"Sea lice-infection link found during studies" (The Daily News, 23rd June): http://www.canada.com/lice+infection+link+found+during+studies/4992788/story.html
"New Closed Containment Research Important to Saving Wild Atlantic Salmon" (Fish Update, 23rd June): http://www.fishupdate.com/news/fullstory.php/aid/15659/New_Closed_Containment_Research_Important_to_Saving_Wild_Atlantic_Salmon.html
"Aquaculture in spotlight: Marine biologist to speak in Shelburne about fish farms" (Chronicle Herald, 23rd June): http://thechronicleherald.ca/Business/1249891.html
"Low sockeye salmon returns feared in Fraser River" (The Straight, 22nd June): http://www.straight.com/article-400165/vancouver/low-sockeye-salmon-returns-feared
"Salmon farm protesters head to Halifax" (Nova News Now, 22nd June): http://www.novanewsnow.com/News/2011-06-22/article-2603037/Salmon-farm-protesters-head-to-Halifax/1
"Cooke seeks U.S. retailer for its IMTA salmon" (Intrafish, 22nd June): http://www.intrafish.no/global/news/article288619.ece
"Cooke expanding in Newfoundland" (Fish Farming Xpert, 22nd June): http://www.fishfarmingxpert.com/index.php?page_id=76&article_id=91848
"U.S. Congress votes to block GM salmon" (CBC, 22nd June): http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/story/2011/06/22/pei-genetic-salmon-vote-584.html
"'Frankenfish' debate comes to Santa Monica" (Santa Monica Daily Press, 22nd June): http://www.smdp.com/Articles-c-2011-06-21-72044.113116-Frankenfish-debate-comes-to-Santa-Monica.html
"Plover Point comment period extended" (The Westerly News, 21st June): http://www2.canada.com/westerly/news/story.html?id=0ed50f57-ecb3-4431-9cad-620af115fcbe
"Write wild – wild salmon" (Wilderness Committee, 21st June): http://wildernesscommittee.org/write_wild_wild_salmon
"Stop a massive salmon farm in Clayoquot Sound" (Wilderness Committee, 21st June): http://wildernesscommittee.org/victoria/sven/stop_massive_salmon_farm_clayoquot_sound
"Deadline extended until July 4: New fish farm proposed for Clayoquot Sound - you can help stop it" (Friends of Clayoquot Sound, 21st June): http://hosted.verticalresponse.com/717441/7b0866f197/281512073/69923beea6/ and http://www.focs.ca/action/Plover_Pt_action.htm
"Aquaculture rally" (Voices for Our Coast, 21st June): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16z8SX24sA0&feature=share
"The fjord is full of farmed salmon - Nearly half of the salmon caught out at the Trondheim Fjord was farmed salmon" (Addresseavisen, 21st June): http://www.adressa.no/nyheter/okonomi/article1651023.ece
"In defence of aquaculture" (CBC, 21st June): http://www.cbc.ca/informationmorningns/2011/06/in-defence-of-acquaculture.html
"Know the value of N.B. salmon" (Telegraph-Journal, 21st June): http://telegraphjournal.canadaeast.com/opinion/article/1416816
"Swimming Upstream: Genetically modified Salmon's Struggle for Approval" (The Epoch Times, 21st June): http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/united-states/swimming-upstream-genetically-modified-salmons-struggle-for-approval-57952.html
"Congress moves to ban Frankenfish: Special interests trump science in the debate over transgenic salmon" (Reason, 21st June): http://reason.com/archives/2011/06/21/congress-moves-to-ban-frankenf
"Jefferson County to hear testimony on fish pens" (Peninsula Daily News, 20th June): http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20110621/news/306219988/jefferson-county-to-hear-testimony-on-fish-pens
"Scary Food: Salmon surprise: House rebukes looming FDA Frankenfish approval" (Grist, 20th June): http://www.grist.org/scary-food/2011-06-20-salmon-surprise-house-rebukes-looming-fda-frankenfish-approval
"Protect our wild salmon and sea trout" (Stop Salmon Farming, 19th June): http://stopsalmonfarming.blogspot.com/?spref=fb
"Salmon feedlots don’t equal sustainable aquaculture" (The Chronicle Herald, 18th June): http://thechronicleherald.ca/Letters/1249187.html
"Mainstream says Morton a corporation" (Salmon Are Sacred, 18th June): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gXrd16IH1o&feature=share
