Remember a couple weeks ago when I told you about a foreign funded expedition by American biologist Alexandra Morton supported by American activists at the Sea Shepherd Society to "research" the BC Salmon farming industry? Well, turns out Morton and her group are engaging in activism rather than research.
I just got back from a trip up the Island to Campbell River, BC, where I went to a salmon farm operated by Marine Harvest Canada.
I found nothing close to the disinformation being spread Alexandra Morton, David Suzuki and celebrity Pamela Anderson.
The farm was clean and the only smell was that of the salty sea water around us. My guides were Ian Roberts of Marine Harvest Canada and Harold Sewid, a Hereditary Clan Chief of the Weumusgem Clan of the Qwe'Qwa'Sot'Enox First Nation.
Harold and his clan have spent their lives on the water, and he told us about the tides and the weather patterns of the day.
That’s why it is so offensive that Alexandra Morton and the Sea Shepherd Society would claim they have vast First Nations support, especially since many First Nation bands and people embrace salmon farming industry as a great employment opportunity.
Morton and her team had visited the same salmon farm we visited just two days prior. According to people there I spoke to, she and her team are simply not doing actual research but instead are engaging in activism: Lots of signs and banners, even flying a drone over the heads of people who were just trying to do their jobs.
Many of the pictures Morton published on her blog implied that the employees must have something to hide. This did not sit well with site manager John Ilett, as you’ll see in my report.
I actually sent a few of the pictures of the techniques and methods used by Morton for her “research” to a third party testing company, and spoke with biologist Lance Stewardson from Mainstream Biological Consulting about the methods and techniques that would normally be used during typical research trips.
The response I got was revealing. There is evidence that Sea Shepherd and Morton are taking short cuts or finding samples that prove their preconceived bias.
I also met with Chief John Smith of the Tlowitsis First Nations. Morton accuses them of being afraid and having something to hide, but the Chief tell us that she has never even called him.
The facts are clear: salmon farming is a great way to supplement wild stocks. But more so, they provide high paying long-term employment in a region where not much else is happening.
For First Nations members like Harold, they care deeply about the environment and if they thought that salmon farming was having a negative impact on their communities, they simply would not be on board.
Who bought and paid for all that farm equipment and training and more?
My tax dollars.
While I am somewhat sympathetic to their plight I do think it looks good to see them in the cross hairs of the demonstrators. By the way that farming manages to use a lot of oil as well.
How green are the fish?
I wonder if it came down a pipeline or was delivered by truck or boat?
Christopher Wilson will probably be aware of the mega 9+acre green houses built in the Lower Mainland of BC. Does that make them right?
Just alone the fact that fish farms are spreading black listed species, it’s parasites, and illnesses to the pacific ocean should be enough to ban the Atlantic Salmon farms along the BC coast.
Unfortunately greedy eyed politicians are blind to the facts surrounding fish farms.
First off, they destroy twice as many jobs as they create.
In Norway they create around 6000 jobs, while they have destroyed over twice that in shrimp fisheries alone, not to speak of Tourism, and other commercial fisheries.
Out of sight, out of mind they say, and this is so true for fish farms. I wonder what this journalist would have said if he could see the mountains of sewer piling up on the bottom under the fish farms he’s visited ? Some say the fish farms are fertilizing the oceans, but unfortunately the ocean needs silica based fertilizer, not Phosphor based. The phosphor based sewer from the fish farms encourage growth of algae that chokes the silica based lifeforms that are keystones for near all ocean life.
Great report. Keep up the good work.
Paul
So when David Suzuki puts his stamp of disapproval (or approval), I know exactly what snake oil he is selling.
Unfortunately, this is one of the scientists that Baby Doc Trudeau relies upon. So sad…
Let me clear, Salmon are SICK at these farms, and they are spreading diseases, and they’re selling it in stores and public, to folks who don’t know any better. It’s disgusting I believe this industry is breaking the law!
Mr. Sewid and Mr. Smith will agree that they are not the only Chiefs here. Both of these men are my uncles, and I feel terrible about saying this, but give your heads and wallets a shake! The real hereditary leadership (Not DIA elected system) of our people have spoken unanimously, Fish Farming in our territories are threatening life on the Coast, and the entire food web, and their days are numbered, according to the rightful owners of this territory. Yu’am!
Yes, you are correct. I was thinking of the ability of farmed Atlantic breeding with wild Atlantic. They are known, however, to breed in BC rivers and compete with wild Salmon for habitat.
Bob. Land based fish farms are not economically feasible. Curently the Kutera project in BC is operated at a huge loss because they are funded by TIDES. Yes TIDES failed to prove land fish farming can work. The costs are 7x as high.
Firstly, they are using Atlantic salmon. If these salmon get out of the confined farm area, the wild salmon are jeopardized and compromised. Atlantic salmon will be breeding with BC salmon, along with other possible diseases, etc.
Secondly, salmon fed anything other than the natural food the ocean provides, leads to the same toxins as salmon farmed in the Atlantic.
Third, you are what YOU eat. What the fish are being fed, you are eating. That’s why Atlantic salmon is considered inferior to wild [BC] salmon. Key word for superior quality and health benefits for those eating this fish is ‘wild’. Wild salmon are high in Omega 3 and they are simply because they feed off the ocean, not man made fish food.
I eat salmon almost every day; wild BC salmon. I lived on the west coast and bought fresh wild salmon caught that day. I’ve been to the hatcheries and worked with people in the industry.
I would not buy Atlantic salmon because it simply is not salmon, its basically a gmo’d fish.
Its not nice to fool with Mother Nature, because when a mistake is made, it is simply too late.
Suzuki is the biggest hypocrite idiot in the environmental movement. Who is paying Suzuki to say that or is he just a plain stupid old fool?
Good one BILL SMITH