Friends of Clayoquot Sound: News 020905

Immediate Release - September 5, 2002

Will Salmon Farming Protocol Silence First Nations Opposition?

TOFINO - The Ahousaht First Nation of Clayoquot Sound and Norwegian-based salmon farming multinational Pacific National Aquaculture (PNA) signed a protocol agreement yesterday. It is clear that the protocol gives financial benefit to Ahousaht and stability to the company, but whether it can address major environmental failures remains to be seen, say the Friends of Clayoquot Sound (FOCS).

"We recognize and respect the right of First Nations to exercise control over their own territories and resources," said FOCS spokesperson Melissa Nelson. "At the same time, we feel that the negotiation of this agreement stems largely from a history of government inaction in responding to Ahousaht concerns around the industry's environmental practices in their territory."

In January Ahousaht declared war against fish farms after a mass escape of Atlantic salmon. They demanded better management and mandatory closed containment systems.

Within the past year, PNA has experienced several accidents at its farms in Clayoquot Sound, each with arguably serious environmental impacts. These include:

An algal bloom that killed over 100,000 Atlantic salmon in August 2001.
An escape of at least 8,000 Atlantic salmon due to storm damage at the Saranac site in January 2002.
Two confirmed outbreaks of Infectious Hematopoietic Necrosis (IHN) in March and June of 2002. The first outbreak resulted in the culling of 750,000 diseased fish. The second outbreak is apparently being contained through heavy quarantine with only the dead fish being removed. The remainder of the 900,000 fish that don't die before reaching marketable size will be harvested and sold.

"The provincial and federal governments are mandated to manage and regulate industry practices in BC's oceans. Their failure to do so has left the Ahousaht with little choice but to negotiate directly with the company," said Nelson. "We sincerely hope that this agreement is beneficial to the Ahousaht First Nation. We are suspicious that the multinational is hoping to take advantage of the economic conditions of First Nations to silence their opposition with financial incentives."

The Friends of Clayoquot Sound are opposed to the presence of open netcage salmon farms in Clayoquot Sound, due to myriad environmental risks including pollution, escapes of Atlantic salmon and possible disease transfer to wild stocks and the marine environment.

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Friends of Clayoquot Sound
PO Box 489, 331 Neill St., Tofino BC V0R 2Z0
Tel: 250-725-4218 Fax: 250-725-2527
Email: info@focs.ca