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For Immediate Release April 29, 2002
Diverse Group Unites in Opposition to Fish Farm Expansion Continued
moratorium on new fish farm sites called for in letter to Canadian Prime
Minister
Contacts: Dale Kelley, Executive Director, Alaska Trollers Association
(907) 586-9400
Jeremy Anderson, Executive Director, Southeast Alaska Conservation
Council (907) 586-6942
Bob Weinstein, Mayor of the City of Ketchikan / President, Southeast
Conference (907) 228-5603
In an unprecedented show of solidarity, a diverse coalition of fishermen,
conservationists, government officials, Tribes, and scientists from Alaska,
Canada, and Lower 48 today called on the Canadian government to safeguard wild
fish stocks along the Pacific coast. A letter, signed by over 200 groups,
scientists and political leaders, to Prime Minister Jean Chretien and President
George Bush, calls on the Canadian government to maintain its current moratorium
on ocean net cages, improve existing practices, and initiate a meaningful public
process to evaluate the impact of industrial finfish farming on wild fish
stocks, fish habitat, and fishing dependent communities prior to allowing
further expansion at new or existing sites. In support of the coalition's
efforts, individuals have circulated a petition and in less than a week hundreds
of people have signed on.
According to Dale Kelley, Executive Director of the Alaska Trollers Association,
the coalition is attempting to persuade the Canadian government to leave its
moratorium in place, because it considers the expansion of ocean net cage
farming to be a significant threat to wild fish. "There is a tremendous energy
at the heart of the coalition.
People and interest groups from California to Alaska are signing on daily,
galvanized by their long-standing commitment to the health of wild fish and
local economies that depend on them," she said.
It is anticipated that many of the new farms will be located near the Alaskan
border and coalition members are concerned. They point to government,
scientific, and public reports, such as the provincially sponsored Salmon
Aquaculture Review and a report by Canada's Auditor General, which highlight the
need for better research, monitoring, enforcement, and public involvement.
However, only a handful of those recommendations have been implemented to date
and the BC Government is proceeding with its plans to lift the ban on new farms.
The independent Leggatt Inquiry into British Columbia salmon farms last fall
resulted in a recommendation that net cages be removed from the ocean by 2005.
The inquiry revealed among other things that farmed fish commonly escape from
net pens, invade wild fish habitat, prey on juvenile salmon, have the potential
to transfer disease and parasites to wild fish.
"Both Canada and Alaska are obligated to protect our shared fisheries resource
under agreements like the Pacific Salmon Treaty. Lifting the moratorium seems
reckless when there are so many unanswered questions about the impact of fish
farming on wild stocks," said Kelley.
"Conservation groups up and down the coast are very concerned about the negative
effects fish farms have on the health of wild salmon and their habitats," stated
Jeremy Anderson, Executive Director of the Southeast Alaska Conservation
Council. "Healthy wild salmon populations are essential for both our
communities' prosperity and a healthy environment."
Non-indigenous Atlantic salmon have successfully reproduced in British Columbian
rivers and are now being found in Alaska streams. For over a decade, fishermen
in Alaska have caught Atlantic salmon in fisheries as far west as the Bering
Sea. In February a widespread disease outbreak occurred at multiple BC salmon
farms and an increased presence of sea lice has been documented in areas near
fish farms. Coalition members fear that these problems may spread to wild fish
in BC and elsewhere.
"We cannot afford to sit back and let the expansion of fish farming in British
Columbia increase the existing economic and environmental threat to people and
communities throughout Alaska," said Bob Weinstein, Mayor of the City of
Ketchikan and President of the Southeast Conference.
"Canada should take immediate steps to safeguard wild salmon along the North
Pacific Coast - beginning with keeping in place the moratorium on new fish
farms."
April 30, 2002
The Right Honourable Jean Chretien
Prime Minister of Canada
House of Commons
Ottowa, Ontario, K1A 0A6
President George W. Bush
1600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Minister Chretien and President Bush:
We, the undersigned west coast residents of Canada and the US, out of concern
for the health of wild fish stocks, fish habitat and human health, call upon you
to take the necessary steps to halt the expansion of unsustainable industrial
finfish farming on the Pacific coast of North America.