"Voices for Wild Salmon: Played for Fools" (Dissident Voice, 18th June): http://dissidentvoice.org/2011/06/voices-for-wild-salmon-played-for-fools/
And quote of the week from Las Vegas Weekly (for non-baseball fans, Barry Bonds & Mark McGwire are drugs cheats who injected steroids – like Ben Johnson and Lance Armstrong):
"When it comes to salmon, the more natural, the better. Farm-raised “Atlantic salmon,” besides not tasting as good as the wild stuff, also messes with Mother Nature by fouling the environment and, in some cases, producing a genetically modified species that looks like the fish equivalent of Barry Bonds’ love child with Mark McGwire": http://www.lasvegasweekly.com/news/2011/jun/22/sockeye-salmon/
For more information on the new salmon feedlot application by Cermaq (Mainstream/EWOS) in the Clayoquot Sound UNESCO Biosphere Reserve please visit http://www.focs.ca/action/Plover_Pt_action.htm and http://wildernesscommittee.org/victoria/sven/stop_massive_salmon_farm_clayoquot_sound (please note that the deadline has now been extended until 22nd July – not 4th July)
"BAP standards for salmon farms finalised" (FIS, 21st June): http://www.fis.com/fis/worldnews/worldnews.asp?monthyear=&day=21&id=43733&l=e&special=&ndb=1%20target <http://www.fis.com/fis/worldnews/worldnews.asp?monthyear=&day=21&id=43733&l=e&special=&ndb=1%20target> =
"Lobster fishermen hold smelly protest against Nova Scotia fish farms" (The Canadian Press/Daily Business Buzz, 20th June): http://www.nb.dailybusinessbuzz.ca/Provincial%20News/2011-06-20/article-2593905/NS-Lobster-fishermen-hold-smelly-protest-against-Nova-Scotia-fish-farms/1
"Public Comment Extended Salmon Feedlot Clayoquot Sound" (Salmon Are Sacred, 20th June): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TD1ze_1PuQA&feature=share
"House Vote Blocks FDA Approval of Genetically Engineered Salmon" (Sustainable Business, 20th June): http://www.sustainablebusiness.com/index.cfm/go/news.display/id/22567
"Rotting fish: More food for thought" (Philippine Daily Inquirer, 20th June): http://opinion.inquirer.net/6707/rotting-fish-more-food-for-thought
"GE salmon suffers setback in the US" (Fish Farming Xpert, 20th June): http://www.fishfarmingxpert.com/index.php?page_id=76&article_id=91826
"New certification standards set for salmon farms" (Fish Farming Xpert, 20th June): http://www.fishfarmingxpert.com/index.php?page_id=76&article_id=91830
"Lax permitting standards in Nova Scotia more attractive for Cooke Aquaculture, says senior official" (Responsible Aquaculture, 18th June): http://responsibleaquaculture.wordpress.com/2011/06/18/lax-permitting-standards-in-nova-scotia-more-attractive-for-cooke-says-senior-official/
"Protesters: Salmon farm approval stinks - Province House gets whiff of fish-fouled seaweed" (Chronicle Herald, 18th June): http://thechronicleherald.ca/NovaScotia/1249174.html
"Fish farm company encouraged by huge open house turnout - people rifle through information offered at a Cooke Aquaculture open house held in Sandy Point on June 13" (Shelbourne County Coast Guard, 18th June): http://www.thecoastguard.ca/Business/2011-06-18/article-2593650/Fish-farm-company-encouraged-by-huge-open-house-turnout-/1
"Fishermen protest salmon farm decision" (CBC, 17th June): http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/story/2011/06/17/ns-fishermen-protest-salmon-farms.html
"Protesters rally against salmon farm in St. Mary's Bay" (Chronicle Herald, 17th June): http://thechronicleherald.ca/Front/9021177.html
"Coalition protests Bay of Fundy aquaculture venture" (Telegraph-Journal, 17th June): http://telegraphjournal.canadaeast.com/actualites/article/1416011
"Update on Okisollo and Hoskyn Channel salmon farms - June 2011" (BC Salmon Farmers Association, 17th June): http://www.salmonfarmers.org/update-okisollo-and-hoskyn-channel-salmon-farms-june-2011
"Offshore fish farms promoted by NOAA officials; opponents say plan leaves many issues unresolved" (Press Register/Al.com, 17th June): http://blog.al.com/live/2011/06/offshore_fish_farms_promoted_b.html
