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Remove salmon farms from the ocean

I am writing because I am tired of hearing about the problems with the salmon farming industry.
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Remove salmon farms from the ocean

I am writing because I am tired of hearing about the problems with the salmon farming industry. They need to be moved out of the oceans. We are not the only country having problems with this industry. Put them on land and label the product so people can choose to eat farmed fish or not eat farmed fish.

First Nations in the Broughton Archipelago are calling for the removal of salmon farms in their territory.

Importance of wild salmon:

Wild salmon drive B.C.’s fishing and ecotourism industries. They feed bears, whales, and hundreds of other species.

When salmon farms have to cull their fish because of diseases, government provides them with taxpayer-funded compensation.

By polluting our waters for free, the salmon farming industry is offloading massive costs onto B.C.’s environment and taxpayers.

The economic value of wild salmon and their associated businesses (e.g., tourism and fishing) dwarf the economic benefits of the salmon farming industry.

Wild salmon are our provincial fish and are central to our identity as British Columbians.

Negative environmental effects of salmon farming:

Published science shows parasites from salmon farms can drive wild salmon populations toward extinction. Salmon farms spew vast numbers of parasitic sea lice that infect young wild salmon.

Fish farms use a potent neurotoxin to remove parasites from farmed salmon.

Salmon farms are a threat to marine wildlife and have entangled and killed sea lions and humpback whales.

Piscine orthoreovirus (PRV) is common on farms and has been identified as the cause of heart disease in salmon.

Enough scientific evidence has been published to warrant precautionary action. It is clear fish farms present many risks to wild salmon. It’s time to remove them from wild salmon migration routes.

To learn more go to www.safepassage4salmon.ca

Evelyn Hunter

Youbou