alexandra morton

May Day for Wild Salmon - it is up to us!

Following revelations at the Cohen Inquiry that government suppressed information on critical viral infections in Fraser sockeye, the Get Out Migration marches on
with ‘Mayday for Wild Salmon.’ I will be traveling through BC asking people to lead government and asking candidates if they would remove salmon feedlots from BC waters if they are elected. It is clear to many that government judgment is impaired. DFO is blindly following out-dated policy that salmon farms are good for us, they are hiding the problems, repeating the mistakes that robbed the east coast provinces of their Atlantic cod. Eighty-five percent of British Columbians in a recent poll see wild salmon as a B.C. icon. We don't have to let them go down on our watch.

The public has a right to know if the Conservative Government has allowed Norwegian-owned salmon farms to release lethal salmon viruses into B.C. waters and we are going to find out.

Follow us at Salmonaresacred.org to see how you can join us digitally and in person to send a clear message during this election, if candidates want to win they need to protect wild salmon by removing salmon farms. This is a crucial election we need to deal with this virus otherwise we stand to lose wild salmon.

Are you insured for this coverup?

March 30, 2011

Minister Gail Shea
Parliament Buildings
Ottawa, ONT

Dear Minister Shea:

Under questioning by my lawyer at the Cohen Inquiry, your Director General of Science, Pacific Region revealed you were briefed that a cancer-causing virus may be killing the majority of some runs of Fraser River sockeye. You chose not to inform us, the people who pay your generous salary.

In response, senior fisheries scientist Jeff Hutchings spoke out that your ministry also ignored its own scientists in favour of policy when they let the eastern Canadian cod collapse instead of changing policy. He knows because he was there. You are not going to let DFO do this again!

I am writing in defense of wild salmon and western Canadian communities. Your blind policy that salmon feedlots are good for us may be criminal in its scope of denial and impact.

Known as Salmon Leukemia, Marine Anemia by fish farmers, this virus destroys fish immune systems and became epidemic in the salmon feedlots at the same time the Fraser sockeye began declining in the early 1990s. When your scientist found evidence it is killing and weakening our fish you failed to tell the public. In addition to this, you refuse to acknowledge the evidence that the lethal Atlantic salmon virus, ISAV, can be imported into BC in fish farm eggs. If you weaken our fish with Salmon Leukemia and then throw a new virus at them, we will have nothing left. Please note the recent scientific papers quoted below:

“Aquaculture can offer close to ideal environments for the spread of infectious diseases.”

“The threat posed by viral pathogens is highlighted by the recent devastating effect of the infectious salmon anaemic virus (ISAV)”

“Sequence analyses of genes from Chilean ISAV isolates obtained in 2007 and 2008 suggest that these ISAV strains have a European origin and therefore must have been introduced to Chile via embryos “ (fertile eggs).

“Potential immunosuppressive conditions need to be avoided”

Are your ministry and the Norwegian fish farmers adequately insured to cover damages if we find out BC is an ISAV suspect area, no one told us and it spreads because you did nothing?

The Cohen Inquiry continues.

Alexandra Morton
Salmon Are Sacred

Papers cited:

Rimstad, E. (2011), Examples of emerging virus diseases in salmonid aquaculture. Aquaculture Research, 42: 86–89.

Robertsen, B. (2011), Can we get the upper hand on viral diseases in aquaculture of Atlantic salmon?. Aquaculture Research, 42: 125–131.

Fish Farm waste with live pathogens detected pours into Fraser Sockeye migration route

BC - This is My Job Application

British Columbia this is my job application

After watching DFO’s Director General of Science, Pacific Region on the stand at the Cohen Commission March 17 - this is my job application. If I was Director General of DFO Pacific Region, I could straighten this mess out and put our wild fish first. DFO policy has already driven one of earth’s most generous fish stocks to extinction (the east coast cod stocks) by ignoring their own scientist. They are doing exactly this again today. On March 17 we heard DFO did not inform the public that one of their scientists found what looks like a virus is killing the majority some runs of Fraser sockeye. DFO did not tell us that this virus has been epidemic in salmon farms on the Fraser migration route. I doubt DFO has any idea how widespread this virus is in farm salmon. I don't think they have a handle on the situation If we allow this type of mismanagement and secrecy we will lose wild salmon, one of our most valuable public resources

Number one DFO must recognize there are four types of salmon in BC; wild, enhanced, hatchery and farmed and there is no evidence they can co-exist. Fishery Managers have to give one type of salmon top priority. I would choose wild salmon because they are the least expensive, most likely to survive climate change, most prolific, greatest benefit to humanity and have a 10,000 year successful trackrecord.