Many people, including citizens, leading scientists, community and political
leaders in both of our countries, question the way finfish farming is currently
practiced. The open net cages in our public waters, basically floating feedlots,
allow tens of thousands of fish to escape annually and antibiotic-laden waste to
contaminate the marine environment and settle on the ocean floor. The
predominant farmed species is Atlantic salmon, and the introduction of this
non-indigenous species to the Pacific coast raises even more concerns.
An environmental review, the Salmon Aquaculture Review (SAR), conducted by the
province of British Columbia reported in September 1997 and made 49
recommendations concerning this industry before any expansion should be allowed.
The BC government intends to lift the ban on new farms on April 30 yet only a
handful of the recommendations outlined in the SAR have been implemented. And
since publication of the SAR, serious events have occurred which must also be
considered before the moratorium is lifted. These include the scientific
documentation of successful reproduction of Atlantic salmon in a number of BC
streams, infestations of sea lice and epidemic-level outbreaks of disease in
areas of the coast where salmon farms are sited. Such outbreaks have also
occurred in other countries where net-cage salmon farms are found, particularly
Ireland, Scotland and Norway.
Government response to constituents calling for a public process to examine
these and other impacts has been completely inadequate.
Canada's independent Auditor General and its Senate fisheries committee have
highlighted the compelling need for a complete environmental assessment before
the industry is allowed to expand, but they, too, have been met with deaf ears.
Perhaps most importantly, there have been no discussions among neighbouring
jurisdictions despite the availability of cooperative forums such as the Pacific
Salmon Commission and the International Joint Commission.
The State of Alaska banned finfish farming in 1990 to protect its valuable wild
stocks. Today, Alaskans are very concerned about the long-term future for the
coastwide fisheries resource should BC proceed with its planned expansion of the
fish farm industry. In light of these concerns, the State of Alaska has
testified in opposition to lifting the moratorium and a US Senator recently
engaged the State Department on the matter. Tribal entities in Canada and the US
have also raised concern about the potential effects of finfish farming on their
traditional food fisheries and way of life.
As the leaders of our countries, we ask that you address the impacts of fish
farming on wild salmon and their marine and freshwater habitats posthaste, in
order to conserve one of the most precious icons of the Pacific coast wild
salmon.
Sincerely,
Commercial Fishing Groups
Alaska
Alaska Trollers Association
United Southeast Alaska Gillnetters
Southeast Alaska Fishermen's Association
United Cook Inlet Driftgillnet Association
Fish Habitat Alaska
Concerned Area M Fishermen
Old Harbor Fisherman's Association
Alaska Longline Fishermen's Association
Kenai Peninsula Fishermen's Association
Petersburg Vessel Owners Association
Alaska Independent Fishermen's Marketing Association
Northwest Setnetters Association
United Salmon Association
Kodiak Regional Aquaculture Association
Southeast Alaska Seiners
British Columbia
Area G Trollers
Canadian Sablefish Association
Canadian Groundfish Research and Conservation Society
Pacific Prawn Fishermen's Association
United Fishermen and Allied Workers' Union
Pacific Trollers Association
Area D Salmon Gillnet Association
Northern Trollers Association
Pacific Halibut Management Association of BC
California
Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations
Fishermen's Association of Moss Landing
Monterey Fishermen's Marketing Association
Small Boat Commercial Salmon Fishermen's Association
Humboldt Fishermen's Marketing Association
Oregon
Salmon for All
