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From: "Howard Breen" <HBreen@georgiastrait.org>
Another B.C. fish escape & more death pits
Just in from colleague Lynn Hunter:
It's happened again. An escape occurred in Amai Inlet near Kyuquot, B.C.
yesterday.
30,000 all female Chinook escaped when the propeller of a boat tore the net. The
company is Marine Harvest Canada. Ron Kilmury is the manager.
.................................................................................
I have to ask what would be the damage if these were some of A/F Protein Inc.'s
genetically engineered farm salmon (coming to a farm near you this fall if the
feds grant export permits) ?
Prime Minister Chretien is announcing $12M for nearby recreational jewel
Clayoquot Sound tomorrow -- a UN Biosphere -- One has to wonder what protection
is accorded by such funds & designation with such escapes, (not to mention the
finding of two more beachfront "death pits" for sea lions lethally shot by local
fish farmers -- total now est. @ 40 for one farm owned by Creative Salmon )?
After his government also tabled new Species at Risk (ESA) legislation one has
to wonder why Fisheries & Oceans is still aiding & abetting the slaughter by
"permitting" the killing of endangered Stellar Sea Lions (as well as licenses
for Harbour seals and California Sea Lions)?
Netcage fish farms are akin to unfenced open garbage dumps baiting bears until
all must be shot due to unpleasant interactions.
What a callous waste of life. The human safety hazard posed by bored
trigger-happy farmers shouldn't be forgotten either in these prime eco-tourism
destinations.
The seafood consumer would be duly outraged if it was well known that their farm
salmon meal has cost thousands of marine mammal (& birds) legal kills -- and
probably a quadrupled figure of illegal kills since the industry arrived in B.C.
in the early '80s.
Federal advocacy for the immoral and unethical agro-industrialization of the
B.C. coast is best exemplified by the words Chretien's aquaculture commissioner
at Aquaculture 2000 in October: "" I am absolutely convinced that when our
descendents look back, in the year 2100 or 3000, they will view the dawn of the
third millennium as the point at which mankind went from fishing to
aquaculture."
Toothless federal guidelines and industry self reporting are a sham.
The discharge, disease, and deaths wrought upon wild marine species will
continue until netcage operations are phased out and replaced with safe, closed
systems.
Preferably land-based.
For more on the Clayoquot death pits call Ed May 250-725-4218 or email
focs@web.net.
Howard Breen
Georgia Strait Alliance
250-247-7467
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