Salmon wear spectacular regalia at spawning time to allow the females to make the best choice for their species. The males are saying, “hey, look at me I went to the North Pacific and back and have THIS much to show for it!” As climates change female choice tunes each population, honing them into the best fish possible for the environment of the moment. When humans take that choice away from the salmon in hatcheries, we might as well cut off their tails as we release them. We destroy their most powerful survival mechanism. Enhanced salmon in spawning channels require expensive cleaning regularly and this costs more and more money as fuel costs rise. In 2010, I saw a spawning channel choked with carcasses. Any eggs under them were smothered by the massive rotting - it was a death trap!

Farm salmon break all the natural laws, are unsustainable with rapacious shareholders demanding continuous growth and they privately owned. If I were Director General of the DFO Pacific Region I would work for Canadians, not salmon farming corporations.

The wild salmon that swims all the way back from the open Pacific and chooses a site to spawn without our help – is THE most valuable salmon there is. I would honor the needs of this fish in every way possible - it is the only salmon with a future.

* I would establish the premise that wild fish manage themselves – we simply need to decide how much we are going to get out of their way and allow them to do what they do best - make more salmon.

* I would enact a Follow the Fish course of action using state of the art science to understand exactly where they are prospering and failing. This will equip us to debate what roadblocks we want to remove or keep.

* I would put a number of DFO people somewhere where that they can’t hurt anything further and I would hand the reins to others.

* I would meet with every First Nation Fisheries Manager and stream-keeper group to understand what needs to be done in each unique situation and then I would meet with those who disagree with them before making any decision.

* I would ensure every significant watershed has people trained in disease sampling and outfit them with the tools to immediately capture information on the epidemics that are flashing out of control killing BC wild salmon, so we can track and deal with this.

* I would form small, efficient roving teams combining dedicated First Nations, biologists and the people who know the area best to walk these watersheds continuously and task them to report on where the salmon are and how they are doing. In this way we would learn what is working, what is not and what we need to maximize the fish’s own potential to thrive.

* I would thread together the people spread across BC who are working for salmon. The people on the grounds and the leading scientists need to talk. The fishermen need to meet the Fishery Managers on the spawning grounds. Every meeting would be structured to produce or tune a plan of action. No wasted effort or bafflegab allowed.

* I would reinstate local DFO offices as much as I was able, populate them with local experts and make sure the folks on the grounds have clear channels of communication between themselves and head office, so when problems arise we would have an all hands on deck immediate response.

* I would offer opportunity and attention to the Canadians who think they can conduct aquaculture without soiling our province. I would promote farming at the bottom of the food chain, not the top. I would invite the open net industry to leave, suggesting the courts might offer leniency if they voluntarily removed themselves in the face of mounting evidence that they are the source of lethal fish diseases and thus enormous losses to Canadians.

* I would apply this approach to all fisheries. It is not that I know what needs to be done in all cases, but I can figure out who is sincere and knowledgeable and encourage these people to come forward to begin a new era where we work with our wild fish and not against, where policy is second to truth.

My personal goal is to return to the wilderness of the Broughton Archipelago, but I would be willing to do this in hopes that I could go home in a year or so and watch the wild salmon and all they feed return to us.

Alexandra Morton 250-974-7086

DFO - in the business of truth?

The March 17 Cohen Commission hearing was on an internal DFO Briefing Note to the Minister of Fisheries about a virus that might be causing brain lesions and the decline in Fraser sockeye. When this memo was leaked by the Globe and Mail last November, my lawyer, Greg McDade, requested a day to address this because this subject seems key to the 19-year decline of the Fraser sockeye. Dr Laura Richards, DFO’s Director General of Science for the Pacific Region was called to the stand to speak to this issue.

