Wild Salmon Alliance – Something New, Something Big – BC Tipping Point, Updated April 28, 2016

Go through the images and attached text to the aboriginal alliance that was formed April 16 – 18, 2016 in BC: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1806588059569747&set=a.1806625359566017&type=3&theater. 

The Alliance is new and integrates a lot of backgrounds: Dr. Brian Riddell, PSF, Dr. Kristi Miller, DFO, Dr. Jonathan Moore, SFU, biologist, Stan Proboszcz, Watershed Watch, lawyer Lisa Glowacki, lawyer Brenda Gaertner, representatives from Lax Kw'alaam settlement on Lelu Island, heading to Ottawa, Eric Hobson, representing Kuterra, Dan Lewis, Clayoquot Action (that went to Norway, in Jan, 2016), Alexandra Morton, Chief Bob Chamberlin, Chief Tyrone McNeil (moderator for the event) and Chief Darrell Bob. They spoke for two days to a packed university lecture hall.

This looks like and sounds like those of us in BC – First Nations and others – starting to rise up and take over responsibility for wild salmon here on our own ground and water. Earlier this spring, you will recall that the Sliammon (Powell River) and Heiltsuk (Bella Bella) told DFO it was doing the same thing with herring in their areas – taking over management, for good – to bring back the herring into good numbers, in their eyes. Last fall, the Ahousaht told Cermaq to take out the Yaakswiis, Clayoquot Sound fish farm, and Cermaq did. 

Read the text on the overhead projections in the slides. Fish farms are going to be out of the water in due course. This is a BC tipping point, just as it was in Norway last fall: http://fishfarmnews.blogspot.ca/2015/12/key-document-tipping-point-goodbye-in.html. 

In Short: “Wild Salmon Alliance - no government funding - to develop an unwavering First Nation position for the protection of healthy wild salmon by bringing Nations together, enlisting the best science and with support from environmental groups who carry the message further speaking Nation to Nation with Canada for future generations http://www.fnwildsalmon.org/ — with Sacheen Seitcham, Arthur Manuel, Dini Ze Toghestiy and 27 others.”

DFO is moribund, particularly disdained in BC for handing out 9-year licenses in a province where the only solution the public will accept is: fish farms out of the water, or they can go back to Norway with its $9- to $12-million subsidy to - wait for it - set up on land.

Here is the Declaration: http://www.fnwildsalmon.org/. 

Wild Salmon Forever

A DECLARATION OF THE FIRST NATIONS OF BRITISH COLUMBIA

We, the Indigenous leaders of British Columbia, come together united in our resolve, determination and commitment to ensure the protection and conservation of wild salmon. Wild Salmon - our relative and an intrinsic part of our territories to which we hold a spiritual and cultural connection to is integral to the culture, and well-being of our communities and families. We recognize, honour, and respect that wild salmon is sacred, and we have an inherent stewardship responsibility to take care of this resource accordance with our traditional knowledge, laws and ways of life.

As Indigenous Peoples of these territories we stand together to declare:

• Wild Salmon is a sacred gift from the Creator that gives, sustains and nurtures our communities and families;
• We have Aboriginal Title, Rights and Treaty Rights to our lands, water and resources and that we will exercise our collective and inherent authorities and jurisdictions over these lands, water and resources, including wild salmon;
• Our rights include the right to sustainably fish wild salmon and continue with the expectation that abundance and healthy stocks will continue to benefit the generations to follow. These rights also include the right to protect the wild salmon and the aquatic habitat that supports the stocks and to share this significant resource with those who share our traditional lands and upon whom they depend;
• We have a sacred responsibility to protect wild salmon for our people today and for our future generations;
• We have an inherent stewardship responsibility for the protection and conservation of wild salmon within our respective territories; and,
• We endorse the United Nations Declaration on the Rights and Indigenous Peoples and other international standards aimed at ensuring the sustainability and protection of our wild salmon.

As Indigenous Peoples of these territories we stand together to commit to the following actions:

• Stand united with each other in protecting our Aboriginal Title, Rights and Treaty rights to wild salmon in our respective territories;
• Work towards the protection and stewardship of wild salmon in the face of many challenges;
• Work towards a unified strategy for the protection, conservation and enhancement of wild salmon stocks, their reproductive areas and their migratory routes;
• Work together as the First Nations Wild Salmon Alliance and to speak with a common voice for the protection and conservation and enhancement of wild salmon throughout British Columbia;
• Recognize and respect each Nation’s autonomy and support each other in exercising our respective Title, Rights and jurisdiction; and,
• Work together to uphold this Declaration.

