Aquaculture improving?..The Fish Farm Thread

[Whole in the Water]

By assessment I meant their decision was based on their science. If there are other data collected by independent researchers showing DFO's decisions are wrong, as I believe has been stated, lets see it.

How about starting with reading the dozens upon dozens of peer reviewed articles and publication AA, GLG and others have posted over the last few years. IMHO time for us all to stop stalling, deflecting and defending a problematic industry and work towards moving it on land where its negative environmental impacts can be better managed. My 2 bits.

 

[wildmanyeah]

Not really the damages from log booms to near shore habitat has been know for over 50 years and not much has changed.

I would say all industries are improving but not at the rate environmentalists would like.

imo general development continues to be the biggest long term threat to salmon. Besides the impending climate change.

close containment RAS systems are the future for salmon farms it’s the goverment tho so it’s gonna take time. The only way it’s gonna be fast tracked is with the First Nation angle or the province steps on. Now would be the time to remind politicians that fish farms need to go if it’s top of your mind.

 

[Whole in the Water]

Not really the damages from log booms to near shore habitat has been know for over 50 years and not much has changed.

I would say all industries are improving but not at the rate environmentalists would like.

imo general development continues to be the biggest long term threat to salmon. Besides the impending climate change.

Yup lots of issues impacting wild salmon - but this post is about net pen fish farms, not general development and climate change, which we know have an negative impact.

 

[agentaqua]

PSF Perspective on DFO Decision to Consult with First Nations in the Discovery Islands
https://www.psf.ca/news-media/psf-perspective-dfo-decision-consult-first-nations-discovery-islands
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 28, 2020

PSF Perspective on DFO Decision to Consult with First Nations in the Discovery Islands

On September 28, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) announced that it will consult with First Nations in the Discovery Islands to inform whether or not to renew aquaculture licenses set to expire in December. This followed DFO’s completion of nine peer-reviewed, scientific risk assessments to determine the impact of interactions between wild Pacific salmon and pathogens from salmon farms, which was called for by the Cohen Commission in 2012. PSF researchers participated in several of these review processes.

It is important to reiterate that many of our wild Pacific salmon populations are experiencing very significant declines, and there have been severe ecological, cultural, economic and social consequences that cause us great concern for the future sustainability of this precious resource. Fraser River sockeye had the lowest returns on record in 2020, and in a recent assessment, only one of 16 populations of southern B.C. Chinook was assessed as “not at risk.” These are just some examples of the current state of some salmon populations, and the need for action to reduce risk and improve conditions for our wild Pacific salmon is greater than ever.

PSF is pleased to see the collaborative approach signalled by DFO to consult with First Nations in the Discovery Islands about the future of open-net-pen aquaculture in this critical migratory path for Fraser River Sockeye and other salmon species like Chinook. In light of the significant conservation concerns for many of our wild Pacific salmon populations, we hope that this approach will bring a much-needed sense of urgency to the B.C. wide transition to closed containment that was promised by the federal Liberals during the last election.

PSF believes we need to move beyond contentious science debates towards urgent conservation-oriented actions for wild Pacific salmon. While PSF does not agree with the finding of “minimal harm” to Fraser River sockeye, and the omission of any recognition of the significant concerns about sea lice infection, we also believe that such major decisions should not be limited to sockeye salmon only. We are concerned about all B.C. salmon and given the broad body of science that demonstrates significant risk to wild Pacific salmon from open net pen aquaculture, PSF supports measures to remove these open net pen fish farms a soon as possible.

DFO’s consultations can be a consequential step forward for the recovery of wild Pacific salmon if the they are used as a model for working with First Nations and coastal communities as a first step to implement the Minster of Fisheries mandate letter to transition to closed-containment. PSF is prepared to assist DFO and all First Nations who depend on these wild Pacific salmon. We believe there has long been ample evidence to apply the “precautionary principle” for the conservation and restoration of wild salmon, which is DFO’s principle mandate.

Note:

In August, PSF wrote letters to the Prime Minister and B.C. Premier regarding alarming unnatural sea lice loads on out-migrating wild Pacific salmon in Discovery Islands. We also outlined a five-point plan to encourage a transition to closed containment salmon farming in British Columbia.

Letter to Prime Minister
https://www.psf.ca/sites/default/fi...e Justin Trudeau Letter - August 13, 2020.pdf
Letter to Premier
https://www.psf.ca/sites/default/files/The Honorable John Horgan Letter - August 13, 2020.pdf

 

[Birdsnest]

Most of the members who post on this subject do so out of honest concern for how Open Net Pet Fish Farms effect our wild salmon.
Both pro and con I might add.
Then there are the members whose families depend on Open Net Pet Fish Farms for their livelihood.
Some may even be paid to defend the industry.
Without Fish Farms, they would be out of work!
Not hard to see why this subject keeps just going round and round in circles.

