The Hook

Morton has trouble understanding

that wild salmon don't carry their weight anymore. Besides interfering with fish farming, the presence of wild salmon prevents us from building dams on the Fraser and other rivers to generate power. At least with BC Liberals in office, it's only a matter of time before the salmon are gone and we can resume dumping dioxins and heavy metals and other sh*t in the ocean. The alternatives cost business big money and that's not fair.

http://northerninsights.blogspot.com/2009/07/highest-and-best-use.html

Brilliant!!

The following article is brilliant. Can I buy some shares in this idea? Finally, we can really solve BC's salmon problems. Kudos to Mr. Farrell...

"The Globe and Mail examines how the declining Fraser River salmon fishery impacts the traditions of people who for thousands of years relied on harvesting food fish. We present here an alternative that deals with present day and future realities by charting a new course for a major river system."

"We should face the inevitable and act now to maximize the Fraser River's economic potential. Since the salmon fishery is moribund, harness the river for hydro power, using the Columbia River as a model. Admittedly, the Fraser is shorter but the Columbia has 14 major dams on the main stem and about 400 in the overall system. North Americans generate huge amounts of clean electricity on one river. Additionally, a major dam can be a powerful tourist draw, particularly when close to a city, nicely lighted and effectively promoted."

"Under the current government strategy, private power producers entering the market are forced to commute to far away wilderness lands of the mid-coast and the north. That seems inconvenient and inefficient when there are potential power generating locations closer to urban markets. Unlike the wilderness sites, the Fraser is already well served by modern roads and rail lines. Electrical transmission lines are in place or in planning so the profit potential of Fraser River power is far superior."

"I haven't even discussed the gains from flood control and, without need to protect fish, we can eliminate expensive wastewater treatment and merely direct effluent into the river. It's mostly natural and organic anyway."

"Along the Fraser, First Nations people could be guaranteed a reasonable allotment of canned salmon from Alaska or perhaps a share from coastal salmon farms that will be expanded once the wild fish are gone."

"Sure the Fraser's landscape and ecosystem will change a bit but think of the wealth that would be generated for those well enough connected to acquire franchises to control the river. Premier Campbell would be celebrated in history for solving the power needs of British Columbia for years to come and for enriching a whole new generation of energy traders."
big money and that's not fair.

http://northerninsights.blogspot.com/2009/07/highest-and-best-use.html

Alexandra's apparent lack of knowledge

is getting embarrassing. I can certainly see why DFO would not want to meet with her.

@ Illahie

DFO should be embarrassed by their performance on the east coast and the west coast. Failure is the consistent result. They tried abdicating responsibility for fish farms on BC's coast but the courts said no. Thank you Ms. Morton.

When salmon that migrate through Juan de Fuca - where there is no concentration of farms - survive but other routes are decimated, DFO management scratch their heads. Perhaps they need a grade school course in cause and effect and elementary logic.

DFO officials would rather enforce laws close to home. They spend more time monitoring drainage ditches in Richmond than they do on farming.

Way to go Alexandra.

I nominate her for Order of Canada.

Illahie

With comments like your assertion that " her lack of knowledge is embarrassing" we would expect you to stop hiding behind anonymity. That way we might judge how you become an expert on someone's lack of knowledge. Until then I'll stay with Morton. I think her dedication to this issue speaks for itself and she doesn't hide behind anonymity.

Illahie

A conservative for wild Salmon. An oxymoron? Not on your life!

I believe that government is a necessary evil which is not necessarily evil, but is almost certain to be incompetent particulary when competence is absolutely necessary.

Come on fellow entrepeneurs and champions of free enterprise. We can not leave our quirky whacked out left-wing brothers and sisters to fight this fight alone. Write your MP and MLA and tell them the donations stop unless they do the right thing and close the Salmon farms.

The NDP in Ottawa can't even save themselves. It will take right wing BC'ers to end this lunacy so get off your butts and phone your MP.

Cheques not written are the most powerful instrument in our arsenal. If you donated to the Conservative party of Canada or the Liberal party of BC they will listen to you the way the NDP listens to labour unions.

This is about our Salmon not partisan politics. Send your local MP and Prime Minister Harper local MLA and Premier a message: No More Donations.

'Dead Fish and Fat Cats'

I'm sure many of you have read this book, written in 2003 by retired BC fisherman Eric Wickham; which documents many of the reasons our fishing industry is failing.
Fishing methods which decimate the habitat. A bloated, ineffective DFO. Fish farms which destroy the fry as they emerge from their rivers and streams.
He knows his subject well and covers it with humour and intelligence.
http://www.viacorp.com/dead-fish-and-fat-cats.pdf