Legacy - April 2012

Issue 6

April 2012

L e g ac y

“Turning up the HEAT in 2012” by

Wild Game Fish Conservation International http://WGFCI.blogspot.com © 2012 Wild Game Fish Conservation International

Wild fish know no borders

Legacy Wild Game Fish Conservation International Wild Game Fish Conservation International (WGFCI): Established in 2011 to advocate for wild game fish, their fragile ecosystems and the cultures and economies that rely on their robust populations.

LEGACY: Complimentary, no-nonsense, monthly publication by conservationists for conservationists LEGACY, the WGFCI Facebook page and the WGFCI website are utilized to educate fellow conservationists, elected officials, business owners and others regarding wild game fish, their contributions to society and the varied issues impacting them and those who rely on their sustainability.

LEGACY features wild game fish conservation projects, fishing adventures, accommodations, equipment and more. Your photos and articles featuring wild game fish from around planet earth are welcome for possible inclusion in an upcoming issue of LEGACY. Your “Letters to the Editor” are welcome.

Successful wild game fish conservation efforts around planet earth will ensure existence of these precious natural resources and their ecosystems for future generations to enjoy and appreciate. This is our LEGACY.

Wild Game Fish Conservation International founders: Bruce Treichler

Co-editor “Legacy”

Jim Wilcox

Publisher and co-editor “Legacy”

Legacy Celebrating Six Continuous Months of Wild Game Fish News 10,000+ unique pageviews in March

Contents BREAKING NEWS........................................................................................................................................................8 

Last Minute Wild Game Fish Conservation Headlines from Around Planet Earth.................................................. 8

Planet Earth ...............................................................................................................................................................10     

Norwegian delegation met by fish-farm protesters .................................................................................................. 10 How Corporations Corrupt Science at the Public's Expense ................................................................................. 12 Keystone XL: White House Backs Portion Of Pipeline That Ships U.S. Oil Overseas ......................................... 14 AgriMarine Signs Letter of Intent with Marine Harvest (Norway) – A Leading Salmon Producer Worldwide ... 18 Fish Feed ...................................................................................................................................................................... 19

Australia .....................................................................................................................................................................20 Tasmania .................................................................................................................................................................................... 20  Avoiding salmon pitfalls ............................................................................................................................................. 20

Brazil ..........................................................................................................................................................................21 

Removal of Indigenous Peoples of Belo Monte, Brazil Has Begun! ...................................................................... 21

Canada .......................................................................................................................................................................22  Northern Gateway Tankers: First Nations Angry Over Transport Canada Decision ............................................ 22  Canadian government is 'muzzling its scientists’ .................................................................................................... 23  Cenovus gets price boost with direct sale to China ................................................................................................ 25  Kinder Morgan's Grand Plan to Pipe Oil Sands Crude ............................................................................................ 26 Alberta ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 27  Gateway pipeline: Feds couldn't address aboriginal concerns, documents show .............................................. 27 British Columbia ........................................................................................................................................................................ 28  'Draconian' chinook cuts loom for anglers ............................................................................................................... 28  Letter to Norwegian Parliamentary Delegation – Dr. Alexandra Morton ................................................................ 30  CTV NEWS: Video coverage of salmon feedlot protest – March 9, 2012 ............................................................... 32  Setting the record straight on what we do around salmon farming ....................................................................... 34  Lake Babine First Nations partners with others in commercial inland fishery ..................................................... 35  Salmon farmers show commitment to best practices with important new agreement ........................................ 36  Veteran Fish Scientist Highlights Key Risks from Enbridge Pipelines .................................................................. 37  Transport Canada's Clearing of Enbridge Ignores the Facts .................................................................................. 38 Nova Scotia ................................................................................................................................................................................ 40  Infectious Salmon Anaemia Confirmed in Nova Scotia ........................................................................................... 40  Salmon virus prompts concern in Nova Scotia ........................................................................................................ 41  Think tank positive about future of Atlantic Canada's aquaculture sector ........................................................... 42  Cooke gives up on Shelburne fish farm .................................................................................................................... 45  Salmon Virus Confirmed, Cooke Aquaculture Won’t Stop $150 Million Expansion ............................................. 46

Iceland ........................................................................................................................................................................47 

Organic Accumulation under Salmon Aquaculture Cages ..................................................................................... 47

Ireland ........................................................................................................................................................................48   

Evidence for sea lice-induced marine mortality of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) … .......................................... 49 Parties argue over moves to save salmon from extinction ..................................................................................... 49 Opposition to €3.5m fish farm over navigational, waste and tourist issues ......................................................... 50

Norway .......................................................................................................................................................................51  

ISA confirmed at Nordmøre ........................................................................................................................................ 51 Is the Current PD Strategy Enough? ......................................................................................................................... 52

Russia ........................................................................................................................................................................53 

Russia urges Norway to restrict salmon fishery ...................................................................................................... 53

USA.............................................................................................................................................................................54  House Passes Extreme “Drill Everywhere” Bill ........................................................................................................ 54 Alaska ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 55  Pebble Mine Permit Status .......................................................................................................................................... 55  Time to protect Bristol Bay cultures, not sell them ................................................................................................. 56 California .................................................................................................................................................................................... 58  A Bold Plan to Reshape the Central Valley Flood Plain .......................................................................................... 58  A Victory for Central Valley Salmon .......................................................................................................................... 59  Fishing the North Coast: Huge abundance of ocean salmon forecasted for 2012 ............................................... 60 North Carolina ............................................................................................................................................................................ 61  Aquaculture in NC: The Global Connection .............................................................................................................. 61 Washington State ...................................................................................................................................................................... 62  Large Wood Placement in Washington’s Waters – WSDOT Policy ........................................................................ 62  Is it time for “Capitol Lagoon” yet? ........................................................................................................................... 63  Ecology study finds high levels of pollutants in Port Angeles Harbor .................................................................. 66  Help LightHawk: Get Salmon-Tracking Antennae .................................................................................................... 67  Wild Game Fish Conservation International Opposes Chehalis River Dam .......................................................... 69  Whither the Chehalis River Basin Flood Authority ........................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.  Phase 1 Chehalis River Mainstem and Tributaries Comprehensive Salmonid Habitat Enhancement Plan ...... 71

Featured artist: Michelle Nickerson - For the Ocean, Wild Salmon and Me ..........................................................72 Youth Conservation News (new section) .................................................................................................................73   

McDonald Creek’s Hero #1.......................................................................................................................................... 73 2012 NORTHWEST YOUTH CONSERVATION & FLY FISHING ACADEMY ............................................................ 74 South Sound Student GREEN Congress ................................................................................................................... 75

Featured Fishing Photo from Around Planet Earth:................................................................................................76 Featured Wild Game Fish: Snake River fine-spotted cutthroat trout .....................................................................77 Featured Fishing adventures: Klickitat Riverfront Inn – Klickitat, Washington ...................................................78 Legacy distribution ...................................................................................................................................................79 Conservation Video Library – “Why we fight” .........................................................................................................80 Attention Conservation-minded Business Owners .................................................................................................81 WGFCI endorsed conservation organizations.........................................................................................................81

B Bo on nV Vo oyyaag gee,, D Do on nS Sttaan niiffo orrd d Wild Game Fish Conservation International and many others look forward to your safe return in March 2013 to ritish Columbia, Canada

Don Staniford, Global Co-ordinator for Global Alliance Against Industrial Aquaculture, was deported from Canada to England February 29, 2012 by Canadian immigration officers. Don will continue his fight to remove open pen salmon feedlots from productive marine ecosystems around planet earth.

Video of Don’s deportation party

Dr. Alexandra Morton standing tall in her two decades-long effort to protect wild Pacific salmon and their fragile ecosystems from the diseases and parasites directly associated with the open pen salmon feedlot industry.

92% of the salmon feedlots sited in British Columbia’s productive marine ecosystems are owned and operated by Norwegian multi-national corporations including Crieg Seafoods (operators of the truck behind Dr. Morton in this photo).

Wild Game Fish Conservation International salutes Dr. Morton and the growing number of others who are working so very hard to conserve wild game fish around the globe for future generations.

Please visit Salmon Are Sacred to learn how you too can participate in this worthy cause.

Legacy BREAKING NEWS  Last Minute Wild Game Fish Conservation Headlines from Around Planet Earth                     

Elwha River wild steelhead temporarily protected from hatchery release (March 9, 2012) No Habitat, No Fish: Harper Plans for Elimination of Wildlife Protection (March 12, 2012 Verlasso(TM) Expands East Coast Reach Through Premier Seafood Distributor Samuels & Son (March 12, 2012) Don’t sacrifice tourism for more fish farms, groups say (March 12, 2012) NDP says leaked documents show feds abandoning fresh water oversight (March 13, 2012) Canada poised to 'gut' fish protection laws, biologist claims (March 13, 2012) Salmon farm moratorium urged in N.S. (March 13, 2012) ISA virus in BC Supermarkets and Vedder River (March 13, 2012) Atlantic salmon in Lower Mainland markets test positive for ISA virus: Morton (March 13, 2012) DFO LEAK SPELLS TROUBLE FOR FISHERIES MANAGEMENT (March 13, 2012) The Human Cost of Animal Suffering (March 13, 2012) Scottish salmon’s US breakthrough (March 13, 2012) Growing concern over open net pen salmon farming expansion (March 14, 2012) Salmon Farming in Canada – A Challenge (March 14, 2012) Scottish salmon exports to US record breaking growth (March 14, 2012) Salmon farming continues to be a major issue (March 14, 2012) Salmon virus findings can't be confirmed, agency says (March 14, 2012) Harper's Underhanded Gutting of Fisheries Act Designed to Help Enbridge and Co. (March 14, 2012) Changes to Fisheries Act would be 'death blow,' Greens warn (March 15, 2012) Heavy antibiotics, chemical abuse poison fish industry’s health (March 16, 1012) Salmon farmers urge action over ‘draconian’ bill (March 18, 2012)

Legacy Forward As the planet’s population increases the demands for cheap salmon and cheap petroleum products grow with it. These, like other addictions, are recipes for increased corporate greed and government corruption at the expense of human and environmental health.

Our addiction to “cheap” salmon that are readily available throughout the year has led to the exploding open pen salmon feedlot industry. This multi-billion dollar industry, its corporate officers and corrupt elected public officials are directly responsible for numerous human health risks and devastated marine environments, including once-plentiful wild Pacific and Atlantic salmon and their fragile ecosystems.

