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Search:		BC wild salmon endangered by failure to contain sea lice from salmon farms Open letter from respected scientists and researchers Dear Steven Harper and Gordon Campbell, We, the undersigned, are convinced by the published scientific evidence that the debate is over; sea lice breeding on farmed salmon are threatening BC's wild Pacific salmon. There are many threats to wild salmon; however there is now extensive peer-reviewed science that sea lice spread from farm to wild salmon and kill juvenile wild salmon. In some cases, sea lice originating from salmon farms are estimated to have killed up to 95% of the wild juvenile salmon that pass salmon farms during their ocean migrations. This is unacceptable for any industry. The scientific literature reports that sea lice infestations of wild, juvenile salmon are associated with salmon farms and wild salmon population declines in several countries: Canada, Norway, Scotland, and Ireland. John Fredriksen, owner of Marine Harvest, one of the biggest salmon farming companies, both globally and in Canada, recently stated publicly: "I am concerned about the future for wild salmon. Fish farming should not be allowed in fjords with salmon rivers" (Norwegian newspaper Altaposten July 19, 2007). Earlier this year the BC Special Legislative Committee on Sustainable Aquaculture recommended granting no new net pen farm licenses and moving all existing salmon farms into close-contained facilities. Despite this Pat Bell, British Columbia's Minister of Agriculture and Lands, has granted three more net pen licenses. In consultation with the salmon farming industry and Fisheries and Oceans Canada, the Pacific Salmon Forum spent $315,000 of the public's funds collecting a baseline dataset to examine sea lice response to fallowing salmon farms. But as of today Marine Harvest and Mainstream Canada have restocked farms spanning the entire Broughton Archipelago. Consequently this definitive study is no longer possible. We have united our voices because wild salmon are essential to life in the North Pacific and to the BC economy. We feel the weight of scientific evidence is enough to enact the precautionary principle. For wild salmon to survive in an era of major environmental stresses through global climate change, a pathogen barrier must be established between BC's farmed and wild salmon populations; there are no scientific results to the contrary. Furthermore, we are warning the BC public that where farmed and wild salmon populations meet in narrow marine passages, as in Broughton and off Campbell River, we can expect long-term wild salmon stock decline if farmed salmon are not quarantined. When our government ignores the immutable natural law that disease is amplified when host populations are crowded, we pay the price of irreversible loss of a very valuable resource. Pink salmon infected with sea lice, June 1, 2007, Broughton Archipelago, BC We the undersigned agree that based on the published scientific evidence, the only management action that can ensure the protection of wild salmon stocks from farmed salmon is a complete physical barrier to pathogen transmission between wild and farm salmon (closed containment). We are aware that such changes may have economic consequences for the industry. The science is clear. It is now up to the government and the people of Canada to decide whether the economic benefits of aquaculture, as currently practiced, outweigh the threats to wild salmon and the ecosystems and economies that depend on healthy and abundant wild salmon populations. We write this public letter out of a sense of duty to future generations. Respectfully, David Suzuki, Ph.D. Founder David Suzuki Foundation Daniel Pauly, Ph.D. Director, Fisheries Centre University of British Columbia Richard Routledge, Ph.D. Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science Simon Fraser University Larry Dill, Ph.D. Professor and Director, Behavioral Ecology Research Group, Dept. of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University Mark A. Lewis, Ph.D. Center for Mathematical Biology University of Alberta Wade Davis, Ph.D. Explorer-in-Residence National Geographic Society Boris Worm, Ph.D. Marine Conservation Biology Dalhousie University, Halifax John Volpe, Ph.D. University of Victoria Environmental Studies Victoria BC Don McQueen, Ph.D. Emeritus Research Professor York University, Toronto. Adjunct Professor, Simon Fraser University Craig Orr, Ph.D. Executive Director Watershed Watch Salmon Society Coquitlam, BC Neil Frazer, Ph.D. Department of Geology and Geophysics University of Hawaii at Manoa Rob Williams, Ph.D. University of British Columbia St. Andrews