Biologist Alexandra Morton today went to court to charge Marine Harvest Canada Inc. with illegal possession of wild juvenile salmon from an endangered stock.
In a news release, Morton described the incident in Port McNeill on June 16 that triggered the charge.
On June 16, 2009, hundreds of small salmon were seen spilling onto a dock in Port McNeill during a transfer of live Atlantic salmon brood stock from the fish farm vessel M.V. Orca Warrior into tanks on a truck. The vessel’s registered owner is Marine Harvest.
“When I received photos of the incident minutes later,” says Morton, “I was really surprised the fish lying on the road were young pink salmon, I could not understand what were they doing in Marine Harvest’s boat.”
“Marine Harvest emailed stating that the young wild salmon had come from the Potts Bay fish farm, just west of Glendale River in Knights Inlet,” says Morton.
“They were apparently in the farm salmon pens and were scooped up with the Atlantic salmon. We have no idea how many pink salmon ended up going down the highway in the tanks on the truck.”
When Morton took her boat to the Potts Bay fish farm she saw large schools of pink salmon leaping inside the pens.
“While millions of tax payers dollars and environmental donations have been spent to protect the Glendale River pink salmon from fish farms, last fall was the lowest return yet. These are the offspring from that generation and far from safe, they are right in the farm and in their fish packers,” said Morton.
Crawford Kilian is a contributing editor of The Tyee.
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Illahie
2 years ago
Another career advancement for Morton
First she studies marine mammals, then she is a parasitologist, now she is a fish cop. The troubling thing is that fish cops these days carry guns.
Where does Crawford get the idea that Morton can lay charges?
Steve Cooley
2 years ago
Court Action
Crawford has the idea that Morton can lay charges because we live in a country where nobody is above the law (in theory). Technically, maybe you are right and she might have to bring the infraction to the attention of the Crown then they must lay the charges, when they get around to it.
The issue is that the Federal Fisheries has not been doing their job. They seem to be doing all they can to ensure that the West Coast salmon fishery goes the way of the East Coast cod fishery.
singingwithin
2 years ago
Private Prosecutions
Illahie, although it is more common for the government to lay charges, anyone may appear before a judge and have charges laid where there is enough evidence that an offence has been committed. This is known as a "private prosecution". Alexandra Morton is familiar with the process, having done this at least once before.
However, the Crown has the right to take over the private prosecution, and once it's taken it over, they can, and almost without exception, drop the charges. This is not the case everywhere - in Ontario the government often allows private prosecutions to proceed, but here in BC they are invariably "stayed".
Andrew Gage,
Staff Lawyer,
West Coast Environmental Law
Illahie
2 years ago
Private Prosecutions
Thank you for the clarification Andrew.
Frank
2 years ago
Regulation
Good for Morton, we need someone out there looking after the environment. God knows this government doesn't want the job.
freebear
2 years ago
Campbell River Mirror has a letter/opinion from Marine Harvest a
I will post the link.
freebear
2 years ago
Not avail online!
Sorry only available in hard copy today
kootenay
2 years ago
Thank You Alexandra
Your expertise and dedication to this cause is much appreicated by many of us.
It's a shame so many citizens are prepared to believe the drivel rolled out by our government and their supporters.
Thank you for all you've done and continue to do for us and the salmon.
Illahie
2 years ago
An article from the Globe and Mail
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/british-columbia/biologist-takes-aim-at-fish-farm-company/article1290672/