Similarly, our addiction to “cheap” petroleum products that are readily available has led to increased exploration and exploitation on land and in the oceans of the world, even in the most fragile ecosystems. As with our addiction to salmon (farmed or otherwise), our addiction to oil leads directly to corporate greed and corrupt government officials at the expense of human health and fragile ecosystems.

We at Wild Game Fish Conservation International understand that it is our responsibility to report current actions by Big Oil, Big Salmon, Big Timber, Big Hydropower and other multinational conglomerates that directly impact the future of wild game fish and their environments. We fully expect that those who read Legacy will come to understand that what is good for sustainable wild fish is good for humans. The opposite is also true!

We continue to urge conservationists to speak out passionately and to demonstrate peacefully for wild game fish and their fragile ecosystems; ecosystems that we are but one small component of.

As recreational fishermen, conservation of wild game fish for future generations is our passion. Publishing “Legacy” is our responsibility to ensure the future of these precious gifts.

Upcoming Special Issue of Legacy – wild game fish versus hatchery-reared game fish: We will be publishing a special issue of Legacy soon that will focus primarily on the issue of wild game fish versus hatchery-reared game fish. If you have an interest in this topic and have research or opinions about it, one way or the other, please send it to us so we can publish it in Legacy. We will do our best to publish as much as possible in this special issue.

Bruce Treichler

James E. Wilcox Wild Game Fish Conservation International

Planet Earth ď ś Norwegian delegation met by fish-farm protesters March 08, 2012

New Music and Slideshow: “Runaway Train� featuring Eliza Gilkyson Group in B.C. to discuss aquaculture, indigenous peoples A top-level parliamentary delegation from Norway was met by fish-farm protesters in Victoria Wednesday and more demonstrations are expected when they head to Quadra Island today.

The group, which includes Dag Terje Andersen, president of the Norwegian parliament, and seven other politicians, met with Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird, Fisheries Minister Keith Ashfield and other politicians in Ottawa before travelling to B.C. But a meeting and seminars on aquaculture and indigenous peoples, to be held on Quadra Island and attended by Aboriginal Affairs Minister John Duncan, has aroused the ire of some First Nations and those opposed to open-net pen salmon farms.

The only First Nations invited to the meeting are the Ahousaht and Kitasoo, both of which are supportive of salmon farming, said Chief Bob Chamberlin of Kwicksutaineuk Ah-Kwamish First Nation on the north Island.

"There will be a certain mindset in that room and it is something we are at odds with," said Chamberlin, who is also vice-president of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs.

Every First Nation has the right to make its own decision on whether to support salmon farming in its own territory, but the other side should also be presented, Chamberlin said.

"I hope the delegation doesn't leave the country thinking it is all peace, love and harmony with this," he said.

"All the resolutions that have come from UBCIC, with 104 tribes, do not include one resolution that supports fish farms."

Chamberlin plans to be outside the meeting in full regalia, with another chief.

"I am inviting myself in," he said.

"My minister is speaking on a topic near and dear to us, and I want to ask why he is supporting fish farms."

A spokesman for Duncan's office said the meeting is being held to discuss aquaculture economic development and the guest list was developed by the Norwegian embassy.

"Economic development opportunities for First Nations are one of our government's priorities, and aquaculture development has the potential to play a significant role in the diversification and strengthening of local and regional First Nations economies," he said.

Chamberlin said he is not sure what he will do if he is not allowed into the meeting, but said it would send a signal to other First Nations on the government's priorities.

"It all leads me to believe the government is more focused on the economy than the well-being of ecosystems and wild salmon," he said.

Most of B.C.'s major salmon farming companies have Norwegian parent companies and demonstrators in Victoria presented the Norwegian politicians with a letter saying "salmon feedlots" should not be on wild salmon migration routes.

"The [Fraser River sockeye] decline began when salmon feedlots were placed around Quadra Island on the migration route," it says.

"We respectfully ask that you advise your corporations to remove their fish from B.C. waters."

Editorial Comment: The photos of the Wild Salmon Warriors in the above article are posted in the Salmon Are Sacred Facebook Group – Thanks to these and other dedicated wild salmon conservationists, wild Pacific salmon will once again be free of the many ecosystem challenges associated with problematic open pen salmon feedlots that are intentionally sited in wild salmon migration routes.

Wild Game Fish Conservation International salutes our wild salmon conservation colleagues in Beautiful British Columbia, Canada.

Dr. Alexandra Morton’s update from March 9, 2012

ď ś How Corporations Corrupt Science at the Public's Expense February 17, 2012 Federal decision makers need access to the best available science in order to craft policies that protect our health, safety, and environment.

Unfortunately, censorship of scientists and the manipulation, distortion, and suppression of scientific information have threatened federal science in recent years.

This problem has sparked much debate, but few have identified the key driver of political interference in federal science: the inappropriate influence of companies with a financial stake in the outcome.

A new UCS report, Heads They Win, Tails We Lose, shows how corporations influence the use of science in federal decision making to serve their own interests.

Methods of Abuse The report describes five basic methods that corporations use to influence the scientific and policymaking processes: How Do They Game the System?

Let Us Recount the Ways Corrupting the Science. Corporations suppress research, intimidate scientists, manipulate study designs, ghostwrite scientific articles, and selectively publish results that suit their interests.

Shaping Public Perception. Private interests downplay evidence, exaggerate uncertainty, vilify scientists, hide behind front groups, and feed the media slanted news stories.

Restricting Agency Effectiveness. Companies attack the science behind agency policy, hinder the regulatory process, corrupt advisory panels, exploit the "revolving door" between corporate and government employment, censor scientists, and withhold information from the public.

Influencing Congress. By spending billions of dollars on lobbying and campaign contributions, corporate interests gain undue access to members of Congress, encouraging them to challenge scientific consensus, delay action on critical problems, and shape the use of science in policy making.

Exploiting Judicial Pathways. Corporate interests have expanded their influence on the judicial system, used the courts to undermine science, and exploited judicial processes to bully and silence scientists.

Progress Made (and Still To Be Made) In his 2009 inaugural address, President Obama promised to "restore science to its rightful place."

His administration has made progress toward that goal on several important fronts—elevating the role of science in government, ordering agencies to develop scientific integrity policies, improving transparency, and strengthening conflict-of-interest policies.

READ ENTIRE UNION OF CONCERNED SCIENTISTS ARTICLE HERE

 US, Mexico agree to cooperate on oil, gas drilling below maritime border February 20, 2012

Editorial Comment: Wild Game Fish Conservation International and our associates are concerned about aggressive American and Mexican expansion of offshore oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico. Increased likelihood of irreversible devastation to wild game fish and their ecosystems will result from:

• • •

system failures such as that experienced with the Deep Water Horizon tanker accidents due to increased traffic to expanding Asian markets oil platform damage associated with increasing hurricanes

LOS CABOS, Mexico — The United States and Mexico agreed Monday to work together when drilling for oil and gas below their maritime border in the Gulf of Mexico.

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Mexico’s foreign minister signed the deal at a ceremony in the Mexican resort of Los Cabos as Mexican President Felipe Calderon and U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar looked on.

The cooperation stems from an understanding that President Barack Obama and Calderon reached in 2010 to share in the profits and work together to avoid spills.

Clinton said the deal would “ensure safe, efficient, responsible exploration of the oil and gas reservoirs in the Gulf of Mexico.”

“These reservoirs could hold considerable reserves that would benefit the United States and Mexico alike,” she said.

But they don’t necessarily stop neatly at our maritime boundary,” Clinton added. “This could lead to disputes if a company discovers a reservoir that straddles the boundary — disputes, for example, over who should do the extraction and how much they should extract.”

Clinton said the agreement will prevent such disputes and create new business opportunities.

Calderon said the deal creates clear rules and should erase any fear among Mexicans that their oil will be appropriated by Americans.

And he stressed that “operations will be done in a safe and responsible manner, with full respect to the environment.”

Under the agreement, U.S. companies will now be allowed to partner with Mexico’s national oil company in drilling. But neither country is constrained by the other.

If the two governments can’t agree on how to exploit a reservoir, either can take its share unilaterally.

The U.S. Interior Department said the agreement makes nearly 1.5 million acres of the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf more accessible for exploration and production activities.

“This is an area larger than the state of Delaware,” Salazar said.

ď ś Keystone XL: White House Backs Portion Of Pipeline That Ships U.S. Oil Overseas February 27, 2012 WASHINGTON -- The White House is throwing its support behind a decision by TransCanada to build a portion of the Keystone XL pipeline, even though the project will result in more oil going overseas and potentially higher gas prices.

TransCanada announced Monday that it plans to begin building the southern part of the pipeline , which would ship crude oil from Cushing, Okla., to the Gulf of Mexico.

White House press secretary Jay Carney said President Barack Obama "welcomes" the news that the Canadian pipeline company is moving ahead with its plans, despite the fact that the administration halted work on the cross-border portion of Keystone through 2013 -- a move that sparked outcry among congressional Republicans -- until TransCanada works out a new route through Nebraska that avoids ecologically sensitive areas.

"As the President made clear in January, we support the company's interest in proceeding with this project, which will help address the bottleneck of oil in Cushing that has resulted in large part from increased domestic oil production, currently at an eight year high. Moving oil from the Midwest to the world-class, state-of-the-art refineries on the Gulf Coast will modernize our infrastructure, create jobs, and encourage American energy production," Carney said in a statement.

Obama also touched on domestic energy and gas prices during remarks to the National Governors Association on Monday. "We've got to develop new sources of American energy so that we're less dependent on foreign oil and yearly spikes in gas prices," he said.

But if the argument for building Keystone is to generate new oil within the United States and bring down gas prices, TransCanada's plans don't deliver. In fact, environmental groups say, TransCanada's plans for Keystone mean more domestic oil will head overseas and a potential spike in gas prices.

"At a time of public worry about rising gas prices, lawmakers should be concerned about a project that will [be] diverting oil from the Midwest gasoline refining operations to Gulf Coast diesel refining operations thereby raising U.S. oil and gas prices," Susan Casey-Lefkowitz, director of the International Program at the National Resources Defense Council, wrote in a Monday blog post .

"The southern route pipeline will still provide the main service to oil companies that Keystone XL would provide: it will divert tar sands from the Midwest to the Gulf, raising American oil prices and likely also gasoline prices. An Oklahoma to Texas tar sands pipeline will mean more tar sands converted to diesel and available for export overseas."

Kim Huynh, speaking for Friends of the Earth, accused the president of trying to have it both ways by touting his commitment to clean energy "while simultaneously shilling for one of the dirtiest industries on Earth" by endorsing the pipeline's construction.

