FISH FARM TRUCK BLOCKADED

Forest Action Network and the Nuxalk Nation blockade shipment of Farmed Salmon

11 December 2002, Bella Coola, BC ñ At 7:00 AM today, chiefs, elders and citizens of the Nuxalk Nation with support from members of the Forest Action Network blockaded a shipment of farmed salmon headed for Richmond.

The truck was diverted off the highway into a residential neighborhood where about 40 people gathered to stop the truck from moving. Many people held banners, while others drew ìFARM OFFî and ìBIOHAZARDî on the side of the truck.

At the time of this press release, the blockade was still underway.

ìWe will not accept any fish farms in our territory and we will not allow companies to transport their farmed fish through our territory,î stated Nuxalk Hereditary Chief Snuxyaltwa (Deric Snow). ìIt is our obligation to the creator.î

ìWe demand a immediate halt to all production and shipment of farmed salmon,î declared Greg Higgs of the Forest Action Network in Bella Coola. ìFish farms threaten the viability of wild salmon stocks, and the animals and forests which depend on wild salmon.î

The farmed salmon was raised near Klemtu, BC, at a fish farm owned by Marine Harvest Canada, a subsidiary of Dutch multinational Nutreco. It was loaded onto a barge last night and transferred onto trucks this morning at the BC Ferries terminal in Bella Coola. The farmed salmon is destined for Richmond, when it will ultimately end up in grocery stores and restaurants in Canada and the US.