a lot easier to find?... How many unlawful by-catch fish are there in one of these pens any way such that some falacious rule needs implementation? Oh, wait, it must be the mussels attached to the nets, or the couple crabs that got fat off the detrius.
And, Of course... Who's about to pay for this new gestapo? You or the farm? This is an excuse to employ some yutz who doesn't want real work. Maybe a PETA member to watch over a herd of sea kittens?
#8722; Examine feedlot salmon as they are cleaned for presence of wild fish in their digestive tract;
[?]?? Of course there will be wild fish in their gut. They're open net pens. Herring, shrimp, sardine, anchovey, mackeral, eels, needlefish all will find their way through these nets. If the water can flow through, and the mesh is 1", there are no traffic lights saying "stop: certain death ahead for wild fish". Those creatures in the pen... Atlantic salmon, are predators. They eat small fish, krill, shrimp and food pellets. They're not so dumb as to listen to the operator saying... "Whoa there Scottie... Can't eat THAT!"
So what next: Ban or fine operators if their salmon eat wild forage which wanders into their nets?
What's the point of that demand anyway... Ban penned fish from eating? Get a reality check.
#8722; Licence vessels transporting aquaculture salmon like all other commercial fishing vessels;
[?]?? These are basically freighters, not seiners or long-liners or trawlers or bottom smashers. They're carrying farm produce, not fishing for a living. That's simply a stupid requirement to ask for.
Now, if they are fishing vessels, with fish-catching gear... Well, if they might be doing a little poaching on the side throw them in jail. Or, If they're buying native caught fish on the trip home... well maybe there's a license for "I'm allowed to buy Native-Caught Fish" that they may need to buy. Otherwise, give your heads a shake.
#8722; As per Pacific Fishery Regulation "Prohibited Fishing
Methods" ban grow lights on fish feedlots to end wild prey species
attraction into the pens;
[?] Given they are not fishing, having lights isn't an issue. In fact less an issue than lights on any wharf or seaside street, where anglers could stand by a lighted seashore and gain some small advantage.
What's this, an anti-seal effort? Keep the sharks at bay? Send the orca back to the briney depths?
The lights are probably needed to keep the protestors off the pens at night so they don't cut the nets then blame the escapement on the farmer. Having lights might just help when they photograph the eco-terrorists... and that is what they are.
- Remove the marine feedlot industry from wild salmon migration routes.
[?] ?? To where, the wild salmon feeding grounds? I'd bet any (somewhat in undecided dispute) transfer of bio-hazard, lice etc..., would be far more likely to infest were that to happen. I'm of a mind the position in a migratory route would be a most transient if even possible exposure to the concerns bandied about so readily. Migratory used to mean, passing by, not taking up residence. I'd also think in a feeding ground there would be a much greater uptake of the natural food supply. (which would be in much greater supply were the herring/pilchard fishery banned.)
Were I a licensed commercial fisher or a charter guide,
I'd be crying-out for a lot more farms to help take the consumption-pressure off the wild stock. Because brotha, when those Chinese start up farming to fill their own needs, you won't sell, nor have anything left to sell to you biggest markets, and if you're dreaming of price increases by killing-off farms... think about that for just a nano-second... Eh? They will feed their people... with zero regard for Alexandra's sensitivities.
Regards
