Alex Morton’s Court Hearing Postponed
Posted on January 3rd, 2006 by Broughton Archipelago Stewardship Society

Those of you who anxiously waiting to know the provincial court’s decision as to whether to proceed with Alex Morton’s charges against Heritage Salmon, Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the provincial Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fish will now have to wait until Feb 7th.

Alexandra Morton is a registered biologist and long time resident of the Broughton Archipelago. She has been studying the sea lice epidemic from her home and research station in Echo Bay for the last 5 years. She also has been working collaboratively with field researchers and scientists both locally and internationally. Alex and her colleagues have now published a number of scientific papers on the connection between high-density open-net salmon farming, sea lice and the lethal impacts on wild Pacific salmon smolts.

Based on recent scientific studies, Alex personally laid charges of illegally discharging sea lice from the Burdwood Islands fish farm owned by Heritage Aquaculture into the marine environment last June. Alex contends that the DFO and MAFF (the federal department and provincial ministry responsible for protecting wild fish) have allowed this to occur.

Canadian Sablefish Association Awards Alexandra Morton

The Canadian Sablefish Association has awarded field biologist, Alexandra Morton, with the $20,000 “Fisheries Research Pioneer” award. The association commended the valuable research Alex has done and her pioneer spirit. Alex works in the wilderness of coastal British Columbia and is recognized internationally as the exemplar of the citizen-scientist. Alex began her work in the Broughton Archipelago as a cetacean biologist, but when the orca whales stopped following the salmon into this area, Alex worked with other orca researchers to find out why. This led Alex to realize the extent to which industrial open-net salmon aquaculture was negatively impacting marine wildlife. Alex has now become the de facto leader for sustainable salmon aquaculture. Alex is.

This award not only recognizes Alex’s commitment to protecting BC's wild fish and their habitat, but also her amazing effort and courage. For a self-funded biologist, without the benefit of formal graduate training or academic affiliation, to become a prolific and highly regarded scientist whose published research withstands rigorous peer-review is commendable. Her ground-breaking research has challenged federal and provincial government science resulting in harsh criticism from government representatives and the aquaculture industry. But Alex’s determination, integrity and supportive colleagues have now led to her proving a link between the sea lice epidemic and high-density open-net Atlantic salmon farms.

Alex has decided to share the $20,000 cash award with fellow researcher Martin Krkosek, who has been working with Alex for the past two years.
Alex was also awarded the fishing industry’s, “Hero of the Industry Award” on Saturday, November 19th in Richmond.

For more information please click on: Canadian Sablefish Association or contact the Canadian Sablefish Association at 604 915-9117 or sablefish@shawlink.ca.

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