A necessary evil
Courier-Islander, Friday, October 29, 2010
I have read many articles in your paper regarding the evils of fish farming, in particular about disease transfer and escapees, while also reading about the benefits of taking genetically unique fish from one river, hatching them in another, and then releasing them into the general population of yet another river...very confusing.
Since you brought up the economics of fish, it should be noted that although the area currently occupied by fish farms is under one percent of the size of farmland on or adjacent to the Fraser river delta, it's output makes farmed salmon B.C.'s most valuable agricultural export.
Just to be clear, the overwhelming majority of hatchery production is intend to be harvested for market. In Alaska, it is called ranching, but "open range farming" is a more appropriate title as most livestock that are "ranched" stay on the owner's ranch, however there are no fences in the ocean. I don't know about you, but I sure don't feel like sending any more of my money into American and international waters and hoping that all of the seafaring nations do the right thing.
Summarily dismissing the science of people with real degrees and embracing the propaganda from people without?
I think the people and the fish of B.C. deserve better Mr. Cameron. How can you be so opposed to one type of farming while singing the praises of another? Time to hike up those suspenders, your bias is showing.
Eric Becherer,
P.S. I do admit that the way the fishery is currently managed, that hatcheries are a necessary evil.
