NDP Fisheries and Oceans critic Fin Donnelly and William Shatner team up to defend wild salmon.
Click here to find out how you can help.
MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD ON PACIFIC AQUACULTURE CONSULTATIONS
Mr. Donnelly has also made a submission in response to the 60 day public comment period regarding the proposed Pacific Aquaculture Regulations under the Fisheries Act. He writes:
Dear Mr. Ed Porter:
I write in my capacity as MP for New Westminster - Coquitlam & Port Moody, and as the NDP Fisheries and Oceans Critic, to provide comment on the draft Federal Pacific Aquaculture Regulations that were published in the Canadian Gazette Volume 144, No 28 on July 10th, 2010.
These regulations fail to effectively address the environmental impacts that aquaculture is having on the Pacific fishery and the ocean ecosystem.
Experts believe that west coast aquaculture practices are having a negative effect on wild salmon and the ocean environment. Effluent, parasites, and viruses are permitted to enter the natural system through open net fish farms, which negatively affect wild salmon stocks.
When, in 2009, the BC Supreme Court ruled that aquaculture be licensed under federal jurisdiction, an opportunity was presented to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans to address this situation. However, these draft regulations fail to take advantage of this opportunity.
Under provincial jurisdiction, west coast aquaculture has not been able to expand for approximately seven years due to environmental concerns. If managed appropriately the industry not only could reduce it’s environmental impact, but could flourish and expand, creating jobs and economic prosperity.
These regulations present an opportunity to address the concerns that led to this moratorium, though at present they do not.
Furthermore, the regulations fail to address key environmental concerns, including environmental assessment.
This lack of a framework for environmental assessment when issuing or renewing licenses is disappointing. Permitting the destruction of wild fish that become trapped in the open net farms is also problematic. These fish are attracted by light from the farms and food present in the water. To destroy them is to waste an already taxed resource, these regulations should propose ways to minimize their attraction to the pens in the first place.
However, with an amendment to include initiatives to move fish farms to closed containment, these regulations could accomplish a great deal. At current there is no mention of closed containment systems in these regulations in spite of the fact that such a move would address many of the criticisms levied at the Aquaculture sector.
Moving to closed containment aquaculture would:
Meet growing public demand for safe, environmentally sustainable seafood.
Allow industry to grow while addressing environment concerns.
Put an end to wild fish entering the pen’s and lessen the need for environmental assessment.
Currently the technology is available to make this shift, and British Columbia stands poised to be world leaders in this industry.
Clearly, the move to closed containment should not be overlooked.
I ask that you amend the regulations to include the move to closed containment aquaculture.
I invite you to contact my office should have any questions or wish to discuss this further at 613-947-4455 or by email at donnef@parl.gc.ca.
Regards:
Fin
For information on how to submit your views, go to http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/aquaculture/bcr-rcb/index-eng.htm.
Tags: aquaculture, fisheries, salmon