Focus on facts and understanding and not just on finding bad guys and evil companies
Tim Lelliott, Campbell River Mirror, April 3, 2013
Dear Graham Auger,
Although you believe that there is plenty of scientific evidence proving that diseases in wild salmon exist as a result of salmon farming on the BC coast, I regret to tell you that you are just plain wrong.
Fact: Salmon smolt must be certified disease free by licensed veterinarians before being moved from fresh water closed containment hatcheries to the ocean farms.
Fish health on all farms is strictly monitored throughout the life of the fish.
This ensures that the exposure that fish face from common, local pathogens does not cause a health issue to either the farm stock, or the surrounding environment.
The film, Salmon Confidential that you cite as proof, is riddled with outright false and misleading information. While the producers of Salmon Confidential seem very passionate about wild salmon, the dogmatic rhetoric continues to be erroneous.
A blog exposing the false claims in the video (http://salmonconfidential.com/busting-the-myths/) is a must read for anyone that truly wishes to educate themselves, not just be exposed to the emotional and unfounded views that are expressed.
While the anti salmon farm lobby continues to tell you that the removal of salmon farms from our coast is necessary, real scientific evidence shows otherwise.
The Cohen Commission did not find Salmon Farms to be responsible for declines in Pacific stocks.
Energy and passion would perhaps be better spent trying to understand all of the issues affecting wild salmon, and not just focus erroneously on finding the bad guys and evil corporations, pointing fingers without knowing all the facts.
Tim Lelliott
Grieg Seafood
Marc Wouters also responded to the letter by Graham Auger, His letter and the Auger letter are posted at:
http://www.farmfreshsalmon.org/get-your-facts-straight-about-farmed-and-wild-salmon and copied below for your referernce.
Get your facts straight
Marc Wouters, Campbell River Mirror, March 28, 2013
Re: “Plenty of evidence” (Mirror, March 27)
I have to say that I am glad that we live in a society that allows us public expression of our opinion without fear of ridicule.
However, if you are going to accuse industry operators of issues such as contributing to the extinction of wild salmon then I would please ask you to make sure you have your facts straight.
I have been working in the industry for over 25 years (in the field), and have seen first hand that these “diseases” you speak of were endemic to the environment, meaning that they were always there.
As far as “muzzling,” any time that we bring forward empirical scientific data to support our position Ms. (Alexandra) Morton refuses to acknowledge it. It makes for a hostile environment when one side of the debate is not even willing to hear scientific evidence brought forward by leading authorities.
I personally have no issue with members of the general public voicing concerns over issues of environmental impact. As a matter of fact, I see it as an excellent opportunity to gain a different perspective which may help us to improve/modify our practises to lessen our impact on the environment.
I do take offence however, with the minority of malcontents that want to generate an atmosphere of hostility through emotional appeal and rhetoric.
As mentioned earlier, I have been working in the industry for over 25 years and have seen it constantly evolving, improving practises to lessen environmental impact.
I also think that it is entirely possible to be a salmon farmer and an environmentalist.
I am proud to say that I contribute to providing a safe, healthy alternative to wild salmon.
Can Ms. Morton make that claim?
Marc Wouters
Campbell River
Here is the Letter Marc responded to:
Plenty of evidence
Graham Auger, Campbell River Mirror, March 26, 2013
Filed for publication with the Mirror
Dear. Prime Minister Stephen Harper,
I have recently watched the film “Salmon Confidential” produced by Twyla Roscovich about wild salmon acquiring diseases from salmon farms on the B.C. coast. I also saw on Global TV news that they have successfully made a closed containment operation near Port McNeil on Vancouver Island. I support the courageous work of Alexandra Morton who has worked tirelessly to have the open nets removed from the wild salmon migration routes on the B.C. coast in order to save the wild stocks of salmon,but has run into roadblock after roadblock from the fish farm companies and from your government that appears to be in the aquaculture industry’s pocket. I believe there is plenty of scientific evidence proving the diseases to wild salmon exist as a result of open net salmon farms.
Now that there is a closed containment model in operation – that could be expanded and would ensure saving our wild salmon from diseases that will ultimately spell their extinction – will your government move to close the open net farming operations or will you continue to block the way (Muzzling DFO scientists, refuting the clear evidence of disease in tests conducted by independent laboratories, denying the science and letting the wild salmon stocks disappear for good)?
Graham Auger
Campbell River