"What the administration seems to be missing is that the southern segment of this pipeline would exacerbate air pollution in refinery communities along the Gulf Coast and threaten our heartland with costly spills -- all for oil that likely won't make it to Americans' gas tanks," Huynh said in a statement.

`READ ENTIRE HUFFIBGTON POST ARTICLE HERE

Seriously??????

 WASTE CONTAMINATION FROM SALMON FARMS January 1, 2012

Tens of thousands of farmed salmon confined to net pens produce a huge amount of waste: chemical, biological, organic, and inorganic. For more than 25 years, researchers around the world have recognized the harm from salmon farm waste and its long-term impacts on water quality, fisheries resources, and sea-bed ecology.

The Waste Problem Salmon net pens discharge untreated sewage, including contaminated feed laced with chemicals, toxic residues, nitrogen, phosphorus, and copper and zinc — not to mention diseases and parasites — directly into coastal waters throughout the world. In addition, tons of contaminated salmon, together with processing wastes — bones, entrails, and even the carcasses of seals, sea lions, and other predators — are dumped in landfills or processed for fertilizer or animal feed.

Sewer Systems in the Sea Experts have calculated that factory salmon farms, each extending over several acres of coastal waters, discharge extremely high concentrations of untreated sewage.

According to Scotland's World Wildlife Fund, salmon farms there produce nitrogen wastes equal to a human population of more than nine million people.

Even industry insiders concede that a typical 200,000-fish salmon farm releases:   

nitrogen equal to 20,000 humans, phosphorus equal to 25,000 humans, and fecal matter roughly equivalent to a city of 65,000 people.

In 2000 and 2001, nutrient discharges from aquaculture in the Northeast Atlantic, including Scotland, Denmark, Norway, and Ireland, were estimated at almost 40,000 tons of nitrogen and 6,600 tons of phosphorus.

READ ENTIRE PURE SALMON ARTICLE HERE

 Should Salmon Farms Move Inland?

October 28, 2011 Editorial Comment: This article is a stark reminder of the many human health risks (including cancer) and environmental impacts associated with the open pen salmon feedlot industry on a global scale It also reminds us of the free ride (public resource - water, waste and chemical disposal via marine environment, diet supplementation via wild fish, etc) provided to this dirty industry by corrupt government officials.

Bayne Stanley for The New York Times A salmon farm in the Broughton Archipelago in British Columbia.

The detection of infectious salmon anemia, a lethal virus, in two juvenile wild sockeye salmon in British Columbia has reinvigorated a long-running debate about the sustainability of the aquaculture industry, particularly salmon farms.

Worldwide, the majority of salmon farms are situated in the ocean, with a net the only barrier between the farmed fish and the wild ones. Such pens produce thousands of tons of fish each year, said Gary Marty, a fish pathologist for the Ministry of Agriculture in British Columbia.

Some scientists and environmentalists are calling for moving the salmon farms to inland freshwater pens to protect the ocean environment.

The two wild sockeye with the virus were discovered along the province’s central coast. Some biologists suspect that the ailment could have spread from the saltwater salmon farms.

“This form of fish farming has lots of opponents,” said Daniel Pauly, a fisheries biologist at the University of British Columbia.

Glen Spain, the Northwest regional director for the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations, suggests that onshore farms would diminish the need for “these massive undertakings in the wild.”

For now, though, there is no indication that moving farms onto land is a viable plan. “That’s probably not a standard thing we’d do, moving onto land,” Dr. Marty said. For starters, such a move would cost $1 billion to $2 billion, he said.

Although moving the farms would protect wild fish, diseases can still develop inland, Rosamond Naylor, the director of the Center on Food Security and the Environment at Stanford University, noted.

READ ENTIRE NEW YORK TIMES GREEN BLOG POSTING HERE

 AgriMarine

Signs Letter of Intent with Marine Harvest (Norway) – A Leading Salmon Producer Worldwide February 14, 2012

AgriMarine Holdings Inc. (the “Company” or “AgriMarine”), the leader in floating solid-wall containment technology and production for sustainable aquaculture, is pleased to announce that its subsidiary, AgriMarine Norway AS, has signed a Letter of Intent with Marine Harvest ASA (“Marine Harvest”) for a demonstration site using AgriMarine’s core technology to increase salmon production capacity up to 1 kg. Under the terms of the proposed demonstration project, AgriMarine’s solid-wall, floating closed containment tank would be tested and adapted for the production of salmon in Norway. A successful demonstration of the AgriMarine System may result in a Definitive Agreement with Marine Harvest in the near future.

Geir Spiten, President of AgriMarine Norway said, “We are confident that the Letter of Intent is the first step in establishing a business relationship with Marine Harvest aimed at the commercialization of AgriMarine’s technology for sustainable aquaculture in Norway. This new project follows previous announcements of two other projects in conjunction with Norwegian salmon companies that aim to demonstrate the economic benefits of the AgriMarine System over conventional net cage systems”.

Cato Lyngøy, Group Technical Manager Technology & Environment, Marine Harvest said, “We look forward to working with AgriMarine to establish the first application of the AgriMarine System in Norway during the current production year. Our objective is to test AgriMarine’s technology to support semi-contained postsmolt production of fish up to 1 kg”.

“Establishing a strategic relationship with a recognized industry major and receiving industry validation is a priority for AgriMarine’s management. Marine Harvest is the world’s largest farmed salmon producer and we are confident of the benefits that our system will bring to the industry”, added Mr. Spiten.

Updates 2012-03-12

AgriMarine Closes Initial Tranche of Private Placement Read More » 2012-02-24

AgriMarine Increases Private Placement Read More » 2012-02-15

AgriMarine Announces $5M Private Placement Read More »

 Fish Feed

Salmon farmers often claim their industry is helping to “feed the world.” In truth, the salmon farming industry contributes to the pressures on already overstressed global wild fish stocks, can strain the food supply for people in poorer nations, and removes massive quantities of small fish from the ocean food chain.

Depending on the production region, 1.5 – 8 kilograms of wild fish are needed to produce one kilogram of farmed salmon.

“With global [fish] catches declining since the late 1980s, continuation of present trends will lead to supply shortfall, for which aquaculture cannot be expected to compensate, and may well exacerbate.”

Daniel Pauly et al. (2005) Nature 1 Salmon feed is made, in part, from fishmeal and fish oil—concentrated products requiring much larger volumes of small ocean fish (such as anchovies, herring and sardines) to produce one serving of food for a person than would be required if these were consumed directly.

Much of the wild feed for BC farmed salmon is taken from the southern hemisphere, diverting local protein to raise a luxury product for northern consumers. Amongst countries Canada imports seafood from, Peru — a significant source of cheap fish for feed production — ranks third by volume.2 The economic incentive to speed the growth of farmed species has led to the use of an increasingly high-energy diet, which means farmed salmon have a higher fat content than their wild counterparts. This makes them more vulnerable to contamination by fat-soluble pollutants (i.e. PCBs) that accumulate up the food chain.3 And, since feed ingredients are sourced from fisheries all over the world, “local” farmed salmon can contain contaminants from distant seas. There are regional variations in contaminant levels depending on where the feed was sourced and where the fish are raised.

READ ENTIRE FARMED AND DANGEROUS ARTICLE HERE

Australia Tasmania

ď ś Avoiding salmon pitfalls March 07, 2012 TASMANIA has a rare chance to avoid the environmental and social destruction that has hit every major salmon farming country in the world, says Canadian researcher John Volpe.

Dr Volpe is among a group of speakers at a marine farming forum in Hobart tomorrow.

Norway had to poison 27 rivers to get rid of a salmon farm parasite, Chile has been hit by disease, Norway and Scotland have genetically altered wild salmon and a Canadian parasite has swept through wild fish, said Dr Volpe, a professor at the University of Victoria in British Columbia, Canada.

"Tasmania is where British Columbia was 15 or so years ago," Dr Volpe said. "Currently Tasmania has the advantage of still having space for dialogue."

He said BC made the mistakes that other countries had made.

"That led to fractious and hot political debate, where the only outcome is the demise of one side or the other."

He said the debate had become so full of hatred that the industry wanted all critics silenced and the community and anti-farming groups wanted all salmon farming ended.

Traditionally salmon had been accepted as a high-value product that only appeared at certain times but it had started competing with chicken, beef and pork.

"It would be something like trying to produce tiger meat at the same price as beef," he said.

"Now it's year-round production for the same price as other animal protein products."

That put pressure on the ecology.

"Norway was forced to poison 27 of their rivers, they had to kill everything, to bring under control a parasite that was brought by farms. That triggered the first public outrage, in the 1980s, and that created the motivation of the industry to expand to Canada, which had a very lax regulatory regime."

"Managing Marine Farming: Have we achieved best practice?" will be held at the University of Tasmania's Stanley Burbury Theatre tomorrow. Duncan Kerr SC will chair the meeting, which will be opened by Governor Peter Underwood.

Today delegates are visiting marine farming operations in North West Bay and on Bruny Island.

Brazil

 Removal of Indigenous Peoples of Belo Monte, Brazil Has Begun!

March 4, 2010 Editorial Comment: The proposed Belo Monte dam will displace some 20,000 indigenous people and will devastate critical habitat for the region’s fish and wildlife. In the process a very few will get extremely wealthy while others and the environment suffer – This madness always promises economic benefits with no harmful impacts to the environment, yet never delivers. It continues around the globe with no end in sight.

The Brazilian government is moving ahead "at any cost" with plans to build the third-largest dam in the world and one of the Amazon's most controversial development projects – the Belo Monte dam on the Xingu River in the state of Pará.

The Belo Monte dam complex dates back to Brazil's military dictatorship and the government has attempted to build it through various series of national investment programs including Brasil em Ação and the Program to Accelerate Growth.

Original plans to dam the Xingu have been greenwashed through multiple public relations programs over the course of two decades in the face of intense national and international protest.

Impacts on Environment and People In order to feed the powerhouse of the Belo Monte dam complex, up to 80% of the Xingu River will be diverted from its original course, causing a permanent drought on the river's "Big Bend," and directly affecting the Paquiçamba and Arara territories of the Juruna and Arara indigenous peoples. To make this possible, two huge canals 500 meters wide by 75 km long will be excavated, unearthing more land than was removed to build the Panama Canal. Belo Monte's two reservoirs and canals will flood a total of 668 km2 of which 400 km2 is standing forest. The flooding will also force more than 20,000 people from their homes in the municipalities of Altamira and Vitoria do Xingu.

