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[Morty]

David Suzuki's Science Matters: Uncovering the mystery of B.C.'s disappearing sockeye
Canadian Press from earlier today

http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5haDaf8wshDP_BySd0yljzsw-i6fg

[arimaBOATER]

When Dr. Suzuki speaks the ground "trembles" as he does speak with passion & from factual knowledge & is very respected around the world. But powers that be do have a habit to put "things " on the back burner........ Suzuki & others will just have to HAMMER AWAY daily....maybe put tents on lawns in Victoria......SO to get the real attention of our elected members. ---------He points out the various factors & possible solutions in regards to BC salmon. He in very clear terms in this read pts. out  that FISH FARMS are a problem & should be REMOVED OUT of the ocean. ----- Well there is the TALK & now time for ACTION... then at the same time we can work on the other solutions..........The sockeye run is now in the news... Great article & read. ( Should the world start taking action against fish farms hopefully he will not take the credit as others have been screaming this info for yrs. )

[poncho]

The negative impact of fish farms have been all over the media for a while now. Even U.S. sitcoms like Boston Legal have brought attention to the problem of B.C. Now world respected like Suzuki are weighin in. WHAT WILL IT TAKE FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO DO SOMETHING?

[marmot]

Hard evidence unfortunately.....

There was an article in the straight yesterday about warming ocean temps and the sockeye decline.  A UBC prof who has spent the last 10 or so years researching ocean temps discounted the notion that fish farms were to blame.  Not everyone is convinced we should remove them.  I think to some degree we all WANT the fish farms to be the culprit, because it is something we can affect, whereas if it's ocean temps, the sockeye are just plain hooped, and of course we don't want to believe that.  Still, DFO's mandate should be protection of the resource...we're just not in the right climate in more ways than one for that to happen

[BwiBwi]

What I really don't understand about this ocean temp excuse is, why is it only sockeye returning to area where juveniles has to pass fish farm saw the greatest decline in numbers?
Out by westcoast VI sockeye return has been decent.  Up north even Skeena R. sockeye return is good this year.  (Skeena R. is one of the system DFO uses to project possible sockeye return for Fraser R.)
All sockeyes from these river systems travel in the ocean with similar range.  The biggest difference is Fraser River sockeye passes through Georgia Straight and not the others.  So what's happening in the straight?

[poncho]

I think there will never be a consensus on what the main cause of the decline is. And both fish farms and raising temp in the ocean may both be to blame. However, if the government has the ability to force fish farms to be fully enclosed, or in lakes like some already are, why wouldn't they. Yes, that would be more costly and drive up the cost of salmon, but how much do you think Salmon will cost when there are none left in the Fraser?

[marmot]

I think there will never be a consensus on what the main cause of the decline is. And both fish farms and raising temp in the ocean may both be to blame. However, if the government has the ability to force fish farms to be fully enclosed, or in lakes like some already are, why wouldn't they. Yes, that would be more costly and drive up the cost of salmon, but how much do you think Salmon will cost when there are none left in the Fraser?

The thinking on the other end of that argument is that if they force enclosed farms, it will become cost prohibitive for the farms to operate and they will simply do business elsewhere....which isn't good either (environmentally speaking, not business)

[SnaggedADuck]

do the early and late sockeye have the same migration path?  Do some salmon take different routes to the ocean where there are less fish farms?  North side or south side of vancouver island?

[poncho]

The thinking on the other end of that argument is that if they force enclosed farms, it will become cost prohibitive for the farms to operate and they will simply do business elsewhere....which isn't good either (environmentally speaking, not business)

I guess it is a cost/benefit analysis. How much revenue do you lose if the fish farms go elsewhere compared to how much revenue do you lose if the commercial/sport fishing industry collapses along with the tourism benefits for places like the Queen Charlottes. I don't know what the answer is.

[poncho]

Also, if you order the salmon from Cactus Club, it comes from a fish farm that is situated in a lake. So these businesses definitely can make money.

[GoldHammeredCroc]

New Zealand has many salmon farms in their hydro canals - Chinooks too.

[dennisK]

New Zealand has many salmon farms in their hydro canals - Chinooks too.

Do they taste as bad as the farmed salmon here?

[Spud]

I can't believe anyone would even think for a second that it's ocean temp! Fish can dive deeper into colder waters and can travel north to Alaska. If the ocean temps were the blame then ALL salmon would be in trouble....... INCLUDING the TOXIC FISH FARM FISH that live in the warmest layer of water!! Give your heads a shake here. It's clear that our gov are helping the farms and don't give a crap about the wild salmon. Follow the money. It's the money that starts the stupid arguments about water temp.

If a politician starts talking about science and water temps you know he is lying..... after all his lips are moving.

[Wulff Man]

Whether the theory is right or wrong, the warmer temp's arent killing the fish directly but limiting the food supply necessarry to sustain them. farmed fish would ostensibly be in warmer water as well but obviously have no issues finding food.

[skaha]

--didn't we learn anything from bird flu
--once a few birds got it on the coast it spread rapidly to several other farms.
--this was above water and we could see the rapid spread of the disease and take immediate action

--sea lice or disease, does it make sence to risk  having open pen fish farms on major migration routes.
--there must be safer areas and better technology to allow for a viable fish farm industry.