Something terribly amiss in article
Courier-Islander, Wednesday, June 02, 2010
Something was seriously amiss with your article in last Friday's issue (Sea lice secrecy slammed): it was either seriously misplaced or it set a new record for non-information.
Perhaps it should have been included in the "old news" section - the pages of the Courier- Islander 15 years ago - as it referenced early debates about provincial government responsibility for managing salmon aquaculture. Terribly old news given that the next seven years saw the exhaustive and expensive provincial government's Salmon Aquaculture Review. That review resulted in new and comprehensive salmon farm regulations administered by both ministries that remain in effect to the present day.
Or maybe it was simply part of the reporter's apparent ongoing campaign to promote the voice of controversy; determined to promote a thread bare agenda against BC salmon farming while ignoring its steady progress towards sustainability. To suggest that no positive changes have occurred in the business of salmon farming since 1995 is simply absurd.
Perhaps its time that reporter Dan McLennan find the time to actually visit a salmon farm and check on the information sent to him as fact by the protesters before it goes to print. Salmon farms are anything but secret about their business. They are parked right out in the open and available to arrange a visit almost any day of the week. Marine Harvest Canada's website has continuous reporting about the environmental monitoring practices, fish health procedures and sea lice control and we are always happy to show off our vibrant, high quality and healthy fish. You would only have to call.
In fact we invite all interested North Island resident to come and see a salmon farm for themselves. Farm tours are starting soon and can be arranged by contacting BC Salmon Farmers Member and Community Relations officer David Minato.
Clare Backman,
Marine Harvest Canada