Ya. I hear ya. I guess the same goes for sport fishing where if you sport fish or better yet are a guide, who feeds his/her family through sport fishing, concerned citizens who's primary honest concern is the wild salmon should certainly categorize sport-fishers opinions as not valid and simply leave them out of the debate. With out sports fishing they will be out of work or not be able to feed their families.

While my post does not discuss fish farming it is a direct response using sport fishing as example responding to the fish farm post by gf. Dont get upset and claim it is not related.

 

[agentaqua]

Stan Proboszcz: Feds ignore sea lice in Discovery Islands fish farm decision
https://watershedwatch.ca/stan-prob...lice-in-discovery-islands-fish-farm-decision/
First Nations leaders question validity of DFO fish farm risk assessment
https://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/dfo-salmon-fish-farms-risk-assessment-1.5744217

 

[wildmanyeah]

if its clear cut take DFO back to court

 

[Dave]

I think this nails it. DFO's science is out there to see and read ... where is the conflicting data that shows Fraser sockeye are in peril due to sea lice? If it exists now is the time to show it, or accept this decision.

"Quite clearly the minister has got science, or their version of science, in their pocket that she's willing to bet the department's position on. And so really what can anyone do to move them from that?"

 

[agentaqua]

Ya that seems to be DFO's answer to everything when they are challenged on anything to do with sticking to their mandate to protect wild stocks. If the DoJ lawyer costs came out of the pockets or pensions of the upper echelon making these decisions - rather than the taxpayer being on the hook for DFO's malfeasance - maybe we wouldn't end-up having to spend $ Millions and years in getting DFO to do it's job.

 

[wildmanyeah]

Ya that seems to be DFO's answer to everything when they are challenged on anything to do with sticking to their mandate to protect wild stocks. If the DoJ lawyer costs came out of the pockets or pensions of the upper echelon making these decisions - rather than the taxpayer being on the hook for DFO's malfeasance - maybe we wouldn't end-up having to spend $ Millions and years in getting DFO to do it's job.

Their mandate is to do whatever the Fisheries minister wants who mandate is to do whatever the PMO wants.

 

[Pacific Salmon Foundation]

Thank you for sharing @agentaqua. This is not a position that PSF takes lightly or without much deliberation but we need to put our wild salmon first.

PSF Perspective on DFO Decision to Consult with First Nations in the Discovery Islands
https://www.psf.ca/news-media/psf-perspective-dfo-decision-consult-first-nations-discovery-islands
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 28, 2020

PSF Perspective on DFO Decision to Consult with First Nations in the Discovery Islands

On September 28, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) announced that it will consult with First Nations in the Discovery Islands to inform whether or not to renew aquaculture licenses set to expire in December. This followed DFO’s completion of nine peer-reviewed, scientific risk assessments to determine the impact of interactions between wild Pacific salmon and pathogens from salmon farms, which was called for by the Cohen Commission in 2012. PSF researchers participated in several of these review processes.

It is important to reiterate that many of our wild Pacific salmon populations are experiencing very significant declines, and there have been severe ecological, cultural, economic and social consequences that cause us great concern for the future sustainability of this precious resource. Fraser River sockeye had the lowest returns on record in 2020, and in a recent assessment, only one of 16 populations of southern B.C. Chinook was assessed as “not at risk.” These are just some examples of the current state of some salmon populations, and the need for action to reduce risk and improve conditions for our wild Pacific salmon is greater than ever.

PSF is pleased to see the collaborative approach signalled by DFO to consult with First Nations in the Discovery Islands about the future of open-net-pen aquaculture in this critical migratory path for Fraser River Sockeye and other salmon species like Chinook. In light of the significant conservation concerns for many of our wild Pacific salmon populations, we hope that this approach will bring a much-needed sense of urgency to the B.C. wide transition to closed containment that was promised by the federal Liberals during the last election.

PSF believes we need to move beyond contentious science debates towards urgent conservation-oriented actions for wild Pacific salmon. While PSF does not agree with the finding of “minimal harm” to Fraser River sockeye, and the omission of any recognition of the significant concerns about sea lice infection, we also believe that such major decisions should not be limited to sockeye salmon only. We are concerned about all B.C. salmon and given the broad body of science that demonstrates significant risk to wild Pacific salmon from open net pen aquaculture, PSF supports measures to remove these open net pen fish farms a soon as possible.

