[Salmonator]

February 5, 2008

File: 0280-30
Ref: 156021


E-mail:

Dear Mr. H

The Honourable John van Dongen, MLA for Abbotsford-Clayburn, has asked me to reply to your e-mail of December 20, 2007, regarding sea lice and salmon aquaculture. As Minister responsible, I am pleased to respond.

Over the last several years, there has been much controversy and confusion surrounding the issue of sea lice and their potential effects on wild salmon. The Province takes this issue very seriously in many ways. For example, salmon farmers are legally required by government to monitor their farms for sea lice and take action if lice levels exceed certain thresholds. Industry compliance with sea lice monitoring and management requirements has been at a very high level. The second comprehensive provincial fish health report, released on January 8, 2008, provided evidence of this. Additionally, both provincial and federal governments continue to fund research on salmon-lice interactions, including collaborations among federal scientists, academics, environmental organizations, First Nations, and salmon farmers.

It is our policy to consider the results of all research. Ministry staff are presently assessing the paper published on December 14, 2007, in the research journal Science by Krkosek et al. on the effects of sea lice on wild salmon. Furthermore, Mr. Krkosek has accepted an invitation from the Pacific Salmon Forum (PSF) to meet with the Forum’s Science Advisory Committee to discuss his study. The Forum is concerned that initial findings from PSF-funded research do not support Mr. Krkosek’s predictions.

Current provincial policy on salmon farming is not at an end point. Should evidence arise indicating that further or different action is necessary, government is committed to altering course and responding in a meaningful way to ensure the long-term preservation of wild stocks.

Thank you for taking the time to share your views.

Sincerely,
Original signed by:
Pat Bell
Minister

pc: Honourable John van Dongen, MLA
(Abbotsford-Clayburn) [email protected]

 

[professori]

Good work Salmonator. Even if it isn't the answer we are looking for this letter indicates that the minister is aware of the concern out there. More communication with the two levels of government from concerned citizens is essential, if we are to see any change. Thanks for doing this.

 

[Salmonator]

I find alot of this hard to believe. I have had this post up all day and we only have 30 readers at this time and I can see that if it does not not involve any new news about fishing that it does not excite a lot of members. We have a poor showing when it comes to any political views and when it's time to take a stand we only take a view from behind a fence post.( only 70 members with the sport fishing alliance) If that is the stance people on this web site are willing to take delete me from here. I have done my time at rod and gun clubs also the web and tried to fight for us sports fishers and had the same results. What I have seen here it's just the same. So far with only 30 views and that includes guests is that there is minimal intrest at all with fishing politics and if a group as strong as ours we can't get involved and we should pack it in. Just my frustrations but can't we work to solve this....

 

[Kuma]

Re: Reply from Pat Bell Minister of Agriculture and Lands on fish farms

I share your frustration with the situation Salmonator. I think a more politically active forum/group might be more amenable to the action you're looking for. When the letter says, "Should evidence arise indicating that further or different action is necessary, government is committed to altering course and responding in a meaningful way to ensure the long-term preservation of wild stocks," we can assume that they don't believe there is a problem at the moment. (How much MORE evidence do they need anyway? :wallbash As a once politically active individual, seeing something like that in print sure dissuades me from bothering at this point. Come election time, I might be more motivated.

 

[Salmonator]

I am really getting disappointed with this site. There has little to no action from our members here ( including moderators except proff.) I see all different ways of taking action, but I guess we will all sit on the fence until we have nothing or someone can strike a soft spot. We have had limited or no openings for fishing for sockeye or coho on the Fraser for years now. Does that not concern anyone here?? Guess what if we don't take action you can forget about any lower mainland fishing reports because there will not be any. We can change this to dam the Fraser reports and walk away. We are the only ones that can change this. With a membership base such as ours allot can happen. Wake up get off your duff and make your voice heard. If you are going to just sit on the fence just keep doing what you are doing. We will add a suckers, squaw, and bullhead section for you.

 

[darmin]

coincidence or not




February 5, 2008


File: 0280-30
Ref: 155919

Darcey M
E-mail: [email protected]

Dear Darcey M:

The Honourable Gordon Campbell has asked me to respond to your email of December 20, 2007, regarding provincial salmon fisheries. As Minister responsible, I am pleased to respond.

A key component to the Province’s commitment to sustainable salmon, both wild and farm, was the establishment of the Special Committee on Sustainable Aquaculture and the Pacific Salmon Forum. Both groups provide a neutral point of view to make available impartial information on the management of wild and farm salmon independent of government direction.

I would like to assure you that the government is currently reviewing all of the recommendations, issues and points of view from the reports released by the Special Committee on Sustainable Aquaculture and the Pacific Salmon Forum. Current provincial policy on salmon farming is not at an end point. Should evidence arise indicating that further or different action is necessary, government is committed to altering course and responding in a meaningful way to ensure the long-term preservation of wild stocks.

If you would like more detailed information, please contact:

Myron Roth, Aquaculture Analyst
Aquaculture Development Branch
Ministry of Agriculture and Lands

e-mail: [email protected]

Thank you for writing and sharing your concern.

Sincerely,
Original signed by:
Pat Bell
Minister

pc: Honourable Gordon Campbell
Premier

 

[Salmonator]

We need more people to put the pressure on> :cheers:

 

[steve]

I sent my letter and would be more than willing to listen to and act on any ideas you have salmonator. I am a memeber if the salmon society and have supported the sport fishing alliance. I think what is needed here is some guidence. I would assume that for a lot of us here, outside of writing letters, we don't know of any other affective, legal courses of action that we could take. I would wager that if an organized effort was waged the majority here would follow and support it. There is another thread on here looking for support for this fight but I personally signed up and have heard one thank you for signing up and that he was changing the name and that was it. I too am concerned but would need to know what else can be done! In short a leader who knows how this battle is to be fought is needed! If the sport fishing alliance is it sign me up or else I personally would need to know where to go to fight this, letter writing is only going to go so far and a collective voice is needed. my :2cents:

 

[highlander]

I would like to know how fish farmers count sea lice. Is by magic? Do they send a diver down with a counter? Or do they just guess and say; minimal?

 

[steve]

The government is well trained in the use of the "magic eight ball" or "crystal ball" and have several magicians and marlons on staff for these kinds of reports and predictions ;D