Fish biologist Stan Proboszcz of Watershed Watch Salmon Society published an article about the killing of more than 800,000 wild fish in 2022 by open-net salmon farms. According to federal data, this was 16 times more destruction than the last decade’s yearly average. Proboszcz says that 2022 was not an outlier,
Continue readingTag: fishery
IN-SIGHTS: Canada’s derelict branch of government
In ten years, seven different cabinet ministers have led Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO). The department has been a dumping ground or holding area for out-of-favour or inept politicians. Little wonder the […]
Continue readingThe Sir Robert Bond Papers: Fishing for support #nlpoli
When the going gets tough, the tough go fishing. In this case, a bunch of politicians in a tough spot with voters are fishing among a small bunch of politicians in Ottawa for support in their campaign to turn a deal achieved in 2013 into something else entirely. This isn’t
Continue readingNorthern Insight: CFIA – Inept custodian of food safety
Food Safety Agency Should Protect Public, Not Cover up Virus for Salmon Farming Industry, Damien Gillis, The Common Sense Canadian, Dec. 1, 2012
“…Charged with ensuring your food is safe to eat, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) increasingly…
Northern Insight: Important summary of Cohen Inquiry evidence
Watershed Watch presents a “Cliff’s Notes” version of key evidence and testimony from the ongoing Cohen Sockeye Inquiry. “Concerned that key evidence was hard to access and could become buried and forgotten, we took on the task of summarizing key evidentiary highlights on the many subjects considered during the inquiry,
Continue readingNorthern Insight: Fisheries Canada: "Virus, what virus?"
450,000 salmon to be destroyed after outbreak of anemia in Newfoundland and Labrador, Globe and Mail, July 7, 2012 “Newfoundland and Labrador is dealing with its first outbreak of infectious salmon anemia at an aquaculture site… “Guy Gravelle, senior media relations officer for the [Canadian Food Inspection] agency, said the
Continue readingNorthern Insight: Rewarding friends, jailing opponents
Again in 2012, Alexandra Morton was not awarded an Order of BC. Perhaps she is not sufficiently distinguished or perhaps she failed to offer financial support in the way others of this year’s recipients have done. Alexandra is not entirely left out though. BC Liberals do have plans for her.
Continue readingNorthern Insight: Liberals legislate silence from environmentalists
Virus sparks quarantine on B.C. salmon farm, Curt Petrovich, CBC News, May 17, 2012 “B.C.’s salmon farming industry is on high alert after the discovery of a lethal fish virus [Infectious Hematopoietic Necrosis (IHN)] at one farm on the west coast of Vancouver Island. “The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has
Continue readingNorthern Insight: Say, what?
In making consumer choices, most of us don’t have time for careful sorting of fact from fiction. As a result, we rely on sources presumed to be accurate and free of bias. For years, I’ve subscribed to and relied upon non-commercial Consumer Reports for general guidance. In the last decade, for food and
Continue readingThe Sir Robert Bond Papers: The Gathering Storm #nlpoli
Another week and another fish plant closes permanently. This time it is one of the plants that should have been the basis of a vibrant fishery. The Burin plant did mostly secondary processing rather than just basic processing turning fish into big frozen blocks for someone else to develop into
Continue readingThe Sir Robert Bond Papers: Sound Advice #nlpoli
Some people don’t like John Furlong’s ideas. Here’s his latest one – on the fishery, again – but it is equally applicable to just about everything in the province these days: Let’s talk about every single issue that needs to be talked about and let’s stop living in the problem
Continue readingThe Sir Robert Bond Papers: Best interests #nlpoli
Fisheries minister Darin King rejected Ocean Choice International’s proposal for exporting and processing fishery. He held a news conference on Thursday. King claimed the decision is in the best interest of the people of the province. King also said the decision did not mean he was opposed to reform in
Continue readingNorthern Insights / Perceptivity: When politics and science diverge
Regardless of its ultimate conclusions about the decline of Fraser River sockeye salmon, the Cohen Commission‘s December hearings may have exposed the most critical of all issues: federal and provincial regulators operate for the present day benefit of industry instead of in the public’s long term interests. Dr. Alexandra Morton
Continue readingNorthern Insights / Perceptivity: Breaking news from the DFO
Statement from the Federal Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Keith Ashfield, on Negative Infectious Salmon Anaemia Test Results in British Columbia Salmon “After Canada’s reputation has needlessly been put at risk over the past several weeks because of speculation and unfounded science, additional in-depth, conclusive tests, using proper and
Continue readingNorthern Insights / Perceptivity: Not everyone shocked by Cohen disclosures
From my November 25 piece titled To be different, we must do things differently: “Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, along with Chief Bob Chamberlin and Chief Marilyn Baptiste, executive members of the BC Union of Indian Chiefs, attended the Nov. 24 celebration honouring Rafe Mair. It was a treat to hear each talk
Continue readingNorthern Insights / Perceptivity: Vancouver Sun: FAIL!
On the left you can see yesterday’s Vancouver Sun cover page the day after more than 60 First Nations annouced they will not allow the Enbridge pipeline through their territories, on the right you can see today’s Vancouver Sun cover page the day after one First Nation annouced they support
Continue readingNorthern Insights / Perceptivity: Untruthful minister must resign
McRae at BC farm of Norwegian company Greig Seafood British Columbia Hansard, October 20,2011 Minister of Agriculture Don McRae: “I’m pleased to say that over 5,000 samples have been tested for ISA in the last several years. How many came back positive? Let me think about it for a sec.
Continue readingThe Sir Robert Bond Papers: Change in the fishery #nlpoli
Ocean Choice International’s Martin Sullivan was the guest this week on CBC’s On Point. That’s a link to a CBC story that includes the whole program. The most obvious point about Sullivan’s argument is that it is – essentially – simple and sensible. The company needs to export fish in
Continue readingNorthern Insights / Perceptivity: Things I wonder about
1. — Exactly who is the federal government representing as they try to suppress evidence that they are suppressing evidence of the ISA threat to westcoast fisheries? From Tamsyn Burgmann, Canadian Press: “The possibility that a potentially devastating fish virus has migrated into British Columbia salmon is concerning enough to
Continue readingNorthern Insights / Perceptivity: Future of wild salmon depends on volunteers
Alexandra Morton: “…If the leaked document really says 100% of one run of Fraser sockeye tested positive for ISA virus, we have two very big problems. One, Justice Cohen instructed DFO to provide all documents relevant to the health of the Fraser sockeye and this was not one of them.
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