DFO’s consultations can be a consequential step forward for the recovery of wild Pacific salmon if the they are used as a model for working with First Nations and coastal communities as a first step to implement the Minster of Fisheries mandate letter to transition to closed-containment. PSF is prepared to assist DFO and all First Nations who depend on these wild Pacific salmon. We believe there has long been ample evidence to apply the “precautionary principle” for the conservation and restoration of wild salmon, which is DFO’s principle mandate.

Note:

In August, PSF wrote letters to the Prime Minister and B.C. Premier regarding alarming unnatural sea lice loads on out-migrating wild Pacific salmon in Discovery Islands. We also outlined a five-point plan to encourage a transition to closed containment salmon farming in British Columbia.

Letter to Prime Minister
https://www.psf.ca/sites/default/files/The Right Honourable Justin Trudeau Letter - August 13, 2020.pdf
Letter to Premier
https://www.psf.ca/sites/default/files/The Honorable John Horgan Letter - August 13, 2020.pdf

 

[Dave]

Thank you for sharing @agentaqua. This is not a position that PSF takes lightly or without much deliberation but we need to put our wild salmon first.

Then perhaps it's time to have a close look at what happens on the Fraser River every year.
Yes, First Nation fishing.

 

[gone fishin]

Then perhaps it's time to have a close look at what happens on the Fraser River every year.
Yes, First Nation fishing.

As you know Dave, the problem of open net pen fish farms is more then just how the Fraser River Sockeye are impacted.
https://clayoquotaction.org/
"Our fish farm monitoring program, Clayoquot Salmon Investigation (CSI) gets out on the water near Tofino. We keep an eye on this polluting industry, which otherwise operates out of sight, out of mind. We’ve been able to expose stories which no-one would have heard about, such as mass die-offs, viral outbreaks, sea lice epidemics."

 

[wildmanyeah]

"Wild salmon in Clayoquot Sound are rapidly sliding towards extinction—only 2 Chinook salmon returned to spawn in Tofino Creek last year. We’re working hard to save wild salmon!"

 

[terrin]

Then perhaps it's time to have a close look at what happens on the Fraser River every year.
Yes, First Nation fishing.

Why are only 270,000 sockeye (the lowest on record) returning to the Fraser? There are issues (Gill nets) on the Fraser but by and large there are way less fish returning to the Fraser in the first place and that is what this Post is discussing. We read that many more than expected salmon returning to the Columbia and yet here we constanly deflect away from Salmon Farms and all their ills and blaming the dissapearing salmon on Climate Change. I would say Columbia is further south than the Fraser and yet has better than expected returns coming into the river.

 

[Dave]

Comparing hatchery chinook from the Columbia to wild Fraser River sockeye, what this discussion is about, is ludicrous.

 

[agentaqua]

Thank you for sharing @agentaqua. This is not a position that PSF takes lightly or without much deliberation but we need to put our wild salmon first.

Ya the PSF has my respect - as does the ASF on the East Coast. Both organizations are apolitical and focused on the preservation and needs of the wild salmon. Neither started as being opposed to the open net-cage industry - but as the years went by and the data came in - revised their stances on their positions opposing the technology since "the broad body of science that demonstrates significant risk to wild Pacific salmon from open net pen aquaculture".

Well said. apolitical. Honest. Unfortunately not how DFO works; nor the PR machine & the Communications Branch that spew out doubt and confusion to allow the status quo to continue for that industry - staying exempt from the Fisheries Act, the Precautionary Principle, and any environmental assessments.

Ergo - the open letter and numerous other statements by both organizations trying to bring clarity to the issue and refocus DFO on it's mandated primary focus - wild fish and the Fisheries Act.

Thanks again for your efforts!

 

[terrin]

Comparing hatchery chinook from the Columbia to wild Fraser River sockeye, what this discussion is about, is ludicrous.

The point is the Fish (sockeye) are not coming back. What happened to them?

 

[Dave]

The point is the Fish (sockeye) are not coming back. What happened to them?

Every thing I read on this subject points to climate change, and Fraser sockeye, chinook, and coho are not adapting to the changes fast enough. Add to that ocean ranching of pinks and chum by various countries is competing with sockeye for available food. Then throw in the latest problem, the BB slide, which has already wiped out 2 year classes of several stocks.
Change is not always good.

 

[gone fishin]

Here's our monthly report on the impact we're having in the fish against Fish Farms in Clayoquot Sound—together.

https://mailchi.mp/clayoquotaction.org/heres-a-look-at-the-impact-were-having?e=b435f5e2cd