Dr. Richards confirmed that DFO scientist, Kristi Miller, has indeed found evidence suggesting a virus, potentially Salmon Leukemia, could be having a devastating impact on the Fraser sockeye. Dr. Miller studies genomic profiles. Basically she reads the pattern of genes that have been switched on and off, a sort of living Braile that records the experiences of individual living creatures. This is a new field of science, but Miller’s work is so good it has been published in the world’s leading scientific journal, SCIENCE. When Miller reads the genomic profile of the Fraser sockeye, it says “retrovirus.” When Miller published her paper DFO would not allow her to speak to the press.

McDade introduced into evidence an email to me from the Minister of Fisheries that Laura Richard's had approved. The letter says DFO became aware of this potential virus in 2009, under questioning we learned DFO had in fact known about it at least a year before.

A crucial powerpoint by Dr. Miller was made public at this hearing titled “Epidemic of a novel, cancer-causing viral disease may be associated with wild salmon decline in BC.” (Download Miller powerpoint CAN185457) It suggests the genomic signature appears to be a retrovirus, that over 75% of Fraser sockeye are infected in some years and these infected fish were 16 times more likely to die than the healthy sockeye. She reports seeing this genomic viral signal in Coho and Chinook as well. In an extensive flowchart she notes Salmon Leukemia (called Marine Anemia by fish farmers) began spreading through fish farms in the early 1990s, (which is when the sockeye decline began). She reports that Salmon Leukemia can spread vertically, through the eggs, and also fish to fish. She downplays the relationship to salmon farms, but we learn later she was not allowed to test them. It is important to note this powerpoint is only Miller thinking out loud. It is not a finished report. However, she is a highly accredited scientist recognized by her peers.

Richards repeated several times that she was hoping and trying to work with Miller to find out more about this potential virus, but could not remember if Miller (a DFO employee) had actually been funded to continue this work. We know from the east coast cod collapse that DFO has prevented their scientists from reporting findings that counter policy, even if it leads to the demise of huge fisheries.

When McDade asked Dr. Richards if she knew what “vertically transmitted,” meant she answered that her brain was “fuzzy” on this at the moment. A vertically transmitted disease, means it probably did not come from the river. A virus this lethal should have extinguished itself, that continues to lethally infect large numbers of sockeye suggests a reservoir of it somewhere that the Fraser sockeye pass near to. If this viral reservoir is not in the river, and the suspect virus is found in fish farms on the sockeye migration routes ... unwanted linkages start cropping up.

A report attached to an October 2009 email states that Miller’s work is “controversial” and a communication strategy was required. McDade asked if this “strategy” was to not let the public know that a virus might be killing the majority of the Fraser sockeye. Dr. Richards countered this was “false.” However, the information was in fact kept secret until the Globe and Mail leaked it in November 2009. Richard's said DFO is not in the business of releasing information to the media.

In the next piece of evidence we see an email from Dr. Miller indicating that Laura did not want her to reveal specific information about this virus to the international US/Canadian Pacific Salmon Commission. Dr. Richards tried to counter by saying Miller had a false impression. So McDade began reading the email, where Miller writes that Laura (Richard's) did not want her to attend public meetings for fear that they would not be able to control information about the virus getting out.

Richard's repeats that Miller misrepresented the situation, that DFO was not trying to hide Miller’s work, but rather trying to get more information out of Miller.

I have attended many meetings now on the demise of the Fraser sockeye and have heard DFO bring up unconfirmed suggestions that squid, over-spawning, climate change and a potential lack of food could be causes of the demise. These are all theories that should be openly discussed, but why leave out the theory that a virus may be weakening and killing the majority of Fraser sockeye? Since Miller believes this is Salmon Leukemia, a virus that has been epidemic in salmon farms, this information runs counter to DFO policy that salmon farms have no impact. Is this why we wee never told?

McDade asked Richards why Speaking Notes provided to a Member of Parliament by DFO on the 2009 sockeye decline did not even mention the virus? (exhibit 622-A) Richards says there were other things in play, other factors, a host of factors….

McDade showed a funding proposal written by Miller asking for funds to test Atlantic salmon for signs of this virus in their genomic profile. Richard's believes these funds were granted. However, the letter the Minister sent to me contradicts Richards “DFO has not conducted research associated with this gene expression signature and salmon farms, and will not speculate on such a link.”

McDade asks Richards again if this work has been done or not. Richard's says she doesn’t know.