As Indigenous Peoples we have the inherent obligation and duty to defend and protect the well-being of our communities through the protection and conservation of wild salmon within our territories. We welcome other First Nations to support this Declaration if they so choose.

Now, go and sign petition e-270 in Ottawa to get fish farms out of the ocean: https://petitions.parl.gc.ca/en/Petition/Details?Petition=e-270.

The four major problems with wild Pacific salmon are: freshwater habitat, DFO, fish farms from Norway and climate change.

Diseased Dead Fish Videos - Atlantic Canada

Go take a look at the number of diseased dead fish that are loaded onto this boat for destroying: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVRjCOWr50o.

Ten bags, and perhaps a hundred half kg dead farmed salmon each.

Then take a look at the dozen or so videos that have been filmed.

Now, go and sign that petition, e-270 to have the Trudeau, environmental damage government, take them out: https://petitions.parl.gc.ca/en/Petition/Details?Petition=e-270.

Furor in Newfoundland - Grieg Seafood Mega Farm

The Newfoundland public is overwhelmingly against in-ocean fish farms, and it looks like, again, in NL as in BC, Minister Hunter Tootoo, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau are standing around doing nothing as citizens try to reduce damage to the Canadian environment on their own. Not good.

Take a look at this strongly worded article:  http://www.nationalobserver.com/2016/03/16/news/fish-farm-proposal-sparks-furor-newfoundland.

And remember that those who love Canada's wilderness and wild fish go to the e-270 Petition on the Federal Government's site to sign against in-ocean fish farms and for on-land fish farms - this is a Liberal MP sponsored petition. As of April 22, almost 6500 Canadians have signed against fish farms: https://petitions.parl.gc.ca/en/Petition/Details?Petition=e-270.Stand up for wild fish, the ocean and the environment.

That is what is needed in NL Not mega farms. Here is an updated article from Ap 22, 2016:

April 20, 2016, 10:22 pm 

Undercurrent News

 

Norway-based Grieg Group and Canada's Ocean Choice International have signed a memorandum of understanding with the government of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador to establish a salmon farm in the province.

The salmon farm, the plan for which was first announced in October 2015, will be established in the Placentia Bay and Burin Peninsula area of Newfoundland and will be the "world's largest land-based fish farm" and will produce over 7,000 metric tons of medium-sized salmon annually, according to a letter from Per Grieg, Jr.

After the fish are grown to full size in the sea cages in Placentia Bay, the total production is planned to reach 30,000t. The companies expect to deliver the first fish to market in 2019, according to the letter from Grieg, who's family is also the main shareholder in salmon farming group Grieg Seafood.
The company admitted that establishing a salmon farm in the area has been a controversial topic, but said that the project will follow the Norwegian model where "the industry uses large resources to avoid negative incidences".

Comment: It is surprising that Grieg says what it knows to be untrue. The recent book by Kjersti Sanvik details the drastic environmental damage caused by it and other companies in Norway, and the conflict of interest between private and public and science in the country.

It is quite shocking. The several decade long experience is that once the companies become listed on stock exchanges and thus responsible to shareholders, they argue again and again against government attempts to get them to do the right thing.

In fact, right now the same companies, including Grieg Seafood, are being offered free licenses to set up on land in Norway, a $9- to $12-million subsidy per license, based on the in-ocean price, because Norway is fed up with the in-ocean degradation. And the companies are trying to snap up offshore licenses because there isn't much the public can do about a 'farm' they can't see. In other words, they don't want to come out of the water.

There are several posts from Sandvik's book on this site. Here is one to get you going: http://fishfarmnews.blogspot.ca/2016/04/under-surface-kjersti-sandvik-6.html. I will do more. Glydendal is the publisher and if you speak Norwegian, and stand for wild fish and the environment, buy it.

Here is the litany of problems with Canadian Cooke Aquaculture that operates in NL and other places: http://fishfarmnews.blogspot.ca/2016/04/cooke-aquaculture-typical.html.

And go look at my News Bites article that documents the problems with fish farms/seafood industry around the globe, some 410 problems so far this year, including Grief Seafood: http://fishfarmnews.blogspot.ca/2015/07/key-document-fish-farm-news-bites.html.

