FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 23, 2009
NDP CALLS FOR AN INDEPENDENT JUDICIAL INQUIRY ON SALMON CRISIS
The federal New Democrats are calling for an immediate independent judicial inquiry into the catastrophic collapse of the Fraser River sockeye run to ensure that west coast salmon don’t go the way of Atlantic cod.
NDP Western Fisheries Critic Peter Julian and Fin Donnelly, NDP candidate in the New Westminster-Coquitlam by-election, say the inquiry is urgently needed to ensure the long-term viability of west coast salmon.
“This is an emergency that requires immediate attention, but the Harper Conservatives are turning a blind eye,” said Donnelly, who has dedicated most of his working life to protecting wild salmon.
“The worst thing is that this isn’t an emergency that happened overnight. It’s been building for a long time and successive Liberal and Conservative governments have let it spiral out of control.”
Julian pointed out that the Conservatives promised to initiate an inquiry while in opposition, and made it a key plank in their 2006 platform.
“They broke their promise to make protecting wild salmon a top priority, and now we’re in serious trouble,” he said. “We need action from this government, not broken promises.”
The NDP call for an inquiry has broad support from scientists and conservation groups. Renowned fish biologist Alexandra Morton said “we would still have the great North Atlantic cod stocks if a judicial inquiry had been called before they crossed the line of no return. The Fraser sockeye collapse pattern is so remarkably specific it could be deciphered if politics were swept aside. It is up to us. If we want the Fraser sockeye this inquiry is essential.”
Julian and Donnelly said the government should strike the inquiry immediately and produce a binding public report within six months.
Donnelly, who has been executive director of the Rivershed Society of BC for the past 13 years, says the wild salmon crisis will be a key issue in the November 9th by-election.
October 23, 2009
For Immediate Release
Media Contact:
Clare Backman, 250-850-3276 ext 7258
Salmon Escape From
Marine Harvest Farm
Campbell River, BC. Marine Harvest Canada reports an escape of farm-raised
Atlantic salmon from its Port Elizabeth site on Wednesday, October 21st.
Scuba divers discovered several holes in two pens at this Broughton area farm
while removing fish which had died as a result of low oxygen levels.
Prevention methods to eliminate further escape are in place. This incident has
been reported to regulators and a vessel is on site for recapture efforts.
A substantial number of fish still remain within these two pens. The exact number
of escapees will not be known until officially recounted next week, but is
estimated to be approximately 40,000. At an average weight of 4.7 kilograms,
these fish were shortly to be harvested and have not been treated with any
antibiotics.
This unfortunate event may represent a significant financial loss to the company.
The cause of the holes remains under investigation, but may be related to the
fish removal process.
Marine Harvest Canada will provide an update when more information is known.
For more information about fish escapes visit:
http://www.marineharvestcanada.com/farming_escaped_farmed_salmon.php
