First Nations Call for Closed Containment

See: http://nationtalk.ca/story/fnfc-open-net-pen-fish-farms-are-endangering-wild-salmon-bc-first-nations-call-for-transition-to-closed-containment-systems.

Here is what the FN are saying:

"the FNFC has heard from the vast majority of nations that fish farms cannot be supported.

“While we recognize that some First Nations seek economic returns through arrangements with some of these companies, the diseases and pathogens introduced by finfish farms pose too much risk in the ocean environment and our already struggling wild salmon populations, and cannot be supported by the Fisheries Council” said FNFC President Ken Malloway. “We do support the notion of transitioning these types of enterprises to land based, closed containment systems."

On this issue, here is what I have to say:

BC First Nations demand removal of all open net pen fish farms

This is the most important occurrence toward getting fish farms on-land, so far.

Aboriginals, after 30 years of complaint in BC, are actually putting their foot down on that the farms must be gotten out of the water. They vow to stay on the two farms until they are out.

The other things that go along with this are: DFO, in Ottawa, got burned in Burnt Church, and no longer wishes to quarrel with aboriginals; and the Delgamukw and Sparrow decisions paved the way for the most significant decision, the Tsilhqut’n regarding lands and waters in BC. The UBCIC, i.e., BC Indian chiefs, from my back and forth with them, are well aware of this. Hopefully, DFO and the feds lose.

It is not true that the WA escape led to the BC First Nation occupy movement. The two happened at roughly the same time, but the BC action was started concurrent with the Sea Shepherd sailing to record fish farm diseases, and the trip started in July.

Some stats on the low jobs and low revenue in fish farms are here: https://fishfarmnews.blogspot.ca/2017/09/fish-farms-are-small-in-bc-jobs-and.html. Use the percentages to scale down DFO estimates in Atlantic Canada. Just so you know, the BC Stats report was for DFO and its name is on the cover, but DFO has refused to use the figures, using only Stats Can figures because they are higher. BC Stats started with the Stats Can figures and refined them, resulting in lower jobs and revenue. And, yes, look at the table and note that all aquaculture revenue is only 9.3% of the saltwater fish revenue. Look at how low the salary bill is as well, contributing to the low GDP effect.

Fish Farms Are Small in BC - Jobs and Revenue - Fin Donnelly, Time to Wake Up, Updated Sept 14, 2017 fishfarmnews.blogspot.ca Hi Fin Donnelly I have to point out to you, again, that fish farms are not about jobs and revenue, and they are not a big part of t...

On a related issue, it is fair to say that British Columbians lost faith in DFO a very long time ago, and it seems they are intentionally managing wild Pacific salmon into extinction, rather than freshwater habitat restoration, the solution. My calculation is that BC’s salmon averaged 73 million fish in the ocean before fisheries in the recent past, but DFO, in Ottawa’s, take is ‘any fish is a good fish’ (Otto Langer, former DFO scientist), even though this is 99.8% of all the wild salmon in Canada. Sad, as Mr. T would say.

D

Tracking the Tassal Disaster - Tasmania, MacQuarie Harbour, Updated Sept 16, 2017

In a major timeline of fish farm problems in MacQuarie Harbour from the heady halcyon days before the farms to the end of an asphyxiated, sewage-laden harbour, ABC News has gathered together a long list of stories over the years, detailing the problems in the industry, mostly from Tassal.

See: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-06-08/how-salmon-farming-got-to-push-macquarie-harbour-to-the-limit/8349342.

Do go to the site and scroll down the stories. This is more than 30 years of a disaster slowly building. This is the way fish farms work: they start out okay, but as the sea gets polluted, the problems start happening and keep getting worse until fish die (not to mention the wild fish).

Even after 30 years, the EPA, has approved Tassal using, get this, a tarp under the pen to collect sewage, not a closed container, not on land. There isn't much point putting a napkin under a feedlot.