Liberals Don't Protect the Ocean Environment better than the Conservatives? - Updated April 19, 2016

It would be a major disappointment if Fisheries and Oceans Canada, known as DFO, including Minister Hunter Tootoo, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau who came in on a message of change turned out to be the same as the Stephen Harper Conservatives that Canadians got rid of, when it came to environmental issues such as getting fish farms out of the ocean and put on land, just as the country where they - Marine Harvest, Cermaq, and Grieg Seafood - are from, Norway, is getting them out of the water by offering free on-land licenses, a $9- to $12-million subsidy compared with the in-ocean auctioned license cost.

Norway is fed up with the environmental degradation, just as Canadians from coast to coast are.

Things have been so positive since the Liberals came to office, that it grieves me to think they may be just as bad as the Conservatives on environmental issues. Go look at the Nova Scotia petition to get fish farms out of their ocean: https://petitions.parl.gc.ca/en/Petition/Details?Petition=e-270. Now going on 6000 names. Please sign it.

And go look at my News Bites post and scan the boldfacing for the global news on problems with the industry. It is pretty shocking what happens daily in the fish farm/seafood industry around the globe: http://fishfarmnews.blogspot.ca/2015/07/key-document-fish-farm-news-bites.html.

We were told that scientists could speak to the public and media. We were told that Canada would be protected coast to coast to coast, and that the environment would be protected.

But the following letter that came my way seems to show that DFO and Hunter Tootoo aren't interested in what the public wants and what it was told when they elected the Liberals and turfed Harper. I hate to be the bearer of bad news on something that all Canadians thought would be a positive change from the dark decade of Conservative rule and non-transparency.

Read:

April 5, 2016
To the Honourable Minister Hunter Tootoo Min.XNCR@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
Thank you for your response of April 5, 2016. I am sorry that you won’t meet with me. I would like to better state my case.
Indeed, you have been given an excellent mandate, but I have reason for concern that the bureaucratic structure you inherited may be having difficulty making the transition. As a result, I feel it would benefit Canadians for you to hear directly from people like myself who are on the frontlines of fisheries research in Canada.
Here is my evidence:
First as you note, a DFO scientist did communicate with my co-authors regarding the paper “Discovery of variant infectious salmon anaemia virus (ISAV) of European genotype in British Columbia, Canada.” However, are you aware that Virology Journal was asked by a DFO scientist to “retract” the paper? 
Ideally, debate on scientific publications is public, to the benefit of science and society. But in this case DFO sought to quietly remove the paper from public view.
This is precisely the sort of disregard for scientific process that Canadian scientists were so hopeful would cease with the election of your Liberal government.
Second, regarding my opportunity to meet with DFO to discuss the state of scientific knowledge on farm-origin sea lice and wild salmon. As my colleagues and I sat through that meeting, DFO failed to reveal they had evidence that drug resistance was developing in sea lice in Musgamagw Dzawda’enuxw territory before the 2015 outbreak that killed ~ 20% of the salmon leaving the rivers of their territory.
This lack of transparency is signature behaviour of the previous government with First Nations and Canadians suffering direct negative consequences.
Third, do you realize that the Minister of Fisheries is named as co-appellant with Marine Harvest in appealing a lawsuit that struck down portions of the DFO transfer permit? Specifically, the court ruled that the salmon farming industry must not be permitted to transfer young farmed salmon infected with disease-causing pathogens into marine net pens. The judge ruled such a transfer contravenes the Fisheries Act.
Where is the valid scientific argument to allow millions of Atlantic salmon infected with disease – causing pathogens to be placed in the migration routes of wild Pacific salmon that are so important to Canadians and are in critical decline?
This appeal was initiated during the previous government and I cannot reconcile DFO’s continued participation with your mandate.  Please drop this appeal or explain to Canadians how disease-carrying Atlantic salmon on Pacific salmon migration routes is a scientifically sound benefit to us.
These are some of the issues I had hoped to speak with you about, as well as, the risks DFO is taking that threaten trade in Canadian seafood.
In fairness to your staff, I suspect it is confusing to receive a new mandate when the day-to-day pressures on the ground remain the same. That is why it is critical that you do not insulate yourself from scientists.
Minister Tootoo there are remarkable advances that resolve the endless turmoil of salmon farm impact on wild salmon. These advances benefit the economy, would make Canada a leader in aquaculture and wild fish restoration and pioneer an honest, respectful, cooperative relationship with the First Nations of Canada.   These are very real solutions, some buried and muted within your own department. Clearly there are problems. BC’s wild fisheries are in serious trouble while salmon farming is facing catastrophic social and ecological issues globally.
Respectfully, I feel you need to crack open the doors and windows and allow in fresh ideas and enthusiasm. Speak with scientists who embrace the brilliant mandate you have been given and explore a better way for Canada to prosper from her rich coastlines. Status quo appears blind to what is now possible.
Minister Hunter Tootoo, I suspect you have not been accurately briefed on me or the thousands of people who share my view that we could have a much better relationship with the salmon that built the soil of this province and feed the trees that make the oxygen we breath.
Department of Wild Salmon is a concept that brings together First Nation Fishery teams, DFO’s capacity for genomic profiling and Canadian university mathematical modellers to embark on the first ever truly adaptive management of wild fish. It would make Canada a leader and bring prosperity to Canadians.
All that I ask is that you hear what is possible. Please meet with me.
Respectfully,
Alexandra Morton, Gwayum’dzi
- See more at: http://alexandramorton.typepad.com/alexandra_morton/2016/04/open-letter-to-the-honourable-minister-hunter-tootoo.html#sthash.dRiYGBnN.dpuf

