Wild Salmon depend on removal of salmon farms from Broughton Archipelago!

Demand politicians provide safe passage for baby wild salmon on BC’s north-central coast

Wildcanada.net Action Alert
Thursday, December 9th 2004

Salmon farms in the Broughton Archipelago, off the north-central coast of BC, continue to be implicated in disastrous outbreaks of sea lice on juvenile wild salmon. Research has found that the waterways in this region have up to 1,000 times as many sea lice as regions without salmon farms. Salmon runs in the Broughton region have declined up to 99% as a result of fish farms and sea lice.

There are technological solutions that could create a sustainable salmon farming industry, but the current practices in the Broughton Archipelago are not working for the wild fish. Urgent action is required to address this ongoing ecological disaster.

Take action now at www.FarmedandDangerous.org and demand your federal and provincial Ministers ensure the immediate removal of all salmon farms in the Broughton Archipelago now.

The Coastal Alliance for Aquaculture Reform and Farmed and Dangerous have been respectfully requesting the immediate removal of all net cage operations in the Broughton Archipelago region by December 31, 2004 to create a permanent safe passage for juvenile wild salmon through their crucial near shore habitat. Fish farming companies have refused to accept the science and the impacts their farms are having on wild fish populations.

It is time that the federal and provincial governments take responsibility for ensuring all farms are removed from the Broughton so that future runs of wild salmon will not become extinct.

Send a free fax to the federal Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, the Hon. Geoff Regan and BC Ministers, van Dongen, Barisoff and Abbott from www.FarmedandDangerous.org.

In order to protect wild salmon, coastal ecosystems, coastal communities and human health from destructive fish farming practices the industry must be required to employ technology that:

Eliminates the risk of disease transfer to wild fish and escapes of salmon into the wild.
Prevents fish farm waste from being released into the ocean.
Labels all farmed fish so consumers can make informed choices.
Uses fish feed that does not result in a global loss of seafood for human consumption.
Uses fish feed that does not result in unsafe levels of contaminates in farmed salmon.
Ensures that wildlife is not harmed as a result of fish farming.
Prohibits the use of genetically modified fish.
Eliminates the use of antibiotics, biocides and harmful chemicals in fish farming.
Respects the views of coastal residents and do not locate farms where First Nations or other communities object.
For recent research on sea lice and farmed salmon published in the Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences click here.

For more information please visit www.farmedanddangerous.org.

Take action now!