University Pearse Island, BC Michael Burt, Ph.D. Professor Emeritus University of New Brunswick Gordon Hartman, Ph.D. Retired Biologist Fisheries and Oceans Canada Lance Barrett-Lennard, Ph.D. Co-chair Resident Killer Whale Recovery Team Paul Spong. Ph.D. Director, OrcaLab/Pacific Orca Society Hanson Island, BC Helena Symonds Director, Orcalab/Pacific Orca Society Hanson Island, BC Alexandra Morton, R.P.Bio. Director Salmon Coast Field Station Echo Bay, BC General Articles All Categories   Article Topics Date 1. Fishing the Tyee Pool in Campbell River Salmon Aug 2013 2. Jigging for Coho Salmon, Tackle Aug 2013 3. TKO ing Big Springs Salmon Jun 2013 4. Spring Fishery Updates 2013 Fishing Area Outlook Mar 2013 5. Fly Epoxy Chum Fry Flys Feb 2013 6. Best Fishing Story of 2012 Feb 2013 7. Salmon fishing outlook for 2013 Fishing Area Outlook, Salmon Jan 2013 8. Fly Tadpoles Flys Jan 2013 9. Fishing Outlook for 2013 Fishing Area Outlook, Salmon, Sturgeon Dec 2012 10. Fly Steelhead Muddler Flys, Steelhead Dec 2012 11. Fly Bacon n eggers Flyfishing, Salmon Dec 2012 12. Keeping a journal Technique Dec 2012 13. Fly Egg-sukin leech Flyfishing, Flys Oct 2012 14. Fly Steelhead Madness Flyfishing, Flys Oct 2012 15. White Lake Fishing Area Outlook Aug 2012 16. Fly Orangesicle Flyfishing, Flys Jul 2012 17. Fly Blue Morrison baitfish Flyfishing, Flys Jul 2012 18. Fly fishing the Estuary (Amundson Thompson Chaser Fly Rod Review) Flyfishing, Tackle Jul 2012 19. Sockeye Strategies Salmon Jul 2012 20. Ultimate Squid TUBE Flys Jun 2012 21. Roche Lake Flyfishing Jun 2012 22. Fly Coho Blue-zer Flys, Salmon Jun 2012 23. Flies Webflyzers Flys Jun 2012 24. 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Fly Reeds Spey Flyfishing Feb 2012 45. Jet Boat Maintenance Boats Dec 2011 46. Smoked Salmon Recipe BBQ and Honey Recipes, Salmon Dec 2011 47. Poached Italian Cod Recipes Dec 2011 48. Fly Blue Charmer Flys Nov 2011 49. Fly Muddy Waters Flys Nov 2011 50. Fly - The Excursion Leech Flyfishing Nov 2011 51. Herb and Garlic Crusted Halibut with oven roasted ratatouille Halibut, Recipes Oct 2011 52. The Banner Season Fishing Area Outlook Jun 2011 53. voteforsalmon Conservaton, Salmon Apr 2011 54. Votesalmon Conservaton, Salmon Apr 2011 55. Rivers Inlet Hatchery Program Conservaton, Salmon Apr 2011 56. Mayday for Wild Salmon Conservaton, Salmon Mar 2011 57. Contest 2011 Fishing Story David Sandquist Flyfishing, Steelhead Feb 2011 58. Contest 2011 Fishing Story Honourary mention Ron Gibson Feb 2011 59. Contest 2011 Fishing Story Bog Waldhaus Steelhead Feb 2011 60. Contest 2011 Fishing Story Brian Wong Salmon Feb 2011 61. Does Fish Cooking Techniques Matter Recipes Jan 2011 62. Mediterranean Fish Fillets Recipes Jan 2011 63. Virus Killing Fraser Sockeye Conservaton, Fish, Salmon Jan 2011 64. Halibut Fishery Conservaton, Hallibut Dec 2010 65. Salmon Virus watch Conservaton, Salmon Nov 2010 66. Disease Information Conservaton May 2010 67. Sea lice kept secret Conservaton May 2010 68. Catch the Dream Halibut, Salmon, Trolling May 2010 69. Oak Bay Marine Group Newsletter Salmon Mar 2010 70. Quesnel Lake Trout Jan 2010 71. Art of Curing and Smoking Fish Smoking Jan 2010 72. Bradley's Famous Hot Smoked Salmon Smoking Jan 2010 73. Salmon fishery action suit Salmon Nov 2009 74. Save B.C. Salmon Conservaton, Salmon Nov 2009 75. Winner of the Giver on the River Free Charter Fish Sep 2009 76. Oven bbq salmon Recipes, Salmon Aug 2009 77. Poached Italian Cod Recipes Aug 2009 78. Salmon Creole Recipes, Salmon Aug 2009 79. Australia Fishing Salmon Aug 2009 80. Horseradish and Dill Butter Salmon Steaks Recipes, Salmon Jul 2009 81. 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A Fishing Trip with REEL OBSESSIONS Vancouver Island. Salmon, Trolling Jan 2009 99. Carp fishing from a different angle Carp Sep 2008 100. Fish British Columbia With a Timeshare Accommodation Apr 2008 101. Hurt by aquaculture industry Salmon Nov 2007 102. BC wild salmon endangered by failure to contain sea lice from salmon farms Conservaton Sep 2007 103. Go Fish Aug 2007 104. Studies show harmful impact of BC coast salmon farms on wild Pacific salmon Salmon Aug 2007 105. Lynn's Fishing Adventure Sturgeon, Trout Jul 2007 106. Chilliwack River Action Committee Conservaton Apr 2007 107. Indian Candy Recipe Recipes, Salmon, Smoking Mar 2007 108. Fishing Articles and archived fishing posts Mar 2007 109. Curing Eggs Salmon Mar 2007 110. Fishing for Chum Salmon Salmon Mar 2007 111. Salmon Eating - After They Change Colour Salmon Mar 2007 112. A guides Perspective - The Fraser River Salmon, Seasons, Sturgeon, Trout Aug 2005 113. Smoked Salmon Recipe Recipes, Salmon, Smoking Dec 2004 114. 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