Hydroelectric energy is touted as both a solution to Brazil's periodic blackouts and as a "clean development" approach to global climate change. However, Philip Fearnside of the National Amazon Research Institute (INPA) has calculated that the forests flooded by Belo Monte's reservoirs will generate enormous quantities of methane, a greenhouse gas that is 25 times more potent than CO2.

Belo Monte will also attract 100,000 migrants to the region. However, at the height of construction, only 40,000 jobs – only 2,000 of them long-term – will have been created. The remaining labor pool will be driven to resort to illegal logging and cattle ranching, the two main causes of deforestation in the Amazon. In addition, new migrants could fuel social tensions as they look for work, pushing into indigenous territories and protected areas to carve out a livelihood.

Meanwhile, the needs of those who do find jobs will add pressure to an already weak infrastructure and social services in the largest cities.

For the Xingu's poor farmers, temporary employment created by the dam is not a viable replacement for lost agricultural lands and the river's fish supply. Considered an "obstacle" to business interests, indigenous peoples are particularly vulnerable.

READ ENTIRE ARTICLE HERE

Canada

ď ś Northern Gateway Tankers: First Nations Angry Over Transport Canada Decision February 24, 2012

VANCOUVER - First Nations along British Columbia's north and central coast say it's unfathomable that Transport Canada approves the use of oil supertankers in the province's treacherous inlets and marine passages.

Coastal First Nations executive director Art Sterritt said Friday that the department ruling ignores safety issues such as poor weather, human error, and the narrow, unforgiving waterways.

Transport Canada filed its report on Thursday to the regulatory panel weighing Enbridge Inc.'s $5.5billion proposal to ship Alberta crude to the West Coast by pipeline and export the oil to Asian markets via supertankers loaded in Kitimat.

The report does not identify any regulatory concerns and says residual risks are present in any project.

Sterritt said that's nonsensical and shocking because a recent study by Coastal First Nations suggested a tanker spill could cost $23 billion, creating catastrophic economic, environmental and cultural damage.

On Friday, the Yinka Dene Alliance announced it has filed a complaint and sent a representative to the United Nations in Geneva to speak about the federal government's intention to go ahead with the proposed pipeline.

"The government has said repeatedly that they are planning to push Enbridge through despite the fact that our nations have said no," said Anne Sam She will be speaking about the complaint with the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

"The Harper government is ignoring us so we have no option but to escalate this issue to the global community."

Enbridge (TSX:ENB) maintains the pipeline will bring jobs and economic development to northern B.C., but opponents insist the risks are too high.

They have packed Joint Review Panel hearings underway across B.C. and Alberta through 2013.

 Canadian government is 'muzzling its scientists’ February 17, 2012 Speakers at a major science meeting being held in Canada said communication of vital research on health and environment issues is being suppressed.

But one Canadian government department approached by the BBC said it held the communication of science as a priority.

Prof Thomas Pedersen, a senior scientist at the University of Victoria, said he believed there was a political motive in some cases.

"The Prime Minister (Stephen Harper) is keen to keep control of the message, I think to ensure that the government won't be embarrassed by scientific findings of its scientists that run counter to sound environmental stewardship," he said.

Continue reading the main story “Start Quote I suspect the federal government would prefer that its scientists don't discuss research that points out just how serious the climate change challenge is."”

End Quote Professor Thomas Pedersen University of Victoria "I suspect the federal government would prefer that its scientists don't discuss research that points out just how serious the climate change challenge is."

The Canadian government recently withdrew from the Kyoto protocol to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

The allegation of "muzzling" came up at a session of the AAAS meeting to discuss the impact of a media protocol introduced by the Conservative government shortly after it was elected in 2008.

The protocol requires that all interview requests for scientists employed by the government must first be cleared by officials. A decision as to whether to allow the interview can take several days, which can prevent government scientists commenting on breaking news stories.

Sources say that requests are often refused and when interviews are granted, government media relations officials can and do ask for written questions to be submitted in advance and elect to sit in on the interview.

'Orwellian' approach Andrew Weaver, an environmental scientist at the University of Victoria in British Columbia, described the protocol as "Orwellian".

According to Weaver, “The information is so tightly controlled that the public is left in the dark”

READ ENTIRE BBC ARTICLE HERE Huffington Post: Canadian Scientists Told By Ottawa Which Findings Make Press, Panel Tells Global Research Community

 CEC receives a submission on BC salmon farms February 17, 2012 Montreal On 10 February 2012, the Secretariat of the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (“CEC”) received a citizen submission filed by the Center for Biological Diversity, the Pacific Coast Wild Salmon Society, the Kwikwasu’tinuxw Haxwa’mis First Nation, and the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations (together, the "Submitters"). The Secretariat subsequently received a version of the submission correcting a minor error of form on 13 February 2012, and it is the latter version the Secretariat is reviewing pursuant to Article 14(1) of the North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation ("NAAEC"). The Submitters assert that Canada is failing to effectively enforce its environmental law and, in particular, provisions of the federal Fisheries Act (the "Act"). Section 35 of the Act prohibits “any work or undertaking that results in the harmful alteration, disruption or destruction of fish habitat” without valid authorization. In Submission SEM-12-001 (BC Salmon Farms) , the Submitters assert that Canada has allowed more than 100 commercial salmon farms, or feedlots, to operate in coastal British Columbia. The Submitters assert that section 35 authorizations are required “because each salmon feedlot is responsible for creating a harmful alteration, disruption, or destruction of fish habitat.” The Submitters allege that such salmon farms are not, however, validly authorized.

Section 36 of the Act, among other things, prohibits the deposit of a “deleterious substance” in “water frequented by fish” unless such deposit is authorized by regulation. The Submitters assert that because of “the government’s failure to prohibit the use of the neurotoxic chemical, emamectin benzoate, used to treat infestations of sea lice, despite evidence that this substance is deleterious to natural fish habitat,” Canada is failing to enforce section 36 of the Act. The Submitters assert generally, that as a result of the above-mentioned alleged failures to enforce sections 35 and 36 of the Fisheries Act, Canada is “exposing wild salmon to amplified levels of parasites such as sea lice, viral and bacterial diseases, toxic chemicals and concentrated waste.”

The CEC Secretariat is reviewing SEM-12-001 to determine whether it meets the criteria for submissions set out in Article 14 of the NAAEC. NAAEC Articles 14 and 15 include procedures allowing private parties to make submissions to the CEC Secretariat asserting "that a Party [to the NAAEC] is failing to effectively enforce its environmental law." The CEC has published "Guidelines for Submissions on Enforcement Matters " explaining these procedures.

In appropriate cases, and upon instruction from the CEC Council, the CEC Secretariat may examine a submission further and develop a factual record.

For more information, please visit the CEC's "Citizen Submissions on Enforcement Matters " webpage, and the registry of Submission SEM-12-001 (BC Salmon Farms).

The Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) is an intergovernmental organization established by Canada, Mexico and the United States to implement the North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation (NAAEC), the environmental side accord to NAFTA. The CEC supports cooperation among the NAFTA partners to address environmental issues of continental concern, including the environmental challenges and opportunities presented by continent-wide free trade.

 Cenovus gets price boost with direct sale to China Cenovus struck firm shipping contracts on , which reaches the B.C. coast, on Feb. 1. Now that it has guaranteed space on the line, the company plans to pursue more Chinese agreements, she said.

“We got a substantial premium” for the oil shipped to China, Ms. DelFrari said. She would not pinpoint the price, but said it was close to the price for Brent oil, an international benchmark that has traded at a significant premium to the North American standard.

Asia is an important market for oil companies operating in Canada because of its growing demand coupled with worries about Canada being reliant solely on the United States for export. This tension increased after the Obama administration iced TransCanada Corp.’s proposed Keystone XL pipeline.

Enbridge Inc.’s Northern Gateway to the West Coast has widespread support from Ottawa, but faces stiff opposition from environmentalists and first nations. Kinder Morgan wants to expand the Trans Mountain system.

Meanwhile, Cenovus confirmed Asian companies are interested in partnering with the company on its Telephone Lake oil sands project.

READ ENTIRE GLOBE AND MAIL ARTICLE HERE

ď ś Kinder Morgan's Grand Plan to Pipe Oil Sands Crude Tankers in Vancouver harbour to steeply increase. Second pipeline to Kitimat could eclipse proposed Enbridge project.

June 2, 2011

READ ENTIRE THE TYEE ARTICLE HERE

Alberta ď ś Gateway pipeline: Feds couldn't address aboriginal concerns, documents show February 29, 2012

Protesters demonstrate outside the start of hearings for the Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline in this file photo.

EDMONTON — Long before a public hearing began this year into a controversial pipeline which would carry Alberta oil to the B.C. coast, the federal government knew it did not have the resources to address First Nations concerns about the project, newly public documents show.

According to a "scenario note" for a 2006 meeting between the deputy minister of aboriginal affairs and northern development, the president of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency, and others, First Nations groups in B.C. and Alberta expected "federal engagement on consultation and provision benefits" related to the Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline to be in line with what was available to aboriginal groups during the 1970s Berger Inquiry into the Mackenzie Valley natural gas pipeline through the Northwest Territories.

However, the note indicates, "Indian and Northern Affairs Canada does not have the capacity to meet such demands as it does not have the regulatory framework, authorities, and resourcing in place south of 60 to address these concerns."

Questions about aboriginal engagement in the Northern Gateway hearing process are important because so much of the proposed pipeline route is expected to cross traditional First Nations land, particularly in British Columbia, where aboriginal groups boast a nearly unbroken wall of resistance to the project aimed at moving oilsands bitumen to Asia-bound tankers at Kitimat.

Update: March 9, 2012

British Columbia

ď ś 'Draconian' chinook cuts loom for anglers Restrictions raise fears for future of southern Island sports fishing March 17, 2012

A chinook salmon, along with a school of shad, pass through the viewing room at McNary Lock and Dam on the Columbia River, June 7, 2005 near Umatilla, Oregon. Fishermen in B.C. are worried about "draconian" restrictions on fishing for chinook salmon.

Photograph by: Jeff T. Green , Getty Images

Fishermen in Greater Victoria are reeling after being told the Department of Fisheries and Oceans is looking at "draconian" restrictions on the summer chinook salmon fishery in Juan de Fuca Strait.

Members of the Victoria-South Island Sport Fishing Advisory Board and industry representatives, who took part in a conference call with DFO Friday, say plans to further restrict or even close the chinook fishery in the peak season of June, July and August could cause the collapse of the southern Vancouver Island sports fishing industry.