I have read many papers on Salmon Leukemia in farm salmon. It weakens the fish so they can die of many things or they can survive if life is not too stressful. This could explain the good 2010 year when plankton and water temperatures were exceptionally good, as well as, the 18 year decline and fish dying in the river of normally harmless parasites.

Under examination from Tim Leadem representing the Conservation Coalition we see an email from DFO communications, Terry Davis, asking if DFO has done any sockeye work to counteract the findings of Alexandra. Leadem asks, is DFO in the business of trying to counteract the work of non-DFO scientists?

Richards says “yes,” …. DFO is in the business of trying to find the truth.

Brenda Gaertner representing the First Nations Council at the Commission confronts Richards stating this potential virus is a very serious matter with potentially devasting effect on exercise of section 35 rights by First Nations.

Gaertner: What steps did you take to inform First Nations?

Richards: …. we are following normal processes

Gaertner: You are aware First Nations have informed DFO they feel there are conflicts between DFO’s obligations to First Nations and aquaculture?

Richards: it is a question of process

Gaertner: yes, process. What processes are you using to inform First Nations?

Richards: I rely on colleagues who are responsible to First Nations

Gaertner: Which colleagues

Richards: We are trying to get more information

Gaertner: There will always be more questions

Richards: …I have done everything possible to ensure Miller has funding

Gaertner: I don’t see briefing materials on this to First Nations… You are aware this could have very big impacts on First Nations rights?

Richards: My job is to inform up the line

Gaertner: As Regional Director of Science do you consider the Crown’s obligations to First Nations

Richards: It would have come into play regarding stock assessments

Gaertner: But it did not ... come into play.

The exhibits can be found at cohencommission.ca/en/Schedule/

Dear Dr. Richards inform yourself

The apocalyptic scale of events in Japan has heightened my sense that the people running things have let matters get out of control. This has renewed my resolve to prevent loss of what I see as an essential food and ecological resource to BC. Given all that is going on on both sides of our planet does anyone really want to rely on fish in pens that depend on generators and food shipped from Chile? I am asking DFO to simply examine the health of farm salmon straight from the veterinarian records, or tell us that this is not possible.

Dear Dr. Laura Richards

In preparation for your appearance at the Cohen Inquiry on March 17, I am asking that you inform yourself by reading the salmon farm veterinarian reports.

Hutchings et al (1997) analysed DFO’s response to the plummeting North Atlantic cod stocks, which were one of humanity’s greatest natural food supplies. They report a DFO scientist had identified the problem and how to mitigate it, but was silenced. They conclude, “Government-administered science in Canada, and its potential for bureaucratic and political interference, merits examination in the wake of the biological and socioeconomic catastrophes associated with recent fishery collapses.”

Here in BC, beginning in the early 1990s, an epidemic of Salmon Leukemia swept up the BC coast in salmon farms. At exactly this time the Fraser sockeye began declining, behaving strangely, some runs dying by the millions in the river just before spawning. Today, when DFO scientist, Dr. Miller, reported Salmon Leukemia may be in these dying sockeye she was not allowed to speak to the media. Why?

If Salmon Leukemia is a factor in the millions of dying sockeye, it appears lethal enough that it should have extinquished itself. A 18-year sustained epidemic would require a reservoir source of infection.

Dr. Scott Hinch, a co-researcher on this project stated at the Cohen Inquiry last week that he does not know if farm salmon have been examined as a potential ongoing source of the purported virus. If salmon farms are a reserviour for this retrovirus the public needs to know, so they can decide which fish they want wild or farmed.

Dr. Richards, as the top Pacific Region DFO administrator of science, the public is paying you and relying on you to have all available facts when you take the stand on March 17 at the Cohen Inquiry to answer questions regarding a leaked ministerial briefing note on an emerging disease and the 2009 sockeye collapse.

Furthermore, Minister Gail Shea’s judgment is weak on the subject of ISA virus. In the face of the global ISA virus epidemic, she should have closed the BC border to Atlantic eggs and nets that may have been used to contain ISA infected salmon. The World Health Organization’s Animal Health division the (OIE) reports suspect cases of ISAV in Canada in 2008 - 2010. I am asking you to find out where these suspect cases occurred. You must realize the avirulent form appears to travel in eggs and then it is simply a matter of mutation before it goes viral. If that happens no one will ever be able to recall it from the North Pacific. The only time to stop it is now.