Here are a few links, of the 30 years of articles on the environmental damage in MacQuarie Harbour on the site:

June 30, 1986: Tasmania's first Atlantic salmon harvest: Noraqua, a Norwegian company operating with the State Government, harvests 55 tonnes of Atlantic salmon from its Dover sea farm.

Feb 5, 2003: Tassal buys into Macquarie Harbour: Tassal, which operated farms in southern Tasmania, went bankrupt in mid-2002 owing about $30 million. The receiver charged with sorting out the mess was Mark Ryan from audit firm KordaMentha.He convinces the banks to stump up the money to buy Tassal's rival Nortas. The move gives Tassal 65 per cent of Australia's salmon market and a stake in Macquarie Harbour.

April 14, 2011: Push to expand begins, warnings dismissed: "Primary industries minister Bryan Green backs the expansion bid as being in line with the industry's aim to double production by 2030.
He rejects concerns the expansion will threaten the World Heritage Area, citing "extensive" work and modelling that was "world's best practice". Does this sound familiar? The government is pro-industry, in a conflict of interest, and the world best science says they are right.

Ron Morrison, who founded Southern Ocean Trout, said:

I did say at the time that if the expansion went, as per the EIS [Environmental Impact Study], up to 29,500 tonnes, that the environment in Macquarie Harbour would probably completely collapse within five to seven years."

Jan 13, 2012: History of Non-compliance. Tassal

May 28, 2012: Expansion gets the green light. "The State Government approves the Macquarie Harbour lease expansion that would triple the state's salmon production"

April 10, 2014: Tassal gets ASC certification 

This shows that ASCs don't mean much. "Tassal's becomes the first salmon producer to receive Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) accreditation"

Some more text: "The ASC website states the certification is a badge of environmental responsibility.

"ASC certified farms deliver a cleaner seabed, cleaner water, healthier fish, preserve the diversity of species and wild population, follow strict feed requirements and ensure social responsibility," it reads."

Does this sound familiar? The WWF's ASCs saying things will be good, but in no time flat, Tassal is out of compliance, if it ever was in compliance. Read on:

Aug 24, 2014: And no oxygen a few months later in August:

"Secret report prompts expansion rethink

Photo: A sober report prompted a rethink of fish farm expansion. (ABC)

 

Acting on evidence that shows dissolved oxygen (DO) levels were in steep decline, the salmon producers form a working group to investigate.

Fish struggle and even suffocate in low DO water.

The group — made up of salmon farmers, CSIRO, IMAS and government representatives — confirms there has been a "clear downward trend" of DO in deeper water since 2009, corresponding with fish farm expansion."

 Jan 9, 2015: Less than a year after ASC certification, "'Tassal's Franklin lease should be destocked immediately'" because of worms within 4 kms that only show up feeding on feces.

May 21, 2015: So, two months later, Petuna has: "Massive fish kill after storm surge" into Mac Harbour.

This is how the industry goes every place it operates around the world. Growing and endlessly advancing environmental damage.

There are several dozen more articles that chronicle Tassal's problems, the lawsuits, the government endlessly backing fish farms as the problems get worse, as the public begins to demand taking fish farms out of the water. And this is a world heritage designated body of water.

You can read the several dozen more articles on the ABC site. Sobering is a polite word for the ongoing 'disaster', yes, a Trump word, but in this case it is true.

Oh, okay, one more article - on the issue of transparency. Industry always claims to be transparent, but seldom is:

 April 24, 2017: "Tassal claims 'dead zones' improving:

After calling a press conference to announce Tassal's internal testing had shown a "dramatic environmental improvement" in their MH leases, CEO Mark Ryan says the data is not available for public view.
Environment Tasmania's Laura Kelly accuses Tassal of "double-speak".

"We have got Tassal claiming to be transparent but refusing to release their own internal data. The public just wants to know that their World Heritage Area is being protected," Ms Kelly says."

Here is the last item:

June 30, 2017: the EPA approves the tarp under fish farm sewage removal 'system': http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-07-01/epa-approves-tassal-waste-disposal-system/8669042.

Yes, a tarp is a sewage removal 'system'.

Your Promise to Move Fish Farms onto Land - Jobs and Revenues Low in Fish Farming, Updated Sept 16, 2017

John/Andrew/Lana

You all promised to get fish farms out of the water when campaigning for office. Well, we voted you in, and now we want fish farms taken out of the ocean. You can achieve this by pulling licences, which takes effect in 60 days.

I have read Lana starting to waffle in the press about getting the stakeholders together. This is not what British Columbians voted for. We voted for taking them out of the ocean.

Fish farms do not result in jobs and revenue for the jurisdiction in which they use the ocean as a free, open sewer. In fact, they are low in jobs, low in wages to GDP, and revenue goes out of the country.

See: https://fishfarmnews.blogspot.ca/2017/09/fish-farms-are-small-in-bc-jobs-and.html. And look at how low the jobs and revenue are: only 820 actual jobs and contribution to GDP an insignificant $61.9M for all of aquaculture.

There are only about 10% of the jobs that DFO and fish farms claim. And, at $10.4 Billion, the sewage cost is extraordinary, and revenue goes out of the country, back to their home country of Norway. Even Norway is so fed up with their environmental damage it stopped granting saltwater licences three years ago and now gives out on-land licences for free, a saving of $9- to $12-million. If Marine Harvest, Cermaq and Grieg Seafood don’t want to come out of the water here, send them back to Norway where they will have to set up on land.

See the sewage calculation: http://fishfarmnews.blogspot.ca/2017/02/fish-farm-sewage-huge-cost-to-bc.html.

Note that BC Stats is your own government people, doing a great job. When I worked in Finance, Treasury Board Staff, we felt they were better than Stats Can, because of the effort they put into being accurate. Look at the caveat section of the report in my post: http://www.bcstats.gov.bc.ca/StatisticsBySubject/BusinessIndustry/FisheriesAquacultureHuntingTrapping.aspx.

One final thing, my post on the 192 on-land fish farms systems around the world, comprising almost 20,000 actual on-land farms, shows that the new Atlantic Sapphire farm being set up in Florida on land, will be larger than the entire BC industry and sell into the USA, a more sustainable product, at a cheaper price, ruining BC industry sales, unless they, too, are on land.

See: http://fishfarmnews.blogspot.ca/2016/05/152-different-on-land-fish-farm-systems.html.

Please let British Columbians know when you plan to pull fish farms, that make no economic or environmental sense in the ocean, out of the water.

Everywhere in the world where fish farms are set up the public comes to overwhelmingly reject them. See: http://fishfarmnews.blogspot.ca/2017/05/global-citizens-call-for-on-land-fish.html.

DC Reid

*********************************************************************************

Here is Les Leyne, writing in the Times Colonist newspaper, also pointing out that you campaigned on getting fish farms out of the water:

"[Andrew Weaver] still has to delineate differences with the government [NDP + Green] to preserve a Green identity. "I'm sure they thought I was going to offer a softball," he said during his first question.

Instead, it was a dig at Transportation Minister Claire Trevana. She promised that the NDP would clear the entire north island of fish farms. Weaver said the promise was made specifically in Alert Bay to convince First Nations people not to vote for the Greens.

So when will the salmon pens be closed?

Agriculture Minister Lana Popham said: "We're figuring out where we go next," and no tenures are being granted or renewed [this has been the case for several years anyway, because fish farms are so overwhelmingly rejected in BC]."

So, John Horgan, when will you pull the licences and get the industry out of the water? After all their own country thinks its dumb to destroy their own ocean and is giving out free licences to set up on land in Norway  Let Marine Harvest, Cermaq, Grieg Seafood go home and set up on land, if they don't like it here.