"Our backs are against the wall. Any more cuts will be the death of our fishery," said Martin Paish, general manager of Pedder Bay RV Resort and Marina.

The value of the chinook fishery in the areas from the mouth of the Fraser River, through Sidney to Jordan River, is millions of dollars, said Christopher Bos, chairman of the local Sport Fishing Advisory Board.

"The moment they start messing with the economic driver to the point that opportunity and expectation [of catching fish] are gone, they will destroy that economic driving force," he said.

The spinoff effect would take in fishing lodges, about 50 fishing charter operations, marinas, campgrounds, tackle shops and hotels, Paish said. "It would have a huge impact on Sooke and Metchosin. The sports fishery drives tourism in this area."

No one from DFO was available to talk about the proposals Friday, but Tom Cole, assistant chairman of the advisory board, said DFO representatives will be at a meeting Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the Four Points Sheraton Hotel in Langford.

"We are expecting about 700 or 800 people at that meeting," Cole said.

The issue revolves around some Fraser River chinook runs with poor returns. Those chinook turn up in Juan de Fuca Strait in the summer at the same time as chinook from more abundant runs.

Two years ago, the recreational fishery, which takes only a fraction of the threatened stocks, agreed to catch limits in an effort to conserve those stocks, even though most chinook caught in the fishery come from the abundant runs, Paish said. The complicated rules now allow fishermen to take two chinook a day in the summer, with varying size constraints.

Instead of targeting sports fishermen, when further restrictions would have no effect on conservation of the stocks, DFO should be looking at the commercial or First Nations fisheries, which take many more fish, and its own allocation policy, said Bos and Paish.

Root causes are habitat loss and water extraction from the Fraser, but DFO has done little to address those problems and seems focused only on ratcheting down the sports fishery, Bos said.

"DFO has suddenly set its hair on fire and said they need more restrictions and they have put a bull's eye on our back," he said.

"We have already done our part to reduce the impact on these stocks."

Editorial Comment: This proposed retention reduction of sport caught wild Chinook salmon is yet another attempt to divide and conquer stakeholders (First Nations, Commercial fishermen and recreational fishermen) while assuming that we’ll fight each other for an artificially derived number of fish. The days of this ridiculous strategy are over, DFO! These stakeholders, along with business associations, conservationists and others are uniting to address and reform the real issues impacting wild Pacific salmon including open pen salmon feedlots, oil and mineral exploration and exploitation, hydropower dams, irresponsible logging practices, floodplain development, etc.

We at Wild Game Fish Conservation International wonder how long agency heads and elected officials will be allowed by their constituents to manage uniquely valuable, publically owned natural resources into extinction.

We also wonder if this proposed change will impact Washington state Chinook fisheries along the Strait of Juan de Fuca as Fraser River-bound Chinook salmon know no borders.

ď ś Letter to Norwegian Parliamentary Delegation – Dr. Alexandra Morton March 6, 2012 To the Delegation of Leaders from Norway: We hope your visit to Canada has been a good experience. On March 8, you are traveling to Quadra Island to meet with John Duncan, MP, and representatives of First Nations that are in agreements with your salmon feedlot corporations.

We appreciate that you show respect for some First Nations. However, there are other people and Nations who are not party to these deals who feel your industry is taking away something far too precious. Quadra Island is in the middle of the largest wild salmon migration route in Canada.

Because the Fraser sockeye are so essential to British Columbia, in 2009 the Canadian government called a Commission of Inquiry into the reasons for the virtual collapse of the Fraser River Sockeye.

The decline began when salmon feedlots were placed around Quadra Island on the migration route.

We want you to know this inquiry revealed a government cover-up that the federal government never informed this Inquiry that ISA influenza virus was detected in Fraser sockeye in 2004. The Stó:lō Nation was not informed that 100% of Cultus sockeye tested positive for ISA virus.

Last fall, we found European strain ISA virus in wild BC salmon. As you know, the Chilean ISA outbreak, which caused $2 billion in damages, was traced back to a hatchery in central Norway. ISA virus has become a problem around the world where Atlantic salmon are put in ocean net pens. We too are working to trace ISA virus back to its source. Chile did not sue the companies involved, but BC would.

Unlike in Norway, BC wild salmon are not just fished for sport. Here in BC, First Nations have rights to wild salmon. Many people depend on them for food. Salmon fuel a $1.5 billion tourism industry and an important commercial fishery. We understand the BC feedlots are your gateway into China, since China refuses Norwegian salmon and so you come to Quadra Island to protect the interests of your corporations; Marine Harvest, Cermaq and Grieg. However, we see serious problems arising for us from your industry and we are not prepared to sacrifice wild salmon to profit Norway. We no longer trust the government John Duncan represents since we learned they hid ISA virus from a federal inquiry.

We want you to know there is one run of Fraser sockeye have not declined. They are designated BC’s first “salmon stronghold”. They are the Harrison sockeye and they migrate southward to sea via a salmon feedlot-free route. The fish are telling us what we need to know about impact of salmon feedlots in BC. We want all BC wild salmon to migrate to sea without passing your salmon feedlot sewage over their gills.

Please understand that the fight against what we see as an invasion of salmon feedlots into one of the most important wild salmon migration routes left on earth has only begun. There is no place in the world we can look to and see salmon feedlots and wild salmon co-existing. We respectfully ask that you advise your corporations to remove their fish from BC waters. The market value of feedlot salmon is so low, we are hopeful there is far more to be gained by Norway as social and environmental leaders on a planet being destroyed by corporate predation Editorial Comment:

Dr. Alexandra Morton Marine Biologist

Wild Game Fish Conservation International is in absolute agreement with the respectful remarks made here by Dr. Alexandra Morton including the following that are emphasized above: •

“we are not prepared to sacrifice wild salmon to profit Norway”

•

“the fight against what we see as an invasion of salmon feedlots into one of the most important wild salmon migration routes left on earth has only begun.”

 CTV NEWS: Video coverage of salmon feedlot protest – March 9, 2012 CTV News: Correction – Fish Farm Industry pushed protester and a Norwegian delegate, not the other way around as originally reported

Dr. Alexandra Morton with members of the “A” Team fearlessly, respectfully and peacefully oppose Norwegian-owned, open-pen salmon feedlots sited in British Columbia’s uniquely beautiful and naturally productive marine ecosystems. (March 9, 2012)

Canada’s Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) continues to allow Marine Harvest to operate their fish vessels including “Orca Chief” (pictured below) to transport Atlantic salmon from Marine Harvest’s open pen salmon feedlots sited in British Columbia’s publically-owned and managed marine environments to Marine Harvest’s fish processing facilities, also located in British Columbia.

This is absolutely inconsistent with existing DFO regulations that are in place to protect Canada’s citizens and their marine ecosystems

Above photo and the following quote provided by Dr. Alexandra Morton: “Marine Harvest coming south loaded to the gunnels with fish - no fish packer licence number. Either these feedlot salmon are not "fish," or this boat is exempt from the laws all the other fish packers exist under in Canada.”

Wild Game Fish Conservation International, via the e-mail message below to the Minister of Fisheries, requested an explanation regarding the above inconsistency.

“I'm writing as the Publisher of Legacy and co-founder of Wild Game Fish Conservation International to respectfully ask why Department of Fisheries and Oceans registration numbers are not displayed

by Marine Harvest boats used to transport salmon from Marine Harvest's open pen salmon feedlots sited in British Columbia to their fish processing facilities, also located in British Columbia.

This is inconsistent with regulations requiring DFO registration numbers to be easily visible on the of vessels used to fish in Canadian waters. Is Marine Harvest exempt from adhering to this? If so, why?

Your timely response will be appreciated”

ď ś Setting the record straight on what we do around salmon farming Thursday, March 15, 2012

Opposition to net-cage salmon aquaculture in BC continues to escalate, particularly with new revelations of more positive findings for ISAv (Infectious Salmon Anemia virus). Lately, however, we've been alerted to some misunderstandings that are circulating with regard to our work to eradicate net-cages on the BC Coast. For the record, here are the facts.

We’d like to first stress that since its inception over a decade ago, Living Oceans has been committed to the total removal of all net-cage salmon farms from our oceans and a transition of the industry to closed containment. That commitment is shared by our partner organizations in CAAR (Coastal Alliance for Aquaculture Reform) and has never wavered.

Citizens groups, fishermen, communities, activists and numerous First Nations have been protesting the proliferation of farms on the BC coast for over twenty years. But successive governments, both Federal and Provincial, have been equally committed to maintaining salmon aquaculture. It's a tough and ongoing struggle and sadly no strategies, to date, have succeeded in ensuring the removal of these farms.

By 2008, the weight of scientific evidence of the harm to juvenile wild salmon from farm-origin lice had become overwhelming. Living Oceans and our partners in CAAR decided that in the face of government and industry intransigence, interim measures needed to be tried in an effort to relieve some of the pressure on our wild stocks while we continued to pursue the goal of an end to net-cage farming.

To that end, we negotiated an agreement with BC's largest producer, Marine Harvest Canada, to fallow all farms on two key wild salmon out-migration routes in the Broughton Archipelago. During odd years, farms on the northern Tribune-Fife corridor would be emptied of lice-breeding farm fish during the migratory period of March 1 to June 1. On even years, the southern Knight Inlet route would be fallowed. This was an emergency, temporary measure designed to try to reduce some of the damage to wild stocks while we continued to press for a total transition to closed containment and the permanent removal of all net-cages.

READ ENTIRE LIVING OCEANS SOCIETY ARTICE HERE

 Lake Babine First Nations partners with others in commercial inland fishery Inland fisheries provide a new way to ensure fishing is sustainable and allow a first nation to return to its roots

Lake Babine First Nation's 2011 sockeye salmon fishery. It was the first time the community was granted a licence to fish the run commercially.

The Lake Babine Nation is made up of six communities, all of them remote, many of them without services, not even a store or a gas station. So, unemployment is high and many people leave their community to go to school or get a job.

Often, people living in the different communities don’t see much of each other.

But for three weeks last year, that changed when the sockeye salmon were running and the Lake Babine Nation communities were allowed to commercially fish as part of a new sustainable inland fishery.

It was a return to their roots.

Before the commercial fishery was shut down in 1906, the Lake Babine Nation sold and traded fish that run up the Skeena River to Babine Lake to employees of the Hudson’s Bay Company and trappers and miners in the area, the first nation’s fisheries manager Donna Macintyre said.

“And basically they wouldn’t have survived if it wasn’t for the Lake Babine fishery,” Macintyre said.