"Fish on Fridays: Dealing with the Aquaculture Dilemma" (Centre for American Progress, 17th June): http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2011/06/fof_061711.html
"Stotish: Anti-GM salmon amendment ‘outrageous’" (Seafood Source, 17th June): http://www.seafoodsource.com/newsarticledetail.aspx?id=10732
"Fisheries cuts fly in face of Cohen Commission" (David Suzuki Foundation, 16th June): http://www.davidsuzuki.org/blogs/healthy-oceans-blog/2011/06/fisheries-cuts-fly-in-face-of-cohen-commission/
"Trout Unlimited Applauds House Amendment to Block Approval of Genetically Modified Salmon" (Trout Unlimited, 16th June): http://www.tu.org/press_releases/2011/trout-unlimited-applauds-house-amendment-to-block-approval-of-genetically-modifi
"Rep. Young’s Frankenfish Amendment Passes" (Don Young, 16th June): http://donyoung.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=247046
"Big Time Factory Fish Farming Coming to U.S. Shores" (Take Part, 16th June): http://www.takepart.com/news/2011/06/16/big-time-factory-fish-farming-coming-to-us-shores
"DONNELLY REINTRODUCES LEGISLATION TO TRANSITION WESTCOAST SALMON FARMS TO CLOSED CONTAINMENT" (Fin Donnelly, 15th June): http://totemflyfishers.ca/blog/?p=159
"Commerce eyes push to beef up aquaculture" (Gloucester Times, 14th June): http://www.gloucestertimes.com/local/x1478026029/Commerce-eyes-push-to-beef-up-aquaculture
Including from The Canadian Press who reported today:
"Tim Crocker, 42, of Freeport, said: "I couldn't believe the government can squash us like this. Seeing it first hand, it really hit what's taking place here." Crocker said fishermen from his community will resist the stocking of the pens. "I could almost assure that before our traps are put in the water next fall, I don't think you're going to see any salmon in those pens, one way or another," he said after the protest."
Watch a video clip of the "smelly" protest in Nova Scotia online via: http://thechronicleherald.ca/NovaScotia/1249174.html
Please also note that public submissions to an application for a new salmon in the Clayoquot Sound UNESCO Biosphere Reserve have now been extended until 4th July – more details via http://www.superheroes4salmon.org/blog/sounding-alarm-clayoquot-sound-unesco-biosphere-reserve

Those were the days
Courier-Islander
Wednesday, October 07, 2009
It was only in 2004 that Prime Minister Stephen Harper and local MP John Duncan were calling for an inquiry into the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. They were on their soap boxes, pounding their chests and telling British Columbian's that we had to get to the bottom of what even then was the most dysfunctional ministry in the country.
And why? Because about two million sockeye salmon disappeared in the Fraser and no one knew what happened to them. The very lifeblood of the West Coast was spilling out through the pores of inadequacy that was and is the DFO. And someone needed to get to the bottom of it. Hooray for Stephen and John! Go get 'em boys, and help save our salmon. Help our rural communities get back to some semblance of what was. Help First Nations to receive what they are entitled to. Stop British Columbia's icon from going the way of the east coast cod.
Man, they were stirring addresses. These guys were concerned. These guys knew there was a problem and they were willing to turn over any rock to help solve it. What incredibly courageous guys these were.
And, apparently, what liars.
Their calls for an inquiry came over the disappearance of two million sockeye. And now, just five short years later, about 11 million sockeye go missing and what do we hear? Nothing.
Then they were in the opposition. Then, apparently, they cared. Then, apparently, they simply wanted to get elected and said what they thought would pull the trigger on their political fortunes.
This type of disgusting tail turning is what makes politics such a revolting experience. These two guys should remember the days when they had heady ideals, when they believed in the good of their policies and their declarations. Then again, maybe that never existed. Maybe they were the days when they simply lied to get elected.