April 5, 2016
To the Honourable Minister Hunter Tootoo Min.XNCR@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
Thank you for your response of April 5, 2016. I am sorry that you won’t meet with me. I would like to better state my case.
Indeed, you have been given an excellent mandate, but I have reason for concern that the bureaucratic structure you inherited may be having difficulty making the transition. As a result, I feel it would benefit Canadians for you to hear directly from people like myself who are on the frontlines of fisheries research in Canada.
Here is my evidence:
First as you note, a DFO scientist did communicate with my co-authors regarding the paper “Discovery of variant infectious salmon anaemia virus (ISAV) of European genotype in British Columbia, Canada.” However, are you aware that Virology Journal was asked by a DFO scientist to “retract” the paper? 
Ideally, debate on scientific publications is public, to the benefit of science and society. But in this case DFO sought to quietly remove the paper from public view.
This is precisely the sort of disregard for scientific process that Canadian scientists were so hopeful would cease with the election of your Liberal government.
Second, regarding my opportunity to meet with DFO to discuss the state of scientific knowledge on farm-origin sea lice and wild salmon. As my colleagues and I sat through that meeting, DFO failed to reveal they had evidence that drug resistance was developing in sea lice in Musgamagw Dzawda’enuxw territory before the 2015 outbreak that killed ~ 20% of the salmon leaving the rivers of their territory.
This lack of transparency is signature behaviour of the previous government with First Nations and Canadians suffering direct negative consequences.
Third, do you realize that the Minister of Fisheries is named as co-appellant with Marine Harvest in appealing a lawsuit that struck down portions of the DFO transfer permit? Specifically, the court ruled that the salmon farming industry must not be permitted to transfer young farmed salmon infected with disease-causing pathogens into marine net pens. The judge ruled such a transfer contravenes the Fisheries Act.
Where is the valid scientific argument to allow millions of Atlantic salmon infected with disease – causing pathogens to be placed in the migration routes of wild Pacific salmon that are so important to Canadians and are in critical decline?
This appeal was initiated during the previous government and I cannot reconcile DFO’s continued participation with your mandate.  Please drop this appeal or explain to Canadians how disease-carrying Atlantic salmon on Pacific salmon migration routes is a scientifically sound benefit to us.
These are some of the issues I had hoped to speak with you about, as well as, the risks DFO is taking that threaten trade in Canadian seafood.
In fairness to your staff, I suspect it is confusing to receive a new mandate when the day-to-day pressures on the ground remain the same. That is why it is critical that you do not insulate yourself from scientists.
Minister Tootoo there are remarkable advances that resolve the endless turmoil of salmon farm impact on wild salmon. These advances benefit the economy, would make Canada a leader in aquaculture and wild fish restoration and pioneer an honest, respectful, cooperative relationship with the First Nations of Canada.   These are very real solutions, some buried and muted within your own department. Clearly there are problems. BC’s wild fisheries are in serious trouble while salmon farming is facing catastrophic social and ecological issues globally.
Respectfully, I feel you need to crack open the doors and windows and allow in fresh ideas and enthusiasm. Speak with scientists who embrace the brilliant mandate you have been given and explore a better way for Canada to prosper from her rich coastlines. Status quo appears blind to what is now possible.
Minister Hunter Tootoo, I suspect you have not been accurately briefed on me or the thousands of people who share my view that we could have a much better relationship with the salmon that built the soil of this province and feed the trees that make the oxygen we breath.
Department of Wild Salmon is a concept that brings together First Nation Fishery teams, DFO’s capacity for genomic profiling and Canadian university mathematical modellers to embark on the first ever truly adaptive management of wild fish. It would make Canada a leader and bring prosperity to Canadians.
All that I ask is that you hear what is possible. Please meet with me.
Respectfully,
Alexandra Morton, Gwayum’dzi
- See more at: http://alexandramorton.typepad.com/alexandra_morton/2016/04/open-letter-to-the-honourable-minister-hunter-tootoo.html#sthash.dRiYGBnN.dpuf

April 5, 2016
To the Honourable Minister Hunter Tootoo Min.XNCR@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
Thank you for your response of April 5, 2016. I am sorry that you won’t meet with me. I would like to better state my case.
Indeed, you have been given an excellent mandate, but I have reason for concern that the bureaucratic structure you inherited may be having difficulty making the transition. As a result, I feel it would benefit Canadians for you to hear directly from people like myself who are on the frontlines of fisheries research in Canada.
Here is my evidence:
First as you note, a DFO scientist did communicate with my co-authors regarding the paper “Discovery of variant infectious salmon anaemia virus (ISAV) of European genotype in British Columbia, Canada.” However, are you aware that Virology Journal was asked by a DFO scientist to “retract” the paper? 
Ideally, debate on scientific publications is public, to the benefit of science and society. But in this case DFO sought to quietly remove the paper from public view.
This is precisely the sort of disregard for scientific process that Canadian scientists were so hopeful would cease with the election of your Liberal government.
Second, regarding my opportunity to meet with DFO to discuss the state of scientific knowledge on farm-origin sea lice and wild salmon. As my colleagues and I sat through that meeting, DFO failed to reveal they had evidence that drug resistance was developing in sea lice in Musgamagw Dzawda’enuxw territory before the 2015 outbreak that killed ~ 20% of the salmon leaving the rivers of their territory.
This lack of transparency is signature behaviour of the previous government with First Nations and Canadians suffering direct negative consequences.
Third, do you realize that the Minister of Fisheries is named as co-appellant with Marine Harvest in appealing a lawsuit that struck down portions of the DFO transfer permit? Specifically, the court ruled that the salmon farming industry must not be permitted to transfer young farmed salmon infected with disease-causing pathogens into marine net pens. The judge ruled such a transfer contravenes the Fisheries Act.
Where is the valid scientific argument to allow millions of Atlantic salmon infected with disease – causing pathogens to be placed in the migration routes of wild Pacific salmon that are so important to Canadians and are in critical decline?
This appeal was initiated during the previous government and I cannot reconcile DFO’s continued participation with your mandate.  Please drop this appeal or explain to Canadians how disease-carrying Atlantic salmon on Pacific salmon migration routes is a scientifically sound benefit to us.
These are some of the issues I had hoped to speak with you about, as well as, the risks DFO is taking that threaten trade in Canadian seafood.
In fairness to your staff, I suspect it is confusing to receive a new mandate when the day-to-day pressures on the ground remain the same. That is why it is critical that you do not insulate yourself from scientists.
Minister Tootoo there are remarkable advances that resolve the endless turmoil of salmon farm impact on wild salmon. These advances benefit the economy, would make Canada a leader in aquaculture and wild fish restoration and pioneer an honest, respectful, cooperative relationship with the First Nations of Canada.   These are very real solutions, some buried and muted within your own department. Clearly there are problems. BC’s wild fisheries are in serious trouble while salmon farming is facing catastrophic social and ecological issues globally.
Respectfully, I feel you need to crack open the doors and windows and allow in fresh ideas and enthusiasm. Speak with scientists who embrace the brilliant mandate you have been given and explore a better way for Canada to prosper from her rich coastlines. Status quo appears blind to what is now possible.
Minister Hunter Tootoo, I suspect you have not been accurately briefed on me or the thousands of people who share my view that we could have a much better relationship with the salmon that built the soil of this province and feed the trees that make the oxygen we breath.
Department of Wild Salmon is a concept that brings together First Nation Fishery teams, DFO’s capacity for genomic profiling and Canadian university mathematical modellers to embark on the first ever truly adaptive management of wild fish. It would make Canada a leader and bring prosperity to Canadians.
All that I ask is that you hear what is possible. Please meet with me.
Respectfully,
Alexandra Morton, Gwayum’dzi
- See more at: http://alexandramorton.typepad.com/alexandra_morton/2016/04/open-letter-to-the-honourable-minister-hunter-tootoo.html#sthash.dRiYGBnN.dpuf

April 5, 2016
To the Honourable Minister Hunter Tootoo Min.XNCR@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
Thank you for your response of April 5, 2016. I am sorry that you won’t meet with me. I would like to better state my case.
Indeed, you have been given an excellent mandate, but I have reason for concern that the bureaucratic structure you inherited may be having difficulty making the transition. As a result, I feel it would benefit Canadians for you to hear directly from people like myself who are on the frontlines of fisheries research in Canada.
Here is my evidence:
First as you note, a DFO scientist did communicate with my co-authors regarding the paper “Discovery of variant infectious salmon anaemia virus (ISAV) of European genotype in British Columbia, Canada.” However, are you aware that Virology Journal was asked by a DFO scientist to “retract” the paper? 
Ideally, debate on scientific publications is public, to the benefit of science and society. But in this case DFO sought to quietly remove the paper from public view.
This is precisely the sort of disregard for scientific process that Canadian scientists were so hopeful would cease with the election of your Liberal government.
Second, regarding my opportunity to meet with DFO to discuss the state of scientific knowledge on farm-origin sea lice and wild salmon. As my colleagues and I sat through that meeting, DFO failed to reveal they had evidence that drug resistance was developing in sea lice in Musgamagw Dzawda’enuxw territory before the 2015 outbreak that killed ~ 20% of the salmon leaving the rivers of their territory.
This lack of transparency is signature behaviour of the previous government with First Nations and Canadians suffering direct negative consequences.
Third, do you realize that the Minister of Fisheries is named as co-appellant with Marine Harvest in appealing a lawsuit that struck down portions of the DFO transfer permit? Specifically, the court ruled that the salmon farming industry must not be permitted to transfer young farmed salmon infected with disease-causing pathogens into marine net pens. The judge ruled such a transfer contravenes the Fisheries Act.
Where is the valid scientific argument to allow millions of Atlantic salmon infected with disease – causing pathogens to be placed in the migration routes of wild Pacific salmon that are so important to Canadians and are in critical decline?
This appeal was initiated during the previous government and I cannot reconcile DFO’s continued participation with your mandate.  Please drop this appeal or explain to Canadians how disease-carrying Atlantic salmon on Pacific salmon migration routes is a scientifically sound benefit to us.
These are some of the issues I had hoped to speak with you about, as well as, the risks DFO is taking that threaten trade in Canadian seafood.
In fairness to your staff, I suspect it is confusing to receive a new mandate when the day-to-day pressures on the ground remain the same. That is why it is critical that you do not insulate yourself from scientists.
Minister Tootoo there are remarkable advances that resolve the endless turmoil of salmon farm impact on wild salmon. These advances benefit the economy, would make Canada a leader in aquaculture and wild fish restoration and pioneer an honest, respectful, cooperative relationship with the First Nations of Canada.   These are very real solutions, some buried and muted within your own department. Clearly there are problems. BC’s wild fisheries are in serious trouble while salmon farming is facing catastrophic social and ecological issues globally.
Respectfully, I feel you need to crack open the doors and windows and allow in fresh ideas and enthusiasm. Speak with scientists who embrace the brilliant mandate you have been given and explore a better way for Canada to prosper from her rich coastlines. Status quo appears blind to what is now possible.
Minister Hunter Tootoo, I suspect you have not been accurately briefed on me or the thousands of people who share my view that we could have a much better relationship with the salmon that built the soil of this province and feed the trees that make the oxygen we breath.
Department of Wild Salmon is a concept that brings together First Nation Fishery teams, DFO’s capacity for genomic profiling and Canadian university mathematical modellers to embark on the first ever truly adaptive management of wild fish. It would make Canada a leader and bring prosperity to Canadians.
All that I ask is that you hear what is possible. Please meet with me.
Respectfully,
Alexandra Morton, Gwayum’dzi
- See more at: http://alexandramorton.typepad.com/alexandra_morton/2016/04/open-letter-to-the-honourable-minister-hunter-tootoo.html#sthash.dRiYGBnN.dpuf

April 5, 2016

To the Honourable Minister Hunter Tootoo Min.XNCR@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Thank you for your response of April 5, 2016. I am sorry that you won’t meet with me. I would like to better state my case.

