Fish Farming in British Columbia

Fish farming is still a hot issue in BC. Many of our coastal inlets are being taken over by huge corporate fish farms. These farms continue to pollute and damage our environment with little return to our province or resource users.

The BC government recently lifted a moratorium on fish farm expansion against the wishes of the majority of concerned fishermen and user groups. The battle still rages on with some very prominent citizens speaking out against the fish farms.

What can you do to help halt the spread of these disease infested sewer pits?

The easiest thing to do, is when eating in any restraurant, or purchasing fish in a fish market, inquire about where they obtain the salmon they sell. If it's farmed salmon, express your disgust that they would attempt to sell something that's so repulsive, especially here in BC where so much wild salmon is readily available.

The following is a newsletter from Senator Pat Carney.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada is failing in its duty to adequately research the environmental impact, monitor the impact of salmon farming, and properly enforce the Fisheries Act, including laying charges for well-documented violations of the law.

So says the Coastal Alliance for Aquaculture Reform, (CAAR) a group which consists of ten environmental groups and First Nations.

Senator Pat Carney is in agreement. "I am concerned that the wild fishery is not adequately protected," she says. The siting and regulation of salmon farms in BC is illegal and contrary to the constitution, says the group. The BC government has recently announced it will accept applications for new finfish farms,, lifting a cap on the 121 existing sites that had been imposed in 1997.

The federal fisheries department isn't meeting its obligations for the protecting the ocean, says CAAR, and has been told so by the Auditor General, who also pointed out that the department has no plan for managing the risks salmon farming imposes on the environment.

The group pointed out that there has never been a debate in the House of Commons or any provincial legislature on the allocations to support the fish farming industry. The government is blindly expediting its development without public process, and with a lack of transparency, claims Senator Carney.

Senator Carney uses her Senate seat to serve the interests of British Columbians in Ottawa. She is a former Progressive Conservative Cabinet Minister. She served as Energy Minister and Trade Minister. She is also very active with the Coastal Community Network, an organization of BC's coastal communities.

With this weeks release of the PFRCC report and its unequivocal recommendations, the pressure is building on the federal government to do its duty. Let's keep that pressure on by writing to the Fisheries Minister Loyola Hearn Hearn.L@parl.gc.ca and the federal Environment Minister John Baird Baird.J@parl.gc.ca.

Fish Farms Blamed for Collapse of Pink Fishery.
An article by Mark Hume of the National Post.

Highly toxic cancer causing chemical found in farmed salmon.
British salmon farmers may be banned from exporting dangerous farmed salmon products. Shoppers warned to stay clear of cheap and nasty farmed salmon.

B.C. Natives Declare War on Fish Farms
Aboriginals living along British Columbia's fjord- split central coast are prepared to risk arrest in what they are calling a war against fish farms.

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