But the federal government shut down the fishery, in exchange for some land and nets, when commercial fishing along the coast at the mouth of the Skeena became more popular, she said.

It wasn’t just a loss of their fishery, it was a loss of their livelihood.

That started to change in 1992, when under a new program, the Lake Babine Nation was given its first commercial licence to catch salmon that were considered “excess.”

READ ENTIRE VANCOUVER SUN ARTICLE HERE

 Salmon

farmers show commitment to best practices with important new agreement March 7, 2012

CAMPBELL RIVER – Marine Harvest Canada, Mainstream Canada and Grieg Seafood are proud to announce a new agreement which demonstrates a clear commitment to lead the way in responsible farming practices.

“We all agree that setting a high standard for our farms is important and that in areas where we operate together, we need to work co-operatively and openly to establish that standard,” said Fernando Villarroel, Managing Director, Mainstream Canada.

The agreement establishes an area management program for Okisollo Channel near Campbell River, BC, and is the only area of the coast where all three companies operate farms.

“Sharing information with one another, and making plans like these together is good for farms involved and for the environment where we operate,” said Vincent Erenst, Managing Director, Marine Harvest Canada.

“This agreement requires that we co-operate on a regular basis, and will further enhance our farming practices, which are already among the best in the world,” said Stewart Hawthorn, Managing Director, Grieg Seafood.

The companies already work together informally on many aspects of farm management in the area, but decided to confirm this co-operation by signing a Memorandum of Understanding for a five-year joint management plan for their Okisollo Channel farms.

There are a total of five farms in the channel. The MOU includes agreements about when sites are stocked and fallowed, as well as about sharing information and partnered research.

“This is a great example of the proactive work our farmers and companies do regularly to make sure they are taking excellent care of the ocean environment where they raise their fish,” said Mary Ellen Walling, Executive Director, BC Salmon Farmers Association.

Since January 2011, these companies have released monthly updates about farms in Okisollo and Hoskyn channels through the BCSFA. All of the Association’s salmon-producing companies regularly work together to discuss ongoing operations and practices.

Dr. Alexandra Morton “Oh this is rich - the three Norwegian companies sign an agreement WITH THEMSELVES! In the most important, narrow portion of the migration route for 1/3 of all BC wild salmon. They do this the day before their homeland comes to visit Quadra Island on the shore of Okisollo Channel where they signed this agreement to work together. This is the height of arrogance. They are circling their wagons, this is an agreement with none but themselves. I dare say this is dangerous after what we learned about European viruses in BC salmon!”

 Veteran Fish Scientist Highlights Key Risks from Enbridge Pipelines Dr. Gordon Hartman is a retired senior biologist and manager for the Department of Fisheries and Oceans with a deep knowledge of the region affected by the proposed Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeline. Here he provides an essential summary of the threats from the pipeline to fish populations as well as the very real geological concerns surrounding the project.

Introduction There are very serious and reasonable concerns about the risk of tanker traffic accidents as the ‘oil’ starts its 150+ km tanker journey from near Kitimat, through the narrow Douglas Channel to the open ocean. A report by Anthony Swift and four other authors presents a ‘must read’ review, “Pipeline and Tanker Trouble: The Impact to British Columbia’s Communities, Rivers, and Pacific Coastline from Tar sands Oil Transport”.

The following short article examines three of the specific risks that exist in the 1,170 km double pipeline before the oil ever gets to the tankers. In the report by Anthony Swift and others, 11 ‘special places at risk’ are listed.

In the proposed ‘double line’ system up to 525,000 barrels/day, of bitumen and a diluting condensate, are to be pumped ‘westward’ in a 91 cm pile line. Diluting condensate, from off shore, is to be pumped ‘eastward’ at a rate of up to 193,000 barrels/day (Bustard and Miles 2011). A major failure, caused by an event such as a landslide, would release materials from both lines.

The following article is based, to a large degree, on the articles that are listed at the end. Such a list is clearly not comprehensive. Regardless of that, because they are based on work done by people with decades of competent professional experience, it is clear that there are serious risks along the line before the oil ever reaches the tankers. Pipeline spills into rivers in Northwest B.C. mountains: ‘not if, but when’.

Geological Concerns The proposed corridor crosses three different physiographic units, each of which presents different hazards to a pipeline. “The geology and geomorphology of west central B.C is complex and destructive landslides are common. Various landslide types have occurred along the proposed pipeline corridor within the defined physiographic units:” (Schwab 2011). The types of landslide and the risks are discussed in this paper.

READ ENTIRE THE CANADIAN ARTICLE HERE

 Salmon Disease Surveillance in British Columbia February 24, 2012 OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Feb. 24, 2012) - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is seeking comments on a disease surveillance plan for salmon in British Columbia.

The aim of the surveillance is to get a comprehensive picture of the health status of salmon in British Columbia. Fish will be tested for three diseases: infectious haematopoietic necrosis, infectious pancreatic necrosis and infectious salmon anaemia.

The CFIA will lead the surveillance with support from Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), the Province of British Columbia and industry. All testing, as well as any activities undertaken to respond to confirmed cases of disease, will be directed by science, international guidelines and national aquatic animal health requirements.

Approximately 5000 wild salmon will be collected per year for a minimum of two years, starting in the spring of 2012. In addition, the CFIA will evaluate ongoing, industry-led testing of farmed salmon.

The design of the proposed surveillance plan was based on internationally accepted surveillance principles and developed by the CFIA in consultation with DFO, the Province of BC and the U.S. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. A summary of the initiative is available on the CFIA web site at www.inspection.gc.ca/aquatic .

To request a copy of the detailed draft surveillance initiative, or to submit comments, contact NAAHPPNSAA@inspection.gc.ca. Comments will be accepted until March 16, 2012.

For more information on salmon diseases, visit www.inspection.gc.ca/aquatic or call 1-800-442-2342 Follow us on Twitter for the latest on animal health: www.twitter.com/CFIA_Animals .

 Transport Canada's Clearing of Enbridge Ignores the Facts February 25, 2012 Editorial Comment: The following article, as with all articles in Legacy, is published as written to capture the sentiments of the author.

What an interesting pair of stories – on the one hand Transport Canada has said that tanker traffic is safe on our pristine west coast while another tells of Enbridge repairing its faulty pipeline that resulted in yet another spill for the company this past May in the Northwest Territories.

Now sisters and brothers, repeat after me: LEAKS AND SPILLS FROM THE TAR SANDS TO THE COAST

AND

THEREAFTER,

DOWN

THE

CONSEQUENCES WILL BE CATASTROPHES.

COAST

ARE

INEVITABLE

AND

THE

We are being subjected to an Orwellian barrage of bullshit .

What I’m saying re the pipelines and tankers is true – the dangers of this horrific Northern Gateway are absolute. They are mathematically inevitable.

This is not some hyperbole but absolute fact matched I might say by Environment Canada’s own documents which predict periodic oil spills from tankers with one “major spill every 15 years”.

I wonder of Environment Canada has ever met with Transport Canada.

If you scan Enbridge’s documents you will see reams and reams of stuff on how to deal with spills and nary a suggestion that they can be avoided.

It’s interesting to note how the PR flacks have got people changing “Tar Sands” to “Oil Sands”, which this gunk clearly is not.

The federal government, with backing from Victoria, is now embarked on a careful policy of propaganda and bribes. They want us, the public, to accept the inevitability of the pipelines and tankers. The propaganda will be flying. Evermore bribes will flow to First Nations, communities and lower level governments. BC citizens of all stripes will be tempted with prospects of jobs (about 560, mostly in Calgary - with fewer than 40 permanent ones in BC). The construction jobs will mostly be done by expert teams with lower income, short term jobs to locals.

As the huge campaign gets going and you are bombarded with crap, please remember this – it is inevitable that there will be leaks and spills and the consequences to our land and oceans catastrophic…And remember, no one is going to stop the pipelines and tankers after a disaster they will continue to run as if nothing had happened!

When these catastrophes happen, and you have supported them either actively or by your silence, please then look your kids and grandkids in the eye and say, "I didn’t care enough to fight the bastards."

Pictured above: Ramlah, a Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) class tanker designed to transport up to 2.1 million gallons of oil and gas. VLCC class tankers will carry tar sands oil from Kitimat, British Columbia to Asian and American markets via the treacherous Douglas Channel on BC’s west coast if the Enbridge-owned Northern Gateway Pipelines are constructed between Edmonton and Kitimat..

Nova Scotia

A typical BC farming site. (Photo: BC Salmon Farmers Association)

ď ś Infectious Salmon Anaemia Confirmed in Nova Scotia March 07, 2012 17:30 ET

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - March 7, 2012) - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has confirmed infectious salmon anaemia at a commercial aquaculture facility in Nova Scotia.

Infectious salmon anaemia does not affect human health or food safety, but it does pose risks to fish health and the economy.

Protecting fish health is a top priority, and appropriate measures are being taken to prevent further disease spread.

A quarantine remains on the facility to control movements of people, vessels, equipment and fish onto or off of the site. As a precautionary disease control measure, the owner of the facility chose to euthanize two pens containing affected salmon when the disease was first suspected. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency will now order a third cage of salmon to be humanely destroyed and disposed of, with compensation paid to the owner.

The Agency will continue to monitor and test the rest of the salmon at the facility. If additional cases of infectious salmon anaemia are detected, more fish may be ordered destroyed.

Pens, cages and equipment will be cleaned and disinfected. Once cleaning and disinfecting is complete, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency will evaluate the facility to determine when the quarantine may be removed.

The measures being taken are consistent with international disease control guidelines for infectious salmon anaemia.

The response is being carried out in collaboration with Fisheries and Oceans Canada, the Province of Nova Scotia and the aquaculture industry.

The Government of Canada appreciates the proactive approach taken by the company following the suspect finding. Their actions are an excellent example of how the industry takes their responsibility for fish health and these situations seriously.

This finding does not change Canada's status for infectious salmon anaemia. The disease is known to exist in the waters off Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick.

 Salmon virus prompts concern in Nova Scotia March 8, 2012 Editorial Comment: Although open pen salmon feedlots around the world wipe out natural ecosystems and lead directly to human health risks, greedy corporate giants and corrupt government officials continue to put entire communities in harm’s way. Salmon feedlot industry representatives are doing whatever they can wherever they see an opening for expansion of this multi-billion dollar per year industry.

To stop this illogical, unsustainable raping and pillaging of earth’s natural resources, consumers must stop buying these cancer-causing fish that are often referred to as “sewer trout”.

