Fisheries Minister Shea in Vancouver

by Alexandra Morton
Minister Shea is going to be in Vancouver tomorrow 9/11 at 300 W. Georgia in the Library Square North Tower.

I have not been invited but I think there should be some questions asked: Why Minister Shea did you say all Pacific salmon had collapsed coastwide so the Fraser sockeye collapse could not be fish farms in the attached letter sent out to many people?

 

In fact the stock collapse of the Fraser River sockeye is extremely specific. All around the immediate vicinity of the Fraser there were very good sockeye returns and even within the Fraser the Harrison sockeye known to travel to sea via the farm free-Juan De Fuca came in at 2xs the DFO forecast.

Why did you misinform the public in this manner?

Why Minister Shea did Regional Director Paul Sprout tell the public that the Fraser crash could not be fish farms in letters to the editor in the Globe and Mail and North Island Gazette because the sea lice found on sockeye are not found on farm fish when Marine Harvest's farms right on the Fraser migration route post their data on the web and are reporting Caligus lice as well as the salmon louse.

Why is DFO exonerating fish farms and excusing them from the investigation on the Fraser sockeye when they are a primary factor known to have this affect on salmon worldwide (Ford and Myers 2008)?

Perhaps the Minister will say that every fish farm on the coast of BC will be made to reveal their disease history when these sockeye went to sea in the spring of 2007.

But if not we are repeating Hutchings et al 1997 CJFAS and will lose our salmon as the east coast lost their cod due to DFO mishandling.


I hope some of you can show up for this whether you are allowed in or not.

Alexandra Morton

250-973-2306

250-974-7086 (cell)  

 

 

UPDATE I

Minister Shea is reportedly having a private meeting at 8 am 300 W. Georgia
in the Library Square North Tower tomorrow on the Fraser sockeye.
Significant people were not invited and furthermore refused (First Nation
Chief Bob Chamberlin who has worked many years on the aquaculture file).
Please show at the door if you can.
 

UPDATE II

 

I just received a call from Chief Bob Chamberlin, of the village of
Gwayasdums in the Broughton Archipelago and chair of the Aquaculture Working
Group under direction of the First Nations Leadership Council and it member
organizations. 

Chief Chamberlin asked me to relay to you that he called Fisheries Minister
Shea's office today requesting access to tomorrow's meeting being held by
the Minister of Fisheries in Vancouver reportedly on the Fraser River
sockeye collapse. Although the Fisheries and Oceans official who answered
the call acknowledged the high likelihood of aquaculture being part of the
discussion and the significant perspective and knowledge that Chamberlin
could bring to the meeting, Chief Chamberlin was informed there was no room
for him at this meeting.
 
As chair  of the Aquaculture Working Group Chief Chamberlin has worked
extensively on the aquaculture file for a number of years and understands
its complexities well.

Chamberlin plans to arrive at the meeting despite the Minister¹s Office
refusal.

Chief Bob Chamberlin can be reached at 250-974-8282

The meeting is tomorrow September 11