Posted on July 8, 2013 by Al Bergstein
The fallout continues:
Scientists fear there could be a reluctance to report a deadly fish virus after the first lab in Canada to say it was detected in British Columbia salmon was stripped of a special reference status by an international agency. Marine researchers say they were stunned to hear that the World Organization for Animal Health, or OIE, recently suspended the reference status from a research laboratory at the Atlantic Veterinary College in Prince Edward Island. Run by Fred Kibenge, who is considered one of the world’s leading authorities on infectious salmon anemia, it was one of only two labs in the world recognized by the group for the testing of the virus. Alison Auld reports.
http://www.vancouversun.com/technology/Scientists+concerned+over+chill+reporting+salmon+virus/8626837/story.html
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Filed under: Government, legislation, Salmon | Tagged: canada, Canada, Fish Farming, fish farming, Salmon | 1 Comment »
Posted on May 6, 2013 by Al Bergstein
Like mariners scanning the horizon from the crow’s nest, scientists have for years been on the lookout in the Pacific Northwest for signs that a dreaded salmon-killing disease, scourge to farmed salmon in other parts of the world, has arrived here, threatening some of the world’s richest wild salmon habitats. Most say there is no evidence. But for years, a biologist in Canada named Alexandra Morton — regarded by some as a visionary Cassandra, by others as a misguided prophet of doom — has said definitively and unquestionably that they are wrong.
Kirk Johnson reports. Scientists are divided over virus threat to Northwest salmon
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20130505/NEWS/130509993/scientists-are-divided-over-virus-threat-to-northwest-salmon
See also: Fish farms allied with government, activists say
http://www.timescolonist.com/news/fish-farms-allied-with-government-activists-say-1.146182
and see the free hour long video on Alexandra and her work. Very damning to the BC Provincial and Canadian Government.
https://vimeo.com/61301410
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Filed under: Puget Sound | Tagged: canada, net pens, Puget Sound, Salmon, salmon farming, virus | Comments Off on Scientists are divided over virus threat to Northwest salmon – Various Sources
Posted on March 11, 2013 by Al Bergstein
The Canadian government retreat on all things environmental continues. While the quotas continue to get higher, the amount of fish in the water shrinks. Outcome is likely a total collapse of the herring fishery, sooner than later. They allowed it in Newfoundland, and now here.
Judith Lavoie reports. Quota rises as herring count falls http://www.timescolonist.com/news/local/quota-rises-as-herring-count-falls-1.88502
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Filed under: Puget Sound | Tagged: canada, fishing, herring, Puget Sound | 1 Comment »
Posted on January 8, 2013 by Al Bergstein
Want a short but thorough read of the history of the silencing of the opposition to farming salmon in Canada? Here it is. Alexandra Morton, the woman who has done more to educate the population to the perils of farmed salmon, has done an overview of how the Canadian government has systematically worked to silence any and all critics of salmon farming. You also have a chance to sign a petition helping to put your voice out to end the practices of this industry. If you ever wondered what the hubbub over farmed wish was all about, here’s a chance to get a quick education on the subject.
http://alexandramorton.typepad.com/alexandra_morton/2013/01/silenced.html
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Filed under: Puget Sound | Tagged: Alexandra Morton, canada, Puget Sound, Salmon, salmon farming | Comments Off on Leading Farmed Fish Opponent on the History of the Canadian Farmed Fish Opposition
Posted on November 29, 2012 by Al Bergstein
Thank you to the politicians who stood up for a cleaner Strait.