In discussions with colleagues throughout Canada, none have ever suggested that the DFO political interference identified as a significant factor in the collapse of the North Atlantic cod has ever been remedied.

Dr. Richards please contact the OIE to learn if BC is a suspect area for ISA and read the salmon farm disease records before you take the stand at the Cohen Inquiry on March 17. Please let us know if DFO does not have access to these records, so the public can assess the strength of your testimony when you speak about Salmon Leukemia, ISV virus and the Fraser sockeye.

Thank you,

Alexandra Morton

Notes from the Cohen Inquiry

Yesterday Scott Hinch, expert salmon scientist from UBC, was on the stand. Hinch has been trying to figure out why increasing numbers of sockeye are dying in the river just before spawning.

In short, the late run Fraser sockeye began entering the river 6-8 weeks too early starting in the mid 1990s and thus are swimming into the peak annual water temps that occur in the Fraser River. What people have to ask is why is warm water attracting sockeye, when normally it repels them? Warm water is lethal to sockeye and they have developed a strategy wherein the ones that arrive at the river in August used to wait in the deeper waters off the Fraser River plume for 6-8 weeks for the river to cool. Now something is driving them into lethal waters.

Here is some of what was written down yesterday by my assistant Alexis Baker:

Greg McDade is my lawyer in the Cohen Inquiry

McDade- PSM/ early river entry is killing 40, 50, 60% of the fish so, do you know of any other factor that is killing more than 50% of the fish?

Hinch...uhh..anywhere in the word?

McDade- no, to the matter at which we are speaking

Hinch....uuuuhhhhh.. no......

M - there was nothing in the climate change field that was abruptly beginning in 1996?

H -true,

McDade- so we can’t just blame climate change, and we need to look for another factor

M- when we look at losses in the 50-70% range...if you factor our early runs...well its up to 90% for some runs, isn't it ? if the whole of the run is impacted at 50  but the early entry late runs are up to 90, we can mathematically assume that the normal timed river entry salmon are PSM at a number that is historically normal

Hinch- yes

McDade- were it not for this factor- this might be the single greatest cause and factor we are looking at.

Hinch- yes, for those groups that are affected by en route loss late runs are most affected by PSM-

M - getting the root cause is a fairly important question for this one. The effect of early entry can lead to increased mortality--- but its not the temperatures... its the fact of early entry into a a high temp environment...so finding out what causes this is pretty important to this inquiry then, correct?

Hinch, yes.

M -you refer to an abrupt shift ?

Hinch- yes something new happened from 1996 onwards

McDade...but climate change has been going since before 1996 right?

Hinch- well, these things do not work in a linear fashion....

McDade- You are also the author of a recent study published in science?

Hinch - yes

lets go to the last page of the document- pg 3...
McDade reads
hypothesis which includes virus relating to PSM/early entry

McDade- why then, for the paper you produced for the Cohen, did you never mention the word " virus?"

Hinch - what we know for certain is that we are looking for an immune suppression response in the data the hypothesis is that it is linked to a virus a pre-ported virus in certain terms. Clearly there is the indication of immune suppression. You can’t prove a  virus until you do certain follow up investigations.

COHEN RIVETED

M - Was Laura Richards at this meeting in 2008 ?

H - she's on the list but I cant recall. have you ever discussed this matter with her?

H -no

M- have you ever discussed your science paper with her?
H no we aren't allowed to talk to them about our science papers

M - had you had any discussion with anyone from DFO that suggested you shouldn't publish these findings?

h- no

M - if the salmon have this retro virus, their resistance to temp may be less?

H - Yes

M - their resistance to Parvicapsula etc may be less?

H - Yes

M - The core issue could be a virus that was reducing their ability to sustain the run of issues they deal with on their way up the river.

M - Your charts are up to 2008- why is there no 2009 data?

H - I wasn't given it?

M - did you request it ?

H - no.

M - So its clear that the fish are picking up this virus before they enter the river you also suggest it may be something they get in the high seas. but you also suggest it is something that can be passed down in the eggs

H - yes

M - you go on to say that this disease state alters them...leads them to the freshwater state that leads them to early migration...its possible that this disease state is responsible for the early maturation

H - maturation really kicks in in the high seas...8 months before spawning. whatever is going on has to be happening at least that early or earlier.