Indeed, you have been given an excellent mandate, but I have reason for concern that the bureaucratic structure you inherited may be having difficulty making the transition. As a result, I feel it would benefit Canadians for you to hear directly from people like myself who are on the frontlines of fisheries research in Canada.

Here is my evidence:

First as you note, a DFO scientist did communicate with my co-authors regarding the paper “Discovery of variant infectious salmon anaemia virus (ISAV) of European genotype in British Columbia, Canada.” However, are you aware that Virology Journal was asked by a DFO scientist to “retract” the paper? 

Ideally, debate on scientific publications is public, to the benefit of science and society. But in this case DFO sought to quietly remove the paper from public view.

This is precisely the sort of disregard for scientific process that Canadian scientists were so hopeful would cease with the election of your Liberal government.

Second, regarding my opportunity to meet with DFO to discuss the state of scientific knowledge on farm-origin sea lice and wild salmon. As my colleagues and I sat through that meeting, DFO failed to reveal they had evidence that drug resistance was developing in sea lice in Musgamagw Dzawda’enuxw territory before the 2015 outbreak that killed ~ 20% of the salmon leaving the rivers of their territory.

This lack of transparency is signature behaviour of the previous government with First Nations and Canadians suffering direct negative consequences.

Third, do you realize that the Minister of Fisheries is named as co-appellant with Marine Harvest in appealing a lawsuit that struck down portions of the DFO transfer permit? Specifically, the court ruled that the salmon farming industry must not be permitted to transfer young farmed salmon infected with disease-causing pathogens into marine net pens. The judge ruled such a transfer contravenes the Fisheries Act.

Where is the valid scientific argument to allow millions of Atlantic salmon infected with disease – causing pathogens to be placed in the migration routes of wild Pacific salmon that are so important to Canadians and are in critical decline?

This appeal was initiated during the previous government and I cannot reconcile DFO’s continued participation with your mandate.  Please drop this appeal or explain to Canadians how disease-carrying Atlantic salmon on Pacific salmon migration routes is a scientifically sound benefit to us.

These are some of the issues I had hoped to speak with you about, as well as, the risks DFO is taking that threaten trade in Canadian seafood.

In fairness to your staff, I suspect it is confusing to receive a new mandate when the day-to-day pressures on the ground remain the same. That is why it is critical that you do not insulate yourself from scientists.

Minister Tootoo there are remarkable advances that resolve the endless turmoil of salmon farm impact on wild salmon. These advances benefit the economy, would make Canada a leader in aquaculture and wild fish restoration and pioneer an honest, respectful, cooperative relationship with the First Nations of Canada.   These are very real solutions, some buried and muted within your own department. Clearly there are problems. BC’s wild fisheries are in serious trouble while salmon farming is facing catastrophic social and ecological issues globally.

Respectfully, I feel you need to crack open the doors and windows and allow in fresh ideas and enthusiasm. Speak with scientists who embrace the brilliant mandate you have been given and explore a better way for Canada to prosper from her rich coastlines. Status quo appears blind to what is now possible.

Minister Hunter Tootoo, I suspect you have not been accurately briefed on me or the thousands of people who share my view that we could have a much better relationship with the salmon that built the soil of this province and feed the trees that make the oxygen we breath.

Department of Wild Salmon is a concept that brings together First Nation Fishery teams, DFO’s capacity for genomic profiling and Canadian university mathematical modellers to embark on the first ever truly adaptive management of wild fish. It would make Canada a leader and bring prosperity to Canadians.

All that I ask is that you hear what is possible. Please meet with me.

Respectfully,

Alexandra Morton, Gwayum’dzi

See: http://alexandramorton.typepad.com/alexandra_morton/2016/04/open-letter-to-the-honourable-minister-hunter-tootoo.html.

                                                                 ***

For her decades of tireless work on behalf of wild BC salmon, Alexandra Morton should receive the Order of Canada.