**********************************************************************************

Finally, Sooke, BC has just passed a resolution to prohibit in-ocean fish farms. And in Chile, Tortel, has also blocked in-ocean fish farms in its waters. See items 99 and 102 in my BAD NEWS BITES post, started in Sept 2017 (there are five previous ones, totaling more than 2,000 bad news stories in fish farming/seafood industry): https://fishfarmnews.blogspot.ca/2017/08/bad-news-bites-salmonseafood-industry.html.

Global Fight Against Fish Farms - Tasmania

Environment Tasmania has entered battle with Tassal fish farms that has fouled the ocean so much and had such negative effects on endangered species and wants to lecture kids in school to think they are environmentally sustainable.

Go here to sign the petition to keep Tassal out of schools: http://www.et.org.au/tassal_not_welcome_in_the_classroom?utm_campaign=tassal_schools&utm_medium=email&utm_source=environmenttasmania.

Here is the ET site: http://www.et.org.au/.

Here is the news release on the issue:

"To:Federal Minister for Education and Training, Senator the Hon. Simon Birmingham
CEO of the Primary Industries Foundation Australia, Ben Stockwin 

Please keep Tassal's corporate advertising out of our primary schools


Tassal have announced they are heading into schools to promote their salmon to kids. But with their soaring antibiotics use, marine dead zones, threats to endangered species and the formation of thick bacterial mats under their pens around Tasmania, Tassal gets a D minus in sustainability from us.

We know how important it is for kids to understand where our food comes, how it is grown and how to make the best choice as consumers. But when it comes to sustainable aquaculture Tassal has failed consistently in Tasmania. On the east coast of Tasmania Tassal are moving into endangered whale calving habitat, and on the west coast they have already pushed the endangered Maugean Skate to the brink of extinction. They’re planning to double production, which means farming new areas, and their track record suggests they’ll do so with scant regard for the concerns of locals, tourism operators and recreational fishers.

This is not what a truly sustainable salmon farming industry looks like, and it’s not what we want to be teaching the next generation. And with Tassal's product coming from unhealthy growing conditions, and the company's 75% spike in use of antibiotics listed by the World Health Organisation as very important for human health, there are real questions about how healthy Tassal's salmon is.

Tassal's corporate advertising has no place in our primary schools. We urge you to act to prevent Tassal's Salmon in Schools program from going ahead."

Sign here: http://www.et.org.au/tassal_not_welcome_in_the_classroom?recruiter_id=169165

Atlantic Salmon Breed in BC Rivers - Tsitika, John Volpe - Economic Stats

(First, look at the bottom for economic stats in the BC industry. BC Stats report and some DFO figures).

This is the classic paper by prof John Volpe, UVic, who found Atlantic Salmon fry from 'feral' parents in a BC river, meaning they were second generation Atlantics, as in progeny from progeny, a very bad thing. In BC, all the plants of Atlantics in the early 1900s did not take, and fish farms like to say Atlantics cannot survive in BC water - part of their on-going spin. Here is their account of the stocking:  http://bcsalmonfarmers.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/timeline_Atlantic_salmon_Pacific-Coast.pdf.

This is a USA paper on the USA: https://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/factsheet.aspx?SpeciesID=926.



On another post on this site, I give you the stocking data, and it is clear that Atlantics did not take during those plantings that were intended to start runs - an eastern centric philosophy, meaning that to DFO salmon mean Atlantic salmon, not Pacific salmon. Eight decades later, DFO is still favouring Atlantics over Pacific salmon. I think it's fair to say that any informed British Columbian sees DFO intentionally managing Pacific salmon into extinction, despite bleatings to the contrary.

Here are two examples: while DFO has lots invested in stock number analysis on the Fraser, all they are doing is documenting the move to extinction. In 2017, for example, sockeye numbers were about 1.5 million, one of the lowest returns on record.

What DFO should be doing is freshwater habitat restoration to increase spawning habitat for Pacific salmon. It is more important at this stage that salmon are saved, rather than documenting their extinction.