Greater Victoria’s contentious sewage-treatment project survived its latest challenge Tuesday when a motion that would have suspended work until 2040 was rejected. Politicians on the Capital Regional District’s sewage committee voted 10 to four against demanding that the federal government reclassify the region as at a lower risk for sewage pollution. That means the $783-million treatment project will continue, with completion of a secondary-treatment plant at McLoughlin Point in Esquimalt by 2018. Rob Shaw reports.
http://www.timescolonist.com/news/Greater+Victoria+sewage+committee+votes+keep+project+flowing/7617633/story.html
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Filed under: Puget Sound | Tagged: canada, Puget Sound, sewage, Victoria | Comments Off on Greater Victoria sewage committee votes to keep project flowing – Times Colonist
Posted on September 4, 2012 by Al Bergstein
Good to hear that Japan is going to give something back to our governments for the tsunami debris.
The Japanese government will help pay for the disposal of debris washing up on Canadian and American shores due to the catastrophic tsunami which hit the country last year, according to press reports from Tokyo. Japan does not have to take care of such debris under international law, but in a report on Monday the English-language Nikkei newspaper said officials would announce a plan to provide assistance to the U.S. and Canada later this month.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2012/09/03/bc-japan-pay-tsunami-debris.html
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Filed under: Around the Sound | Tagged: canada, debris, tsunamai | Comments Off on Japan to help pay for tsunami debris cleanup – CBC
Posted on August 20, 2012 by Al Bergstein
Our neighbors across the Strait assess what climate change might mean to us on the Strait.
A risk assessment on climate change for the City of Victoria says it needs to start work now to prepare for rising sea levels, more storms, wetter winters and drier summers. The assessment looks at the projected risks the city will face with changes in climate conditions by 2050. The report predicts temperatures in Victoria could rise by more than two degrees by 2050, the amount of summer rain could drop by 32 per cent, while winter precipitation may jump 14 per cent, along with a similar increase in the number of intense storms.
http://www.vancouversun.com/technology/Victoria+should+brace+rising+levels+more+storms+climate+change/7109202/story.html
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Filed under: Puget Sound | Tagged: canada, climate change, Puget Sound, strait of juan de fuca, Victoria | Comments Off on Victoria should brace for rising sea levels, more storms: climate change report – Vancouver Sun
Posted on August 13, 2012 by Al Bergstein
Yet another fish farm in BC has been infected. This one near Jervis Inlet.
http://www.theprovince.com/health/company+kill+Atlantic+salmon+after+virus+outbreak/7064123/story.html
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Filed under: Uncategorized | Tagged: british columbia, canada, Canada, fish farming, fish kill, fish pens, IHN | Comments Off on Another 300k fish culled in BC after virus hits another fish farm
Posted on August 9, 2012 by Al Bergstein
An environmental group has returned from another trip into the debris field in the North Pacific, where it found that home-grown garbage — not tsunami wreckage — is forming the bulk of the floating mess.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2012/08/08/bc-ocean-garbage-survey.html
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Filed under: Puget Sound | Tagged: canada, garbage, ocean, Puget Sound | Comments Off on Survey of Pacific Gyre shows ocean garbage ours, not Tsunami – CBC
Posted on August 9, 2012 by Al Bergstein
Two B.C. fish farms will cull their fish this week after receiving confirmation of a virus that can be deadly to Atlantic salmon. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has confirmed that infectious haematopoetic necrosis, or IHN, has been found in salmon at Grieg Seafood’s farm at Culloden Point on Jervis Inlet and Mainstream Canada’s farm at Millar Channel in Clayoquot Sound. Judith Lavoie reports.
http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Virus+confirmed+salmon+farms+cull+fish/7063701/story.html
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Filed under: Uncategorized | Tagged: Canada, canada, fish farming, fish kill, IHN, virus | Comments Off on More BC Fish Farms found infected – Vancouver Sun
Posted on August 9, 2012 by Al Bergstein
Another British Columbia First Nation attack on the fish farming industry. This in particular, should be a warning here for the people seeking to build fish farms.
