Everyone has a hand in protecting salmon
By Mary Ellen Walling, Times Colonist April 28, 2012
Re: "It's time to take a stand for our wild salmon," April 26.
We agree - all of us in British Columbia need to lend a hand in the protection of wild salmon. Our iconic Pacific salmon face many challenges, some of which we as citizens can alleviate and control.
Effective federal and provincial management of salmon farming is part of that. Government has established clear, strong regulations, monitoring and auditing to ensure our farming practices are successfully protecting wild and farmraised fish. By doing this, government is enabling a business that is providing thousands of jobs and is important to many First Nations and coastal communities, while protecting the coast we all care about so deeply.
Together, we can protect wild salmon - and supporting our responsible aquaculture operators will be key to that in the future.
Mary Ellen Walling
Executive director B.C. Salmon Farmers Association Campbell River
Mary Ellen Walling responded to the following letter:
It's time to take a stand for our wild salmon
By Carolyn Wold, Times Colonist April 26, 2012
Wild salmon migrating through salmon-farm regions are dying and it is time for the B.C. government to take a stand before it is too late.
I understand that the federal government oversees the operation of fish farms but it is the province that holds their licenses of occupation. The source of the widespread occurrence of viruses that have been found appear to point at salmon farms. The wild salmon and the web of life they support are in danger and our provincial Government has the authority to resolve this crisis.
Salmon farms need to be moved out of the ocean, away from our wild salmon migration routes and on to dry land immediately.
Carolyn Wold
Victoria