Second, the collapse of the Salish Sea coho was documented in the 1990s by DFO, and they said it was over fishing that caused it and fishing was closed. Well, twenty years of closure later and the coho are still in collapse. Why? It is obvious that the problem is not over fishing. In my opinion, it is lack of habitat restoration that is the problem. There need to be more spawning channels opened like those on the Taylor River on Vancouver Island.

An example of a river that has lots of similar space is the San Juan in Port Renfrew. Any river that has flat estuarian habitat with a stream or river that runs through it is a possibility. The Adam/Eve system on north Van Islse is another obvious example where Taylor-River style habitat work could be done.

Anyway, here is the 2000 Volpe article on documenting spawning by the alien, invasive Atlantic salmon: http://volpelab.weebly.com/uploads/4/4/2/5/44251437/volpe_et_al._2000_conservation_biology__14__899-903.pdf.

Abstract:

We present evidence of the first successful natural spawning of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) docu-

mented on the Pacific coast of North America. Twelve juvenile Atlantic salmon composed of two year classeswere captured in the Tsitika River, British Columbia. We analyzed restriction-length polymorphisms of PCR-amplified 5S rDNA and mtDNA to confirm that these individuals were Atlantic salmon. Scale analysisstrongly suggested they were the products of natural spawning by feral adults. The gut contents, size, and con-dition of these individuals suggest that Atlantic salmon are successfully maturing in the Tsitika River, BritishColumbia. This event has raised concerns that the presence and possible establishment of feral Atlantic salmon may further jeopardize the continued persistence of already fragile native Pacific salmonids throughcompetition for resources and occupation of niches that are currently underutilized.

And, if you look at Volpe's site: http://www.johnvolpe.ca/, you will find other papers on this issue of colonization by invasive, alien Atlantic salmon in BC. See: Farm Salmon Escapes, 2017.

Here is his conclusion: "While focus remains on diagnosing the implications of escape events such as this, the larger and ultimately more helpful question is: Why are open net pen farms still endangering our oceans? Technology developed here on Vancouver Island and employed around the world has demonstrated the utility and financial viability of land based farms that virtually eliminate every environmental issue associated with old-tech open net  pens."

As I have said before many times, and the recent post to Fin Donnelly, NDP MP, on jobs and revenue in the industry point out that there is no economic reason for fish farms to be in the ocean: https://fishfarmnews.blogspot.ca/2017/09/fish-farms-are-small-in-bc-jobs-and.html.

And the whole point of this site is to show that in-ocean fish farms make no environmental sense either. So, the reality is that fish farms should not be in the ocean, they should be on land, and raise a vegetarian - since they have trashed world forage fish stocks for feed that should be human third world food - see The Sea Around Us documents on reduction fisheries. Here is one that will get you into that whole research base: http://www.seaaroundus.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/small_SO_LONG_-_report_to_Pew-Dec-03-w-cover.pdf.

************************************************************************************

And this paper is the economic indicators of the industry, from DFO's point of view: http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/aquaculture/management-gestion/2016/mer-mar/docs/mar-mer-ifmp-pgip-2016-eng.pdf.

On Page 14 you will see that sales to the USA comprise well over 90% of sales. And that total sales in 2014 dollars, was slightly more than $250 Millions.

On Page 13 you will see that they started wtih BC Stats figures and then massaged them upwards a great deal. For example, 1700 multiplier jobs for all of aquaculture from BC Stats; when DFO finished massaging the figures, darned if it wasn't 4418 some 260% higher than the BC Stats figures.

The point here is that you can't trust stats from DFO, and if you don't have another source that you trust, the stats are a real question mark. Fortunately, from working with BC Stats in the past, while in Finance, we found they were the best of the bunch, largely because of the caveats that they note and thus the assumptions they use. Their caveats, as I recall, is almost 20 pages long  in this report. That makes the figures better.

And once again, here is the BC Stats table: