Strength in marketing, not weight of evidence
By George Nichols, Times Colonist September 1, 2011
Duelling science is normal and quite healthy. But duelling science from the same authors is a bit strange.
The Times Colonist reported on Aug. 23 that new science published last month concludes that "Wild salmon deaths linked to sea lice at fish farms."
While the study states that B.C. salmon farms could be one of many sources of sea lice that may impact wild salmon, it also clearly states that sea lice are very well managed at B.C. salmon farms and "it is possible that other factors . may underlie our results."
Two authors of this study (Alexandra Morton and Martin Krkosek) also published a study in 2010 that concluded "The survival of the pink salmon cohort was not statistically different from a reference region without salmon farms."
This study also agreed with another study by Dr. Gary Marty et al.
The 2010 study was funded by a nonpartisan scientific body upon request, was not sent to media and cannot be found on either author's websites. This more recent study was funded by environmental groups, has been released through a marketing agency and published on several environmental activist sites.
Seems like perception isn't being swayed by weight of evidence, but rather strength in marketing.
George Nichols
Campbell River
Reference Link:
Sea lice dispersion and salmon survival in relation to salmon farm activity in the Broughton Archipelago
Oxford Journal, Ices Journal of Marine Science, October 2010
Alexandra Morton1, Rick Routledge2, Amy McConnell3 and Martin Krkošek1,4,*†
...The survival of the pink salmon cohort was not statistically different from a reference region without salmon farms.
http://icesjms.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2010/10/09/icesjms.fsq146.abstract
