April 11, 2014
The following is a recap of Letters to the Editor and News we found of interest this week.
Sickness Claims without Foundation
Colleen Dane, BCSFA, North Island Gazette, March 27, 2014
Re: Morton changes tactics in battle for salmon, March 6, 2014
Erroneous statements made during Alexandra Morton’s recent presentation in Port McNeill – and repeated in the North Island Gazette’s report of the event – need to be corrected for readers and community members.
Criticism of fish farms disheartening
Dave Pashley, North island Gazette, March 20, 2014
I am writing in reply to a news story (Morton changes tactics in battle for salmon) and editorial (Want Change? Make it) from the March 6th edition of the North Island Gazette.
It is extremely disappointing to see our community newspaper take a position against a sector that has done so much for the community and is responsible for so many jobs on the North Island.
News of Interest
First hydrogen peroxide treatment for sea lice in BC a success
Marine Harvest Canada, April 10, 2014
The first use of hydrogen peroxide in BC for control of sea lice has been completed with great success. The new treatment option, announced by Marine Harvest Canada in January, was applied to a group of the company’s salmon in March, and proved to be a very safe and effective method to reduce the level of sea lice on farm-raised salmon.
Marine Harvest seeks elusive panda
North Island Gazette, March 27, 2014
Port Hardy – In an effort to boost its marketability and assuage the concerns of critics. B.C.’s largest producer of farmed salmon is embarking on an effort to secure a coveted certification from the greenest of the environmental stewardship organizations…The newest certification and perhaps, the most difficult to achieve, according to Roberts - is the Aquaculture Stewardship Council certification, backed by the World Wildlife Federation and its distinctive panda bear logo.
Salmon farmer achieves gold sustainability standard
WWF congratulates Tasmanian salmon producer Tassal and its staff for becoming the first Australian producer of farmed seafood to achieve gold standard Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) certification
While the likes of the Monterey Bay Aquarium with its “red/yellow/green” pocket card proclaim that they are qualified to tell the world what constitutes a “sustainable farmed seafood”, they more often than not do not have the qualifications needed to provide a science-based justification for their ranking of farmed fish...Thanks to professional visionaries like Jason Clay of the World Wildlife Fund, a process has been established to examine the world salmon farming industry with all of its components as far as true sustainability is concerned.
See our post on PAA News for reference links and related articles: http://www.farmfreshsalmon.org/salmon-farmer-achieves-gold-sustainability-standard
