Coalition seeks fish farm help

[IronNoggin]

Coalition seeks fish-farm help

By Judith Lavoie, Times Colonist February 11, 2012

A coalition of U.S. and Canadian conservation groups and First Nations are asking for international help in dealing with fish farms off the B.C. coast.

A formal petition was filed this week with a North American Free Trade Agreement panel requesting an international investigation into Canada's failure to protect wild salmon in B.C. from disease and parasites, which, opponents claim, come from salmon farms.

The petition, which is looking for enforcement of Canada's Fisheries Act, has been submitted to the Commission for Environmental Cooperation, but it is not known when a decision will be made.

The organizations behind the petition are the Center for Biological Diversity, Pacific Coast Wild Salmon Society, the northern Vancouver Island Kwikwasu'tinuxw Haxwa'mis First Nation and Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations.

Kwikwasu'tinuxw Haxwa'mis Chief Bob Chamberlin said B.C. First Nations leaders receive little help from the Canadian government in dealing with fish farms in traditional waters, so it is time to appeal for help from the international community. "It's another opportunity to try and have our concerns heard. If we are not able to find satisfaction from the federal government, we need to go to the international stage to pressure Canada to do something," said Chamberlin, who is also vice-president of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs.

There are 27 net pens in the bands' traditional territories, even though the communities are opposed to open net pens, Chamberlin said. The pens are situated in the primary exit areas for wild salmon, leading to concerns about their role in the decline of wild runs, Chamberlin said.

"Fish farms in Canada are an unholy marriage between various levels of the Canadian government and foreign-owned companies," he said.

Zeke Grader, director of the U.S.-based Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations, said the Canadian government is showing disregard for wild salmon stocks. "Salmon feedlots put wild salmon, the communities that depend on them, a billion-dollar fishing industry, tens of thousands of fishing jobs and our nations' shared natural heritage at risk of extinction," he said.

Salmon farmers say the industry is environmentally sustainable and provides direct jobs for 2,800 British Columbians.

A spokesman for Fisheries and Oceans Canada was not available.

jlavoie@timescolonist.com
© Copyright © The Victoria Times Colonist

http://www.timescolonist.com/business/Coalition+seeks+fish+farm+help/6138283/story.html#ixzz1m6nCU6Bx

[Livewire322]

Enclosed land pens!

[bowhunterbruce]

Enclosed land pens!


x 2,
then the 2800 jobs wont be lost and more jobs will be created to have those pens built.
a win ,win,win at every level
bhb

[Wild one]

Do some research on the cost of inland fish farming and you will understand why it is not done this way. It is not that simple just to move them inland.

[Downwind]

Do some research on the cost of inland fish farming and you will understand why it is not done this way. It is not that simple just to move them inland.

The costs are minute when compared to the loss of our wild salmon stalks with the current system.

[Wild one]

The costs are minute when compared to the loss of our wild salmon stalks with the current system.

What I am saying is it will not happen because it is not cost effective it is basic business. If you make inshore the only option many will go out of business but the demand for fish will still be there and wild stalks will be hit harder trying to fill it.

Fish farms are only a small part of the problem with wild stocks but they are the easiest to blame.

Start looking at the condition of a lot of the creeks that had a salmon run. The reason there is no salmon there is not fish farms but instead spawning grounds have been destroyed.

All time high seal and sea lion populations are not helping

Over fishing commercial and native

Waste by sport fishermen is another factor. We all know someone that goes out as much as they can and keeps their limit as often as they can only to let it get freezer burnt.

Reality is fish farms will not go away and are needed to help fill the demand for fish to take pressure off wild stocks. Some work on the practices used would not hurt but they are not the only problem.

[bandit]

Zeke Grader, director of the U.S.-based Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations, said the Canadian government is showing disregard for wild salmon stocks. "Salmon feedlots put wild salmon, the communities that depend on them, a billion-dollar fishing industry, tens of thousands of fishing jobs and our nations' shared natural heritage at risk of extinction," he said.



Like it or lump it cheap farmed fish are here to stay. If they ban fish farms in Canada then Chile, Europe, New Zealand etc will all ramp up production and the price stays the same. No matter what the Canadian government do the commercial fishing industry has a bleak future from cheap farmed competition. Any commercial fishermen worth his salt knows salmon is little more than supplementary income from harvesting other profitable species like halibut. Better still - sell or rent your license out and you dont even need to get out of bed to make a living!