� Courier-Islander (Campbell River) 2009
More facts needed in salmon debate
Inaccurate charges mar discussions over future of B.C.'s fish farms
Clare Backman, Times Colonist
Published: Wednesday, September 23, 2009
http://www2.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/comment/story.html?id=a1e83462-4455-44c5-b0fb-41ef923e5058
What is a stronger icon of British Columbia than the Pacific salmon?
Not much. Maybe a grizzly, or the Lions Gate Bridge, or Long Beach.
Whatever your answer, we can be reasonably certain that preserving Pacific salmon for future generations is important to everyone in the province, especially those of us who live on the Island and on the coast.
This includes the 500-plus people who work at Marine Harvest Canada, now the largest private employer on the north half of the Island and the largest aquaculture company in B.C.
Objective and fair criticism of our business is welcome. We receive lots of it through the news media and our website or via Twitter and Facebook. Off-base or wild assertions come our way too, and we do our best to respond with an open mind.
In running our business we have to stick with the facts as we understand them and use the best available science to guide our management decisions. We cannot react to every assertion that is made of every opinion that is presented.
Headlines and editorials in the Times Colonist tell us that the decline in Fraser River sockeye in 2009 is a major public concern -- and so it should be.
Some observers have already pointed to warmer oceans with less food for the sockeye to eat in 2007 and 2008.
Others ask just how many of these fish never make it back to B.C. waters because they are scooped up in the Bering Sea. Another challenge facing juvenile sockeye is the state of the urbanized and industrialized Fraser River estuary.
This is assuredly not the first time that sockeye have failed to return to the Fraser in the numbers expected. It is the first time, however, that the critics-of-aquaculture crowd has pitched the media with their default finger-pointing at our salmon farms.
The health of the Fraser River sockeye and other Pacific salmon stocks is a serious public issue that merits a serious and informed public discussion. Uninformed and inaccurate opinions and assertions should not be the basis of public policy debates or, frankly, coverage in mainstream and responsible media like the Times Colonist.
Our obligation to the communities where we operate, such as Campbell River, Port Hardy and the Comox Valley, is to listen to concerns and to behave responsibly in minimizing our environmental impacts while providing stable employment that benefits hundreds of families.
After years of listening and participating in studies, it is clear to responsible and knowledgeable fisheries biologists that the weight of scientific evidence lands on a few key points:
- Sea lice can damage or kill very small pink salmon; sockeye migrating past the Discovery Islands are much larger than the threshold risk.
- There is scant evidence that sea lice can cause population level declines of salmon; remember the "almost extinct" pink salmon in the Broughton? They are so numerous this year that a fishery was allowed.
- There is no tracking system to know just where and how numerous the Fraser River sockeye are during their migration, although this is a technology we would all like to see available.
And this brings us to the heart of the matter: Regardless of what we do not know about the causes of low survival of our wild salmon, we all need to work together to learn how to better protect them.
Our commitment to environmental, social, and economic sustainability is key to our business. If this means different management of our farms to further conserve and protect wild salmon, that is exactly what we will do. If we discover that other causes are at fault, we expect that all interested stakeholders will come together to find workable solutions.
Finally, the demand for salmon is growing by five per cent every year, and this includes B.C. consumers. Salmon's health benefits are clear and widely known. We all know that the wild fisheries cannot meet this demand and, in fact, could not make up the 79,000 tonnes of salmon produced each year by B.C.'s aquaculture industry.
Surely encouraging a sustainable salmon aquaculture industry in B.C. is one of the very best ways to lessen pressure on our wild stocks.
Clare Backman is director of environmental relations at Marine Harvest Canada.
© Times Colonist (Victoria) 2009
My Response
Dear Editor:
Clare Backman, public relations for Marine Harvest, writes today "More Facts Needed in Salmon Debate.”
I agree. Mr. Backman please answer the following. Was there a disease event in any of the 60 salmon farms in 2007 when the missing Fraser River sockeye were migrating past them? If you cannot answer for Mainstream, please answer for Marine Harvest who you work for.
Standing By,
Alexandra Morton R.P. Bio.
Echo Bay BC
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