SALMON FARMING AGM PROTESTED

Gordon Campbell declares war by lifting the fish farm moratorium

12 September 2002, Campbell River ñ Today, the Forest Action Network protested at the BC Salmon Farmers Associationís Annual General Meeting in Campbell River. Members of the Heiltsuk First Nation and the Friends of Clayoquot Sound also attended the protest.

Clement Lam, a resident of Sointula, and Leah Walberg, from Port McNeill, entered the AGM yelling slogans such as ìA NEW ERA FOR ENVIRONMENTAL DESTRUCTIONî and holding a banner reading ìFARM OFFî. Outside, others held placards reading ìWILD SALMON DONíT DO DRUGSî.

ìToday, Gordon Campbell has declared war on the environment by lifting the moratorium on new fish farms,î said Clement Lam of the Forest Action Network.

According to the provincial government, 60% of all operating fish farms were violating provincial regulations. Furthermore, of all farms flagged for relocation due to environmental or First Nations concerns, 87% are incomplete. ìIf we canít even clean up the mess from existing fish farms, how can we expect to control new farms?î stated Lam. ìToday is a dark day in the history of BC environmental protection.î

The volume of farmed salmon produced in BC has grown from only 100 tonnes in 1984, to well over 40,000 tonnes today. Farming an alien species with such sharp increase in production coupled with the open pen system, has intensified the problem of escapement, waste, dumping of harmful chemicals dumping, and disease outbreaks. All of this threatens the survival of wild pacific salmon that support the commercial, aboriginal food and sport fisheries.

The BC Salmon Farmers Association was established in 1984 and its objectives are to build a positive image of salmon farming and to promote the consumption of BC farmed salmon, particularly by increasing its demand in the United States. It represents some 60 companies that either produce, process or supply the farmed salmon industry.