Abandoning science in favour of demagoguery
Campbell River Mirror, April 27, 2010
Anti-fish farm advocate Alexandra Morton brings her “Get Out Migration” to Campbell River today as part of her walk from Sointula to Victoria to rally support against salmon farming.
Morton has brought her mission to the heart of fish farming country. Although the city is quieter about it these days, it has in the past trumpeted itself as the centre of aquaculture production on the B.C. coast.
Salmon farming has been a lightning rod for environmentalist action for many years but it’s difficult for the layperson to make a definitive conclusion about whether its acceptable or not, environmentally.
Like any industry – any human endeavour – it has an impact on the environment as does agriculture, logging, high tech industries – everything. Is aquaculture any worse? It’s hard to say. But not for aquaculture opponents. Everybody says “listen to the science” but both sides throw around so many studies – of varying credibility – that it’s hard to draw conclusions.
So the arguments descend into emotion and that’s where Morton’s campaign draws its strength. “Salmonaresacred.org” – the name of her website – spiritualizes a fish species. How does that help the debate?
Morton herself is becoming a messianic figure, setting off on her trek surrounded by her cheering admirers. She places herself at the centre of the debate, abandoning science in favour of demagoguery.
She pigeonholes the unbelievers with terms like salmon are sacred, implying that if you support salmon farms, you don’t think salmon are important. That’s too blackand white.
Supporting salmon farms does not mean you’re against rebuilding wild salmon stocks – stocks devastated by over-fishing and habitat destruction.
So this issue is unlikely to find a resolution. You’ll either be for or against salmon farming and the industry and communities that rely on them for jobs would be best to ignore the pontificating and continue to seek practical solutions.