Columbia River Fishermen's Protective Union
Women's Coalition for Pacific Fisheries
Washington
Purse Seine Vessel Owners Association
Friends of Fishermen's Terminal
Washington Trollers Association
Puget Sound Harvesters
Fish Companies
Taku Smokeries
Flopping Fresh Fish Company
Fisher's Choice Wild Salmon
Pioneer Alaskan Fisheries
Environmental
Alaska
Southeast Alaska Conservation Council
Alaska Marine Conservation Council
Alaska Coalition
Alaska Center for the Environment
Alaska Oceans Network
Oceana
Kodiak Audubon
Sitka Conservation Society
Ocean Conservancy
Yakutat Salmon Rehabilitation Board
Lower Chatham Conservation Society
Sitka Conservation Council
Alaska Conservation Voters
Alaska Conservation Alliance
Alaska Rainforest Campaign
Lynn Canal Conservation
Friends of Berners Bay
Tongass Conservation Society
Prince of Wales Conservation League
British Columbia
David Suzuki Foundation
Yukon Conservation Society
Friends of Clayoquot Sound
Coast Mountain Chapter, Sierra Club of BC
Raincoast Conservation Society
Georgia Strait Alliance
Sierra Club of British Columbia
Qualicum Beach Streamkeepers
Alberni Environmental Coalition
Society Promoting Environmental Conservation
T. Buck Suzuki Environmental Foundation
Mid Vancouver Island Habitat Enhancement Society
Comox Valley Watershed Assembly
Living Oceans Society
Watershed Watch
California
Natural Resources Defense Council
Friends of the River
Northcoast Environmental Center
Maine
Maine Toxics Action Coalition
Oregon
Institute for Fisheries Resources
Oregon Natural Resources Council
Coast Range Association
Washington
Friends of the Earth
Northwest Ecosystem Alliance
Kettle Range Conservation Group
The Lands Council
American Lands Alliance
Mangrove Action Project
Marine Environmental Consortium
Sport Groups/Businesses
Alaska
Deep Creek Charterboat Association
Trout Unlimited
California
Northern California Association of River Guides
California Sportfishing Protection Alliance
CalTrout
Friends of the Trinity River
Golden Gate Fishermen's Association
British Columbia
Steelhead Society of BC
BC Federation of Fly Fishers
Skeena Fly Fishers
King Pacific Lodge
Tribal Interests
Alaska
Sitka Tribe of Alaska
Customary and Traditional Gathering Council of Kake
Yakutat Tlingit Tribe
Yak-tat Kwaan, Inc.
SE Intertribal Fish and Wildlife Commission
Kake Tribal Corporation
Old Harbor Native Corporation
Old Harbor Tribal Council
Ouznikie Native Corporation
Ouzinkie Tribal Council
Larsen Bay Tribal Council
British Columbia
Nisga'a Nation
Kwakiutl Territorial Fisheries Commission
BC Aboriginal Fisheries Commission
Heiltsuk Chief Carmen Humchitt Qvuqvayaitxv
Heiltsuk Chief Clarence Martin Nulawitxv
Heiltsuk Chief Kenny Campbell Wuyalitxv
Heiltsuk Chief Gary Housty Yisdaitxv
Heiltsuk Chief Harvey Humchitt Wuyalitxv
Heiltsuk Chief Mark White Xisxis
Heiltsuk Chief Edwin Newman Wuyalitxv
Heiltsuk Chief Peter Mason Xisxis
Heiltsuk Chief Geddes Humchitt Wuyalitxv
Nuu-Chah-Nulth Tribal Council, Nelson Keitlah, Archie Little, Richard
Watts, Co-Chairs
Chief Bill Cranmer, Chief Willie Moon, Chief Percy Williams, Musgamagw
Tsawataineuk Tribal Council, Alert Bay
Washington
Upper Skagit Indian Tribe
Regulatory/Advisory Bodies
Juneau Douglas Fish and Game Advisory Committee
Yakutat Fish & Game Advisory Committee
Communities
Alaska
Southeast Conference
City and Borough of Juneau
City of Petersburg
City of Craig
City of Ketchikan
City and Borough of Yakutat
City of Cordova
City of Old Harbor
Copper River Watershed Project
Alliance of Communities for Sustainable Fisheries
Gulf of Alaska Coastal Communities Coalition
US National Groups/Campaigns
Save Our Wild Salmon
Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy
Go Wild Consumer Education Campaign
National Environmental Trust
SEACOPS
U.S. Endangered Species Coalition
Center for Food Safety
The Edmonds Institute
North American Women for Diversity
US/Canada Campaigns
Transboundary Watershed Alliance
International Coalitions
U.S. Delegation, World Forum of Fish-Harvesters & Fishworkers
