Inaccuracies yet again
By Mary Ellen Walling, Courier-Islander October 14, 2011
Re: Muzzling Science and Scientist, Ray Grigg, Oct. 7 Courier-Islander.
Mr. Grigg's interpretation of the testimony at the Cohen commission is incorrect. Once again, he has clearly not done his homework and has not reviewed any of the transcripts himself.
It's as simple as this: when asked during her testimony if she was muzzled, Dr. Kristi Miller said she was not. While she was not allowed to speak to the media - she was still able to speak with colleagues (unlike what Mr. Grigg says) and continued her research.
The BC Salmon Farmers Association has been very open about the fact that we too wish she had been more able to speak with media - though we understand the importance of respecting the Cohen Commission process.
By not being able to speak to reporters, the results of her work have been grossly misconstrued. In her testimony, she made it very clear that the highest prevalence of the genomic signature was found in fish who spent the longest time in freshwater, and the signature was most notable in those who hadn't yet left their natal streams and lakes.
It was found in salmon that never pass a salmon farm.
Dr. Anthony Farrell - second author on the paper led by Dr. Miller and published in Science - wrote in an opinion piece in August: "A news headline early this year claimed a virus from farmed salmon is killing wild sockeye salmon in the Fraser River. As a co-author of the research cited as the headline's source, which appeared in the prestigious scientific journal Science, I can safely say our position was far more circumspect. Yet, somehow the headline stretched a discovery-phase hypothesis on a genomic expression signature associated with sockeye salmon to claim a virus had come from farmed salmon! Clearly, this is an illustration of the knowledge gap between science and public perception."
It was also made clear in Dr. Miller's testimony that BC's salmon farmers hadn't refused samples (as Mr. Grigg incorrectly states) and that industry continued to show a willingness to learn more about her work and co-operate where needed. We are talking with DFO now about how we can contribute to a research strategy around this information.
One more thing, Mr. Grigg: the farming of chinook salmon continues in British Columbia - unlike what you wrote. Companies continue to farm it on the east coast of Vancouver Island and on the west coast of the Island.
BC's salmon farmers understand that there are strong feelings regarding our operations but to encourage discussion they need to be based on correct information.
We continue to encourage this local paper - read by many people who work in the industry frustrated by the imbalanced and inaccurate coverage - to verify information and produce news stories about these topics rather than only incorrect columns.
We continue to hope the Courier-Islander staff will take their responsibility of accuracy more seriously in the future.
Mary Ellen Walling
Executive Director
BC Salmon Farmers