http://www.vancouversun.com/news/First+Nation+close+fish+farms+reach+Canadian+Supreme+Court/7060492/story.html
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Filed under: Puget Sound | Tagged: british columbia, canada, fish farming, lawsuit, Puget Sound | Comments Off on BC Tribe bringing lawsuit against fish farm – Vancouver Sun
Posted on July 26, 2012 by Al Bergstein
The battle for protection of the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the BC Coast goes on north of the border. The BC union of Coast Guard workers came out yesterday against Canadian Government proposals to slash the vessel monitoring stations along the coast. Additionally, they are looking to ease vessel call in rules as they approach the Strait. As stated in this column in earlier entries, our government and tribes ought to be protesting loudly to the Canadians about this issue. In a few years it will be too late.
http://www.timescolonist.com/news/Jack+Knox+column+Pipeline+talk+skips+from+show+money/6992496/story.html
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Filed under: Government, Oil Spills | Tagged: british columbia, Canada, canada, Coast Guard, oil spill, Oil Spills, pipeline, Threats | Comments Off on BC Coast Guard Union Voices Concerns over Oil Shipments
Posted on July 18, 2012 by Al Bergstein
Interviews with researchers presented on the Canadian Broadcasting Channel highlights that the ocean is growing acidic faster than anyone thought. No new science is actually presented, but the existing science is highlighted for a lay audience.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2012/07/16/bc-ocean-acidification.html
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Filed under: Around the Sound, Climate Change, ocean acidification | Tagged: canada, Canada, ocean acidification, research | Comments Off on Pacific Ocean acid levels jeopardizing marine life–CBC
Posted on May 23, 2012 by Al Bergstein
Things are not going well for environmental protection on the north side of the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Since Canadian voters elected a majority conservative government and PM, an all out slashing of social and environmental programs is underway. Programs that have long supported environmental protection and science are falling away. The most immediate concern for those of us on this side of the Strait, is the removal of tanker monitoring to somewhere near Ottawa. This would be like moving our Coast Guard monitoring to Chicago. When governments let their guards down, is usually when mistakes happen, and get compounded. Given the ease by which oil spreads on water. We must be helping our friends on the other side to restore these disastrous cuts before we are cleaning up a mess that will be “our” mess too. Letting federal officials, like Patty Murray, Maria Cantwell, and others, know that you are concerned about this, would be a good start. On June 4th, Canadian environmental groups and others are planning a ‘black out’ day to alert the public to the threat.
_____________________________________________
Georgia Strait Alliance writes: ‘In recent memory, there has never been such an open attack by our federal government on our environment and the civil society that is its voice. And that is why there has never been a more important time for us to speak up. So on June 4th Georgia Strait Alliance is joining organizations, businesses, unions, bloggers and individuals from across the country to “Black Out, Speak Out”.’
http://georgiastraitalliance.blogspot.ca/2012/05/june-4th-silence-is-not-option.html
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Filed under: Puget Sound | Tagged: canada, environment, goverment, Puget Sound, strait of juan de fuca | Comments Off on June 4th: Silence is not an option in Canada
Posted on April 27, 2012 by Al Bergstein
Canada’s new conservative government continues to strip away environmental protections…
—————————————
The Harper government unveiled a massive omnibus budget implementation bill Thursday that includes Fisheries Act amendments that will strip the term “habitat” from the most crucial section of the law. The government’s intent, according to a spokeswoman, to assist “everyday Canadians” in their dealings with federal fisheries bureaucrats.
http://www.vancouversun.com/life/environment/Fisheries+changes+introduced+amid+debate+over+intent/6525454/story.html
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Filed under: Puget Sound | Tagged: canada, environment, legislation, Puget Sound | Comments Off on Fisheries Act changes introduced amid debate over new law’s intent
Posted on November 17, 2011 by Al Bergstein
Winter herring quota could be ‘catastrophic’
This year’s Strait of Georgia herring fishery opened on November 7 with a quota of 6,000 tons, a massive increase on last year’s 283 tons. Raincoast Conservation Foundation is asking for a moratorium on the herring fishery until stocks have recovered, especially in light of the recent announcement of the proposed National Marine Conservation Area.
http://islandtides.com/
Read Island Tides online | Page 1, also single article ‘Reprint’ in Fisheries archive (Back Issues & Reprints)
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Filed under: Puget Sound | Tagged: canada, fishing, herring, Puget Sound | Comments Off on Winter Herring Quota in Canada could be ‘catastrophic’
Posted on September 1, 2011 by Al Bergstein
This just in from Alexandra Morton, the leading scientist opposing net pen aquaculture. If you have any question about the safety of net pen aquaculture, or the lengths that entrenched bureaucracy will go to support the unsupportable, then not only read the info below, but follow the link to Morton’s web site and read the lurid details. It’s quite sad, actually. Fiddling again while Rome burns.
Just to be clear on Ms. Morton’s credentials before you go further: She graduated Magna Cum Laude from American University with a bachelor’s in science. Her further studies have led her to be recognized as one of the leading researchers on the planet documenting behaviors of Orca.
“Testimony at the Cohen Inquiry Aquaculture Hearings hit a new low yesterday. The lengths scientists are going to cover up the marine anemia outbreak that occurred on salmon farms in the Fraser sockeye migratory corridor is extraordinary. If DFO succeeds in disassembling Dr. Miller’s lab, the truth about this disease, its impact on sockeye and the concern voiced in the 1990s regarding its potential for health concerns will never be revealed. If these vets want to tell us all the research done on marine anemia, also called Plasmacytoid Leukemia was wrong, they are going to have to retract the papers they wrote in journals such as Cancer Research, Diseases of Aquatic Organisms, The Canadian Veterinary Journal, the Journal of General Virology and Dr. Stephen’s PhD Thesis. “
Alexandra Morton
http://alexandramorton.typepad.com/
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Filed under: Puget Sound | Tagged: canada, fish pens, net pens, Puget Sound, Salmon, salmon farming | Comments Off on Marine Anemia Cover Up in B.C.
Posted on June 13, 2011 by Al Bergstein
6/11 Seattle Times
Canadian oil boom may bring many more tankers to Northwest waters
By Craig Welch
Seattle Times environment reporter
In the icy oil fields of Alberta, gargantuan machines traverse open-pit mines to access one of the greatest oil deposits on Earth: Canada’s oil sands.
That massive store of energy has touched off political feuds in the U.S. over a proposed 1,700-mile pipeline to funnel crude oil to the Gulf of Mexico.
But fights over Canada’s oil sands could have an impact much closer to home. One company is hoping to boost oil-sands shipments to Asia through Northwest waters — plans that would quadruple tanker traffic through Vancouver, B.C., and dramatically increase the amount of oil traveling through the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
More at
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2015297007_tanker12m.html
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Filed under: Around the Sound | Tagged: canada, oil spill, strait of juan de fuca | 1 Comment »
Posted on February 7, 2011 by Al Bergstein
2/3/11 Vancouver Sun
Canada, U.S. may restrict chinook salmon harvest to benefit killer whales
By LARRY PYNN, Vancouver Sun
Fishermen in Canada and the U.S. may have to give up part of their lucrative chinook salmon catch to help the recovery of endangered resident killer whales.
The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said in a news release Wednesday it plans to hold a science workshop with Fisheries and Oceans Canada in the spring to discuss potential catch restrictions.
The federal agency said that “killer whales depend to a substantial degree on large chinook salmon as a high-calorie food source” and that “killer whale productivity is affected by chinook abundance.”
As a result of the workshop, both countries will be “better able to determine whether and to what extent additional constraints on salmon fishing may be necessary,” it said.
More at
http://www.vancouversun.com/technology/Canada+restrict+chinook+salmon+harvest+benefit+killer+whales/4213858/story.html
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Filed under: Around the Sound, Salmon | Tagged: canada, orca, Salmon | Comments Off on Canada, U.S. may restrict chinook salmon harvest to benefit killer whales
