Wild First campaign in defense of wild salmon
Sport Fishing Institute of BC
We would like to share an important campaign of information and action regarding open net-pen fish farms – the Wild First campaign. We encourage you to read more about the concerns around open net pen farm impacts to wild salmon.
As you know, the provincial and federal governments are hearing loud and clear from British Columbians across the province that our wild Pacific salmon must be protected from the risks posed by open net-pen fish farms.
It appears that both levels of government are close to making the right decision – to remove the farms from our waters and to shift their focus to much cleaner and more sustainable land-based systems. But government needs our help, too.
There is a need to demonstrate to the provincial and federal governments that when they act to remove the farms, they will have public support. Wild salmon need you and your organization's and company's support, where possible, to stand up and support the Wild First campaign.
A strong list of Western Canadian leaders is needed to demonstrate to the federal and provincial government that momentum is on the side of conserving and restoring wild salmon, and removing open net-pen salmon farms from our waters.
Wild First campaign defends wild salmon
Land based fish farm
This campaign is positive and will remain on the high road, respectful of the economic and business concerns of the fish farms, with a focus on showing government a productive crossover from open net-pens to closed containment systems on land. A big win awaits; reconciliation with First Nations, a refocus of DFO’s priorities in the Pacific region, and the growth of an emerging industry (in a safe and sustainable way) on land.
Information Gathering
There is an increasing volume of science on the concerns around open net farming. The SFI will post anticipated and new scientific publications as they are released, and have placed an informative document compiled and produced by Tony Allard, Wild Salmon Forever and Good Hope Cannery, on the Fish Farming page in the Issues section of the SFI website.
While it is important to be knowledgeable about the issue and to familiarize yourself with the concerns, remarks by Lawrence Dill, PhD FRSC, Professor Emeritus, Simon Fraser University, help to summarize the science that exists quite succinctly; “unlike Las Vegas, what happens in the pens doesn’t stay in the pens”. Simply, disease or pathogen transfer within the open net farms is having serious and significant impact on the environment and salmon stocks outside of the pens.
Those close to this campaign and working for change understand that elected officials (MPS from BC particularly) are asking for a public campaign so it can be can used as additional support and argument in Ottawa.
Please consider the following actions to support the campaign:
- Sign up your organization at Wild First
- Sign up personally too;
- Share the site with your staff and suppliers and clients; and
- Buy shirts at cost to help spread the word!
As mentioned, more news to share in the coming weeks. In the meantime, please spend a few moments to learn about open net fish farms and to enroll with the Wild First campaign. It isn’t too strong to say that our future access and opportunities to wild salmon are directly linked to what becomes of open net farms on this coast.
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