H- one this we picked up- reproductive hormone levels were advanced both maturation and wanting to enter the river early seemed

M - so a possible disease is the # 1 reason for this

Hinch- I felt it was  a top reason, but some of my colleagues would disagree

M - in terms of looking for a cause- do you find it significant that you see a lower cause in Juan de Fuca fish than those going through Johnstone straight?

Hinch....UUUUUUUHHH....uuuuum....Yes.

M - What do you think about the Harrison stocks ? Wouldn't you look for a new cause of something that is on the migration route of these fish?

Hinch- we weren't looking  for it at the time. we were looking for environmental factors that could be changing at the time.

M- chinook farms in 1992 had an outbreak of salmon leukemia...would that have an effect to you? have you looked for this viral signal in fish farms?

H - I haven't. I do  not know what DFO has done

M - well have you reason to believe they have tested farm fish?

H - no

M- that would be a fairly important question, don't you agree?

H- Yes, I agree

Dear Minister of Fisheries

Dear Minister Shea

I continue to be concerned that Infectious Salmon Anemia (ISA) has been introduced to British Columbia marine waters in any of the millions of Atlantic salmon eggs that have been imported into BC. Canada reports animal diseases to the World Animal Health Information Database run by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) The OIE website publishes these reports.

Why hasn’t Canada made an ISA status report to the OIE since the first reporting period of 2010? (see screen shot “Reporting History”)

What province/s reported “suspect” ISA cases in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2010? See screen attached shots.

The OIE definition of a “suspect” ISA case includes: “Either clinical signs or lesions are consistent with this disease.”

The OIE further states “There is no gold standard test for ISAV...”

Have there been any suspect cases of ISAV in British Columbia? What tests does DFO/MAFF do to make certain ISA virus is not in BC?

As Minister of Fisheries you are personally responsible for protecting BC from this virus because you refuse to exercise the precautionary principle with your stated opinion below that there is “no scientific evidence for ISAV occurring inside eggs” and thus have allowed millions of Atlantic egg imports in recent years.

Has there been a suspect case of ISA virus in British Columbia?

Alexandra Morton

Ms. Al <> exandra Morton
< >

Dear Ms. Morton:

Thank you for your correspondence of September 16, 2010, regarding infectious salmon anemia virus (ISAV).

As you are aware, recent international evidence suggests there is a small possibility that ISAV could be transmitted within reproductive fluids-for example, through ovarian fluid-which means the virus could be on the surface of the eggs at spawning.

However, surface disinfection of eggs, which is routinely carried out in all commercial hatcheries and is required for eggs imported into British Columbia, provides additional assurance that ISAV will not be transmitted from parent to progeny via the egg. Furthermore, all shipping materials are disinfected before disposal. The disinfectant and disinfection protocol that is used is highly effective against ISAV and other salmonid pathogens.

There is no scientific evidence for ISAV occurring inside eggs, where disinfectants cannot reach. As always, Fisheries and Oceans Canada will continue to assess new information on this disease and others.

For additional highlights of existing measures to prevent the spread of fish pathogens, both identified and unidentified, from other countries and other parts of Canada to British Columbia's fish farms, please see Appendix A.

Regarding the ongoing research on disease including work on a potential novel virus to which you refer, you may wish to contact Mr. Mark Saunders, Director, Salmon and Freshwater Ecosystems Division, Science Branch, by telephone at 250-756-7145 or by email at < mark.saunders@dfo-mpo.gc.ca >.

Our Government is committed to the protection and conservation of our wild salmon. Please be assured that we will continue to work to conserve and protect salmon stocks for current and future generations.

Thank you again for taking the time to write to me with your concerns.

Sincerely,
Original signed by,

Gail Shea, P.C., M.P.

Attachment

_________________________________________________________________________
Ministerial Correspondence Control Unit / Unité de contrôle de la correspondance ministérielle
Fisheries and Oceans Canada / Pêches et Océans Canada
200 rue Kent Street, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0E6
Telephone/Téléphone: 613-992-3474
Facsimile/Télécopieur: 613-990-7292
Government of Canada / Gouvernement du Canada