Harrison sockeye are a year younger
By Ian Roberts, Times Colonist, May 7, 2010
Re: "Wild salmon need public's support," April 29.
Columnist D.C. Reid has made several allegations about my business over the past months. Now he accuses B.C. salmon farms of being a lead factor responsible for the "disappearance" of Fraser River sockeye.
He says one stock of Fraser sockeye, the Harrison River, doesn't pass by fish farms and because this stock had healthy returns as compared to others, this is proof of his opinion.
"Case closed," he says.
I haven't met anyone who can say with 100 per cent accuracy where salmon swim.
Perhaps most important is the fact that Harrison sockeye are born a year later than most other sockeye that returned to rivers in 2009. They do not spend a year in freshwater like most other sockeye and swim out to the ocean immediately after hatching.
This difference leads to questions of freshwater survival.
Reid is welcome to express his own opinions, but he is not entitled to his own facts. The next time he attends a presentation that I am giving on my business, perhaps he should stay until the end and ask a thoughtful question or two.
Ian Roberts
Marine Harvest Canada
Campbell River