Scientists
Alaska
Mike Vaughn, Fisheries Biologist
Pattie Skannes, Fisheries Biologist
Dave Gaudet, Fisheries Biologist, PSC Special Assistant
Victoria O'Connell, Fishery Biologist, Groundfish Project, ADF&G
Dr. Robert J. Piorkowski, Aquatic Ecologist, Invasive Species Specialist Brian
Lynch, Fisheries Biologist III
British Columbia
John Volpe, PhD, Assistant Professor, University of Alberta
Alexandra Morton, Raincoast Research
Rick Routledge, Director of Environmental Science Undergraduate
Programme, Simon Fraser University
Lawrence M. Dill, FRSC,Professor and Director, Dept. of Biological
Sciences, Simon Fraser University
Dr. Daniel Pauly, Professor of Fisheries, University British Columbia
Peter Tyedmers, Assistant Professor School for Resource and
Environmental Studies, Dalhousie University
William E. Rees, PhD, Professor, School of Community and Regional
Planning, University of British Columbia
Pauline Tymchuk, Administrator, Centre for Biomedical Research,
University of Victoria
Dr. Don Hall, Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council, Fisheries Program Manager
Sergio Paone, PhD, Environmental Consultant
John Werring, M.Sc., Member #442, Association of Professional Biologists of
British Columbia
California
Roz Naylor, Senior Fellow, Center for Environmental Science and Policy,
Stanford University
Hawaii
L. Neil Frazer, PhD, Professor of Geophysics, School of Ocean and Earth
Science and Technology, University of Hawaii
Massachusetts
Les Kaufman, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Boston University Marine
Program
Oregon
Washington
Dr. Arthur Whiteley, Professor of Zoology, University of Washington
Environmental Research
Idaho
Northwest Resource Information Center
Businesses
Alaska
Kathy's Net Loft and Gear Supplies, Juneau
Coal Point Trading Company
Alaska Wild Animal Recovery Effort
Seaducks Unlimited
Madison Lumber & Hardware, Ketchikan
Shelter Cove Publishing, Sitka
Mallott's General Store, inc., Yakutat
The Mooring Lodge, Yakutat
British Columbia
WaveLength Magazine
ScreenWeavers
Washington
Fieldwork Communications, Seattle
Alaska Fishing Jobs Clearinghouse, Seattle
Political Leaders
Alaska
Former Speaker of the House Ben Grussendorf
Former President of the Senate Richard Eliason
Senator Kim Elton, Alaska State Legislature
Senator Loren Leman, Alaska State Legislature
Senator Alan Austerman, Alaska State Legislature
Senator Robin Taylor, Alaska State Legislature
Representative Ethan Burkowitz, Alaska State Legislature
Representative Con Bunde, Alaska State Legislature
Representative Mike Chenault, Alaska State Legislature
Representative Sharon Cissna, Alaska State Legislature
Representative John Coghill, Alaska State Legislature
Representative Harry Crawford, Alaska State Legislature
Representative Eric Croft, Alaska State Legislature
Representative John Davies, Alaska State Legislature
Representative Oscar Dyson, Alaska State Legislature
Representative Hugh Fate, Alaska State Legislature
Representative Richard Foster, Alaska State Legislature
Representative Joe Green, Alaska State Legislature
Representative Andrew Halcro, Alaska State Legislature
Representative John Harris, Alaska State Legislature
Representative Joe Hayes, Alaska State Legislature
Representative Bill Hudson, Alaska State Legislature
Representative Mary Kapsner, Alaska State Legislature
Representative Beth Kerttula, Alaska State Legislature
Representative Al Kookesh, Alaska State Legislature
Representative Pete Kott, Alaska State Legislature
Representative Ken Lancaster, Alaska State Legislature
Representative Lesil McGuire, Alaska State Legislature
Representative Carl Morgan, Alaska State Legislature
Representative Drew Scalzi, Alaska State Legislature
Representative Gary Stevens, Alaska State Legislature
Representative Bill Williams, Alaska State Legislature
Representative Peggy Wilson, Alaska State Legislature
Washington
Senator Harriet Spanel, Washington State Senate
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