Positive Aquaculture Awareness
NEWS RELEASE
Aquaculture Group Reminds Public of Failed Doomsday Prophecies
For Immediate Release:
Campbell River – September 09, 2010 – While British Columbia’s higher than expected wild salmon returns are keeping sport and commercial fishers busy this season, a grassroots aquaculture group is reminding the public of inaccurate statements made by anti-salmon farming activists.
“For years the public and media have been inundated with inaccurate claims of salmon extinction,” says Cory Percevault, President of Positive Aquaculture Awareness. “First it was pink salmon, but they’ve decided to return in droves. Last year, salmon farms were singled out by some as responsible for diminishing Fraser River sockeye, but this year we see BC sockeye return in massive numbers.”
"Doomsday for wild salmon - supposedly caused by the transfer of disease and sea lice from salmon farms to juvenile wild salmon - has never materialized."
Similar claims of sea lice effects on juvenile sockeye salmon have been repeated over the past few years. No science has ever backed up this accusation. With this year’s banner returns, it seems that the fish have also ignored these exaggerated claims.
“Wild salmon returns have always been cyclical and this means there are years of high returns and also low returns. It’s important for the public to remember that salmon farms have operated throughout the years.” Percevault says. “Regardless of the year, BC salmon farms are highly regulated, consistently well managed and production amounts have remained stable from one year to the next.”
Positive Aquaculture Awareness is a grassroots group of aquaculture workers and suppliers interested in promoting awareness of BC’s important aquaculture industry through education and community involvement. www.aquaculturefacts.org
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