Nova Scotia communities are voicing opposition to the province’s growing aquaculture industry now that a salmon farm has been found to have a virus.

A Shelburne, N.S.-based salmon farm has destroyed tens of thousands of fish at its operations after routine testing detected suspected infectious salmon anemia on Feb. 10. A Canadian Food Inspection Agency investigation on Wednesday confirmed the results. The fish farm, which is owned

by New Brunswick-based Cooke Aquaculture, remains in quarantine.

The fatal and highly contagious virus, which occurs naturally, causes severe anemia in fish. Though some show symptoms, others don’t.

Citizens, local businesses and fishermen on the province’s eastern shore formed a group called the Association for the Preservation of the Eastern Shore on Feb. 17 following news of the outbreak. Its aim is to stop another company, the Snow Island Salmon Inc., from opening three finfish salmon farms in Shoal Bay, Spry Bay and Beaver Harbour, which lie on the eastern shore. They call fish farms a threat to their livelihood and say the farms aren’t healthy for the fish — or the local community.

In Queens County, a similar group called the Friends of Port Mouton Bay is pushing its municipality to ban farm fishing in its bay. The group claims it has proof a fish farm, which closed in 2009, polluted Port Mouton Bay with antibiotics and other contaminants.

Although Nova Scotia’s aquaculture industry is still relatively small, it shows no signs of slowing down. The industry, which mainly generates salmon and trout, is a $50 million business.

Peter Tyedmers, an associate professor at the School for Resource and Environmental Studies at Dalhousie University in Halifax, said the virus is serious. He pointed to a 2007 outbreak in Chile, which decimated the country’s industry within days.

“Where the virus isn’t contained it has disastrous consequences,” Tyedmers said.

Greg Roach, Nova Scotia’s deputy minister of fisheries and aquaculture, had said that if the CFIA results confirmed an outbreak, the department would work with the federal agency to remedy the problem.

Shelburne Mayor Al Delaney said he was concerned about the virus, but added that Cooke Aquaculture plans to expand its fish farming operations in the community.

Tyedmers said fish farming will be relied on more as the population grows. “I think well managed monitored aquaculture could expand in Nova Scotia,” said Tyedmers.

 Think tank positive about future of Atlantic Canada's aquaculture sector March 02, 2012 Editorial Comment: It’s true that the global demand for protein is growing and that Canada’s salmon-based aquaculture sector has grown over the past two decades.

It’s equally true that the open pen salmon feedlot industry, like the tobacco industry, is directly responsible for increased human health risks (including cancer) and for the irreversible destruction of uniquely-productive marine ecosystems wherever in the world these feedlots are sited.

• Open pen salmon feedlots must be removed from marine ecosystems • Salmon feedlots must be sustainable with no negative impacts to human health or to marine ecosystems Atlantic Canada’s salmon-based aquaculture sector continues to enjoy remarkable growth thanks to new investments and increasing global demand for farmed seafood, reads the latest Report Card by the Atlantic Provinces Economic Council (APEC).

"Aquaculture is the fastest growing source of food production in the world and Atlantic Canada is benefitting from this industry's rapid growth," said APEC Research Analyst Patrick Brannon.

At the same time, the industry must keep making efforts to cope with the strong Canadian dollar, fish diseases, increasing competition and environmental concerns.

"The aquaculture does get a lot of push back from other sectors that some industries don't because they share the same waters with the fishing industry," said Brannon, The Canadian Press reports.

The report looked at trends in the region's aquaculture-related production, which boomed from CAD 160 million (USD 161.4 million) in 1996 to CAD 356 million (USD 359.1 million) in 2010. The industry provided nearly 2,500 direct jobs in 2007 and another 2,200 indirectly.

"The aquaculture industry is particularly important in several rural regions with high unemployment levels where it provides much-needed work," noted Brannon.

New Brunswick's aquaculture industry has tended to be largest in the region, with production worth CAD 168 million (USD 169.5 million) in 2010. In Newfoundland and Labrador, private investment has helped the aquaculture industry develop rapidly from less than CAD 20 million (USD 20.2 million) in 2003 to more than CAD 116 million (USD 117 million) in 2010.

In Nova Scotia, new investment in aquaculture is pushing the industry forward from the CAD 41 million (USD 41.35 million) in 2010 activity. Though Prince Edward Island's aquaculture industry is Atlantic Canada's smallest, generating CAD 30 million (USD 30.26 million) in 2010, it has specialized in mussels and oysters instead of doing so in Atlantic salmon like the rest of the region.

Brannon believes there is lots of potential for growth in the region, especially for Newfoundland and Nova Scotia.

The report affirmed that enterprises in Atlantic Canada will need to enhance their competitive edge by way of research, investment in infrastructure, productivity improvements and a sales focus on burgeoning markets while simultaneously slashing their environmental impact. The industry needs to be fully integrated and include productive growers and processors, strong supporting industries and linkages to universities and research institutes to maximize benefits in Atlantic Canada and augment its competitive position in the global food products industry.

ď ś Salmon firm makes leap across pond February 26, 2012

A Loch Duart salmon leaping in the nets. Picture: Stephen Mansfield Editorial Comment: As has been documented in Legacy and elsewhere, open pen salmon feedlots are not sustainable. It certainly does not matter if companies’ names are changed for marketing purposes (i.e. Mainstream Canada, Marine Harvest or Snow Island Salmon); they remain directly responsible for human health risks and marine ecosystem degradation.

These significant risks outweigh any potential benefits of the global salmon farming industry Consumers of farm raised salmon in North America, Europe, China and elsewhere must demand disease free salmon in our markets and restaurants. If this is not achievable, then open pen salmon feedlots must be banned immediately.

THE salmon farming company that supplied the fish on the menu at the Royal Wedding has invested in a new site and brand in Nova Scotia, Canada, after reaching “the limits of growth” in Scotland.

Loch Duart, based in Sutherland and the Hebrides, currently produces 5,600 tonnes of salmon a year, but demand for its products in the United States has risen to the extent that a North American site is now viable.

Snow Island Salmon, as the new brand will be known, will be a subsidiary joint venture of Loch Duart and will compete in the same market.

Fish from the South Uist sites of the firm was served in Buckingham Palace after the Royal Wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton in April last year.

Loch Duart has purchased an existing salmon farming site at Owls Head on the eastern shore of Nova Scotia, and expects to increase its size over five to seven years to reach an equivalent volume of its Scottish presence.

The firm has a commitment to sustainability, with practices including leaving farms fallow for a year at a time, banning the use of fouling agents and carefully monitoring yield to avoid overwhelming stock.

Loch Duart opted for Canada because of the government’s and industry’s understanding and tolerance of sustainable practices, claiming the UK has a “lack of understanding” due to the fact that “almost no” food producers are represented in the Scottish Parliament.

Managing director Nick Joy, who has lived in Scotland for the past 35 years, said: “There are almost no food producers in the government, so there is a lack of understanding about how food is produced.

Regulation without incentive is a carrot without a stick, and big sticks only work until you’re numb.”

The Snow Island site has been operational since 2008, and a group of expert Canadian salmon farmers who understand the different conditions of the country, including much colder water, will make up the workforce.

Its location also avoids the use of air freight to supply the North American market, which is currently Loch Duart’s only logistical option.

The US and Canada together comprise the largest market for salmon in the world.

Joy added: “There are lots of interesting challenges. Snow Island is not interested in having its headquarters in Scotland; there will be accountability on site.

“We hope to farm 18,000 tonnes from this site, equivalent to one of our sites in Scotland, and to support the brand by saying it is produced with Loch Duart’s methods. There is plenty of room in the market for a product made with the best methods and practices.”

Canada, he added, was an obvious choice. “I like the people and I like how they think. The government acknowledges the balance between sustainability and cost, and that a better form of salmon farming may take years.”

 Cooke gives up on Shelburne fish farm February 20, 2012

Abandonment issues?

In a surprising announcement on Friday by the federal government, Cooke Aquaculture subsidiary Kelly Cove Salmon (KCS) has thrown in the towel in the controversial application for a aquaculture license within yards of McNutts Island in Shelburne Harbour, following Cooke's admission that there is suspicion of the incurable and destructive Infectious Salmon Anemia (ISA) virus at one of the firm’s several industrial farm sites in the harbour. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has placed a quarantine on the suspect site, but Cooke,a New-Brunswick-based, $500 million, multinational corporation, has refused to disclose the location of the deadly virus.

In a news release Sunday from Mayday Shelburne County and Friends of Shelburne Harbour, it was disclosed that the federal employee overseeing the environmental review for three mega-sites being proposed by Cooke told Mayday that “KCS has confirmed that they are no longer pursuing site 1357 (Middle Head)”, near the eastern shore of McNutt's Island and 2.5 kilometers of another large site with a capacity of one million fish. Uncharacteristic of a company known for its aggressive public relations programme, Cooke has given no public notice of the decision and it does not appear on their web site. Cooke PR vice president Nell Halse declined to answer any questions from SCT, saying in an email that she would not elaborate on Cooke's plans not to pursue the lease 'at this time' , except to say "we are abandoning our plans."

No answers to simple questions On Friday, Halse also declined to answer questions from SCT about the circumstances which prompted Cooke's decision to not pursue the lease, or what date KCS became aware that there might be a fish health problem at the site, or the the number of fish removed from Shelburne Harbour between Feb 10 and 17.

READ ENTIRE SOUTH COAST TODAY ARTICLE HERE

 Salmon Virus Confirmed, Cooke Aquaculture Won’t Stop $150 Million Expansion March 9, 2012

Editorial Comment: Seriously? “the company dealing with aquaculture, if ordered to destroy their fishes, will be compensated.”

More money paid by Canadians to subsidize the salmon feedlot industry’s loss due to salmon disease outbreaks they facilitate..

When will this madness end?

A yet another breakout of salmon virus was reported at a commercial Nova Scotia fish farm in Shelburne. The findings carried out by Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) confirmed presence of the infectious salmon anemia. The results were based on tests carried out on a sample of 13 salmon weighing about two kilograms each.

However, these results are nowhere to affect the plans of Cooke Aquaculture. The company is firm on its decision to set up the farms they were looking forward to.

Nell Halse, Cooke Spokesperson said: “This does not impact our plans. We're still going full steam ahead with our plans for Nova Scotia, for creating new jobs and building a hatchery and a plant and expanding our feed mill”. However, at the same time, the company is considering the outbreak as a serious issue.

She stated that the company has dealt with such situations before also, and that too very well. The company was struck with case as such this February when the virus was detected for the first time in New Brunswick. As a result, the company had to destroy two cages. However, the total number of salmon that were discarded in the rendering plant was not known but the number was believed to be I n thousands.

After this outbreak, the CFIA has adjured the company to destroy its third cage. However, a total of three cages had to be destroyed out of 20 cages, which made an effect but the effect was somewhat tolerable and not much. At the same time, the company is looking forward to approvals for their two farms, which will each include up to one million fish in Jordan Bay. After these incidents, the Federal Government has issued new rules. Under these rules, the company dealing with aquaculture, if ordered to destroy their fishes, will be compensated.

Iceland

 Organic Accumulation under Salmon Aquaculture Cages February 21, 2012 On Thursday, February 23 at 16:00, Alex Allison will present his master‘s thesis entitled Organic Accumulation under Salmon Aquaculture Cages in Fossafjörður, Iceland. The presentation will be given via video conference in English and is open to all interested in the subject.

The advisor of the project is dr. Þorleifur Eiríksson, director of the Westfjords Natural History Institute and the external reader is dr. Stefán Óli Steingrímsson, Associate Professor in Aquaculture at Hólar University Collage.

Alex Allison

Abstract Marine based salmon aquaculture inputs large amount of organic material into the surrounding environment. This organic material is mainly composed of uneaten salmon feed and feces. This material often accumulates in the environment under the cages. In Iceland there is no data on organic output coming from aquaculture nets and sparse data on the impacts of accumulation of this organic material.

This study will be the first in Iceland to look at the amount of organic material that accumulates under salmon cages and areas of greatest accumulation. Six sediment traps were used to sample sediment underneath two salmon cages in Fossfjördur Iceland Three were placed 20 m from the cages and three were placed 0 m from the cages. The trap contents were then dried, weighed, and placed into a sodium hypochlorite solution in order to dissolve organic material. After organic material was dissolved samples were dried and weighed to determine how much of the original dry weight was organic.

Traps that were closest to the nets (0 m) had greater organic content when compared to traps that were father from nets (20 m). Traps that were down current also collected greater amounts of organic material when compared to traps up stream. This spatial trend was linked to deposition rates of feed pellets settling in a closer proximity to cages whereas feces dispersed farther.

Throughout the study period the overall trap organic material increased. This temporal trend was linked to the increase use of feed pellets as the fish grew throughout study. This study was the first study of its kind and aims to provide baseline data into organic output and accumulation occurring underneath salmon cages.

The methods used in the study can also be utilized as a tool for management and the development of a monitoring program. This data provides the opportunity for further research into mitigation and management of this issue such as multi-trophic aquaculture.

Ireland

 Northern Ireland Executive Fisheries Minister Carál Ní Chuilín has provided an update on the conservation of salmon stocks in waterways across the north.

The Minister said: “There is evidence that wild Atlantic salmon are in serious decline, and face the very real threat of extinction. We must all be focused on the need to save this iconic fish species.

“Therefore, I must consider any activity which kills wild salmon. This includes commercial salmon netting and recreational angling which targets the fish.

“My officials have been in dialogue with the coastal salmon nets men. The salmon nets men have proposed a number of measures including voluntary cessation for this season. These discussions are constructive and I have therefore deferred my decision on the licensing of commercial salmon nets until the conclusion of this dialogue. I should also emphasise that no net fishing is presently taking place – the season has not commenced. We therefore have a window in which to engage and conclude an agreed position with the nets men.”

The Minister also announced a Catch and Release Only directive for those fishing in public angling estate waters.

“It is clear that all stakeholders must act to address this issue – and angling removes as many, if not more, fish from the water than commercial nets,” the Minister said.

“Therefore, in relation to recreational angling, we must take the most robust measures we can within the existing legislation.”

Guidance will be issued to anglers from DCAL directing that all wild salmon caught in DCAL Public Angling Estate waters must be released. The new policy is the latest measure to conserve salmon stocks in the north. The catch and release rule is among the conditions anglers agree to abide by when purchasing a Game Angling Permit.

"I reiterate that I am calling on all anglers not to target salmon. Those that do are encouraged to use methods which are less likely to harm the fish. Anglers should use fly only with single barbless hooks to facilitate return of the salmon unharmed to the water, so giving the fish a chance to spawn and rebuild the population.”

The Minister added: “As outlined previously, the weight of scientific evidence and the threat of heavy EC infraction fines means the continued exploitation of salmon – for commercial or leisure purposes – is unsustainable.

“A wider consultation on Salmon conservation will begin shortly as we look at ways of tackling this issue in the long term. However, further actions will be required if salmon numbers continue to decline.

“This is a complex, emotive problem. I have heard compelling arguments from all stakeholders. I hope those who have made their voices heard through various outlets will engage constructively in this consultation, and we can work together in addressing this issue.

“Alongside this, officials will continue to clamp down on illegal fishing to ensure salmon have the best chance of survival.”

 Evidence for sea lice-induced marine mortality of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) …

Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 2012, 69:(2) 343-353, 10.1139/f2011-155 Abstract Sea trout (Salmo trutta) stock collapses in coastal areas of western Ireland subject to salmon aquaculture were contemporaneous with high abundances of larval sea lice (Lepeophtheirus salmonis) on juvenile sea trout. Whereas sea trout remain in near-shore waters throughout their marine migration, Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) smolts typically move quickly offshore into oceanic waters.

It might therefore be predicted that salmon smolts would be less vulnerable to coastal stressors and less likely to be negatively affected by infestations of sea lice early in their marine phase. Groups of microtagged, hatchery-reared Atlantic salmon smolts were fed either untreated pellets or pellets incorporating the in-feed sea louse treatment SLICE (emamectin benzoate) prior to eight experimental releases in three marine locations over a 3-year period.

In total, 74 324 smolts were released and analysis of tag recaptures from returning adult salmon showed that emamectin-treated smolts experienced increased survivorship and were 1.8 times more likely to return compared with control fish.

These results suggest that sea lice-induced mortality on adult Atlantic salmon returns in Ireland can be significant, and that sea lice larvae emanating from farmed salmon may influence individual survivorship and population conservation status of wild salmon in these river systems.

 Parties argue over moves to save salmon from extinction February 28, 2012 LOCAL politicians are at odds over how best to tackle the issue of dwindling salmon stocks.

With experts warning that some species of wild Atlantic salmon are on the brink of extinction, the Stormont Culture Arts and Leisure Minister, Caral Ní Chuilín, has urged commercial and river anglers to support a range of voluntary conservation measures this year. Coastal and Lough Neagh fisheries have been asked for a “voluntary cessation” and recreational anglers are being encouraged to return any salmon they catch to the water.

The minister’s approach is supported by East Antrim Sinn Fein MLA Oliver McMullan, but Ulster Unionist Assemblyman Roy Beggs Jnr has asked Ms Ní Chuilín why her Department issues licences for drift and bag nets along the coast.

Mr Beggs recently attended a Stormont information session at which, he revealed, one of the major issues raised by angler groups was the continued use of bag nets in coastal waters. Mr Beggs said the practice was “supposedly banned” by the UN and European Union Directives.

READ ENTIRE LARNE TIMES ARTICLE HERE

 Opposition to €3.5m fish farm over navigational, waste and tourist issues February 29.2012 MINISTER FOR the Marine Simon Coveney has been urged to meet opponents of a proposed €3.5 million fish farm project for Bantry Bay in west Cork.

The group, known as Save Bantry Bay, says it is not opposed to aquaculture, but is opposed to this specific project planned for Shot Head off Adrigole.

Bantry Bay Harbour Commissioners have added their voice to objections, primarily over navigational concerns.

The Save Bantry Bay group, comprising residents, holidaymakers, tourism and environmental interests, met a Bantry Bay Harbour Commissioners sub-committee earlier this month to court support.

The €3.5 million project planned by Norwegian-owned Marine Harvest Ireland is part of a €14 million investment programme by the company over the next five years for its existing 16 aquaculture sites around the coast.

The company, which employs over 260 people in Donegal, Mayo and west Cork, has lodged an application with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine for aquaculture and foreshore licences for Shot Head.

The site, 8km east of its existing Roancarrig farm in Bantry Bay, will employ six people full-time during establishment, and another two when fully operational. The firm plans to commission a marine vessel from a local boatbuilder to service the farm.

It says that the Shot Head site would improve rotation of the fish crop and create a “world-class operation in the Beara peninsula which will secure the long-term future of the aquaculture industry in the area”.

However, the Save Bantry Bay group says that the consultation procedure has been “inadequate” and does not comply with public participation commitments recommended in the Bantry Bay Charter and outlined in the Cork county development plan.

It says that smolts from five salmon rivers running into Bantry Bay may be at risk of sea lice infestation, and says that the Shot Head location is “prime ground” for local commercial fishermen who may lose income.

The group says that Shot Head is an “integral part of the ‘natural capital’ of Bantry Bay”, which is noted for its water quality. It says that it has “not been proven” that the bay’s tidal and current movements will carry waste from the farm into the Atlantic.

Harbour commissioners’ chairman Michael Hennebry said his group had lodged an objection on grounds that the proposed location was too close to an anchorage point and to a pilot boarding location.

The commissioners have asked the department to take environmental factors into account when considering the application, he said.

Marine Harvest Ireland technical manager Catherine McManus said that there had been salmon farming in Bantry Bay since the 1970s, and the company had the “highest regard for this local environment and community”.

It was committed “to delivering this development in line with best environmental practice”, she said.

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine said that “observations from the general public on foot of the period of public consultation are under active consideration by the department and its technical and scientific advisers at present”.

Norway

 ISA confirmed at Nordmøre (Translated via Google translate) February 17, 2012 Food Safety Authority today received test results from the Veterinary Institute confirming the diagnosis of ISA on a fish farm. Suspicion of the disease was earlier in the week following the detection of ISA in a routine sample that was taken out of the business. The fish in the area is ready for harvesting.

There will be a zone adopted regulations for the area. The infected plant will have orders to harvest in a hygienically acceptable manner within a period, type the FSA in a statement.

The site is located in a relatively densely farmed area of Bremsnesfjord, therefore, FSA had an information meeting with interested parties in the area.

Livestock (salmon feedlot) operators in the area set out fishing under an overarching joint plan. This means that the detected ISA infection will not affect this year's planned stocking of fish in the area, according to FSA.

Nordmøre Region shaded in red

ď ś Is the Current PD Strategy Enough?

February 28, 2012

NORWAY - The Food Safety Authority (Mattilsynet) is asking the National Veterinary Institute to evaluate current strategies to control pancