VANCOUVER - More jobs could be lost than gained with the creation of a new fish farm in the Johnstone Strait, argues Brian Gunn, president of the B.C. Wilderness Tourism Association (BCWTA).
Last week, Strathcona regional district approved the third reading of a rezoning application that would allow Grieg Seafood to farm Atlantic salmon in this wild salmon migratory route.
An excerpt from Gunn's letter, which was addressed to individuals at the Agriculture and Lands ministry, Fisheries and Oceans Canada [DFO], regional district and Grieg Seafood, reads:
"Wilderness Tourism contributes $1.5 billion in direct revenues to the BC economy an generates 26,000 jobs. Our economic impact doubles to $3 billion when we include indirect and induced revenues and benefits and some 52,000 jobs. As an industry sector that depends on a resilient wild salmon resource, this aquaculture zoning decision is of extreme importance to us.
"As conveyed at the SRD [Strathcona regional district] meeting and reported in the media it appears that the decision to approve the rezoning application was motivated primarily by job creation. The WTA is writing to ask that this decision be reconsidered with serious consideration given to the environmental threats posed by open net-cage salmon aquaculture and the related impacts on existing jobs in the wilderness tourism and other industries reliant on healthy wild salmon stocks."
In a Courrier-Islander article, Quadra Island's Walcan Seafoods claimed the farm would provide full-time work for its 135 employees. Grieg Seafood's general manager in Campbell River could not be reached for comment.
Proliferation of sea lice is one major concern with salmon farms. Scientific research indicates that there are elevated levels of sea lice in and around salmon farms, and that juvenile wild salmon near those farms have higher rates of sea lice infection -- although the DFO maintains that the evidence is not conclusive.
Biologist Alexandra Morton, who has researched sea lice in the Broughton Archipelago and been a vocal opponent to open-net salmon farms, penned a letter recently expressing her own resignation and urging British Columbians to “turn this around.”
The final reading of the rezoning application will likely happen next month, said Roy Grant, vice-chair of the regional district. Grant told The Tyee he couldn't say whether Morton's or Gunn's letters would have an influence on the final decision, because he doesn't have a vote. He did say that Grieg and the regional directors compromised on the application.
Colleen Kimmett reports for The Tyee.
7
Login or register to post comments
Fiat lux
2 years ago
With all the solid evidence
With all the solid evidence on the extreme detrimental effects of fish farms, it is totally amazing the any governmental body would even give them the time of day, let alone approve them for any reason.
But then, everything seems to have limits, except human stupidity. As we can also see it all around us with the mining industry.
Ed Deak, Big Lake
sunshine coast girl
2 years ago
What kind of a rocket scientist
would allow anyone to farm Atlantic salmon in a wild salmon migratory route? OMG! Has the whole world gone mad?
ME2
2 years ago
Priorities
If you look at the Strathcona Regional District's site, Ed, you'll notice that their primary concern is economic growth.
And besides, the SRD had to deal with the reality that Campbell's new legislation now allows him to over-ride them anyway, so why irritate him?
And so in this best place in the world, we have to recognise that everything is beholden to the Great God Jawbs.
How could it be otherwise?
doggone
2 years ago
Damn right!
Fish farms threaten jobs all over this coast.
I have helped build "on land" farms and though they admittedly more expensive they do not pollute as much as a sea pen.
What tourist wants to Kayak through Broughton now? How many takers on the high priced but "guarenteed salmon fishing charter businesses?
The big salmon are gone, folks. This is not me talking, it is a quote from a Haida friend who guided fishing for years. He quit:
"The Big Salmon are Gone!"
Argue with that
reallife
2 years ago
Big Salmon are Gone
Could it be that someone caught and killed the big salmon? Fish farms are thought to be harmful to fish. Catching and killing them are definitely harmful to fish. Perhaps we should ban all fishing for a decade or so and see what happens.
realisticman
2 years ago
Banning fishing might be a good idea
That, of course, is a Federal responsibility.
Farms haven't been a factor here;
Jun 21, 2009
Gulf of Alaska’s Salmon Become Scarce Thanks to Cold PDO
By Craig Medred, Anchorage Daily News
A second straight year of weak king salmon returns around the rim of the Gulf of Alaska has state fisheries biologists wondering if they might be staring into the face of a bleak future. Troubling discussions of PDO—an acronym for something called the Pacific Decadal Oscillation—have been spreading coast-wide as kings come back weak in river after river. Historically, there are indications that geographically widespread weaknesses like these are tied to a shift, or oscillation, in Pacific Ocean currents that causes cooler waters to pool in the Gulf of Alaska.
A cool phase in the Gulf from 1947 to 1976 corresponds neatly with the last big crash in king numbers in Cook Inlet. Most fisheries biologists agree that overfishing with commercial nets contributed to a nearly three-decade-long depression in king numbers there. But there is widespread agreement there was more to it than just heavy fishing. Climate was identified as a significant player by fisheries scientist Steven Hare in 1996. He linked the shifts in Alaska salmon runs to shifts in ocean-water temperatures and coined the phrase Pacific Decadal Oscillation. Fisheries biologists have been talking about PDO ever since, but it took on a new significance last year after ocean temperatures dipped and Kodiak Island, Susitna Valley and Kenai Peninsula king runs all plummeted. ..."
Kam Lee
2 years ago
Gordo drunk with power
Remember one thing, the owners of the rat-fish farms also own a bisiness that specializes in OIL TRANSPORTATION!. They own many ships designed to carry oil. If we could get the pisstank gordo to tell the truth (fat chance), he would verify the next plan. Off-shore oil. He has his hands full with the BC Rail trial. He is in it so deep. Come clean gordo, grow some balls! Giev us back our province!