Do you think the PSFA will move on to advocating the removal of fish farms in other areas or do you think they will end it with the discovery island?
It's a good question.
I would respond that good decision-making is based on good data/science/evidence where there is a compulsory tie between generating accurate, trustworthy data and decision-making - and a separation between those 2 processes.
As we all know - those crucial processes have been purposely avoided for decision-making for this industry up until Justice Cohen stepped in - and DFO Aquaculture needs to be relieved of its institutionalized collusion and conflicts of interest so these crucial processes can function. I think the last 2 Fisheries Ministers have likely seen this reality, as well - and the industry is feeling lost because the old lies aren't working anymore, and they can't pull the Fisheries Minister around by the nose anymore like they did with Gail Shae. Hard to know how far this process will proceed from here.
At least the PSF is in the forefront of new science investigating the links/impacts (Synthesis of findings of the Salish Sea Marine Survival Project, Version 1.0:
https://marinesurvival.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021PSF-SynthesisPaper-Screen.pdf) - unlike DFO Aquaculture. Or maybe I should rephrase it as the PSF isn't beholden to a veto from the industry - and also doesn't hide data, outbreaks, inconvenient results and lie, obfuscate and gatekeep when it comes to inconvenient science like DFO Aquaculture.
And the tools they have developed (eDNA, fit chips, etc) and are using - makes DFO Aquaculture look like the amateurs they are and want to continue to be (nobody gets rewarded for change and taking the initiative and going against the speaking notes from the deputy minister in such an organization; and up until now - nobody wanted to say no to the industry wrt approved sites) - altho I realize not every employee in that branch wants this but are likely constrained by a few key individuals in that Branch/department (as detailed thru the ATIPs).
To answer your question directly - assuming the PSF operates on scientific data for their recommendations - I would say that there are noticeable problems/impacts between the FFs in Clayoquot Sound and the wild Chinook WCVI juvies found there - particularly with sea lice, PRv/Jaundice/Anemia and mouthrot/tenacibaculosis amplification and transmission. Those results have been published in actual science journals and posted on this thread and forum, previously.
Another potential problem is the transfer of Tenacibaculum spp. to outmigrating Fraser River sockeye smolts in the Discovery Islands from both any Chinook and Atlantic FFs (
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.06.15.448581v1) - and as far as I know - those Chinook farms are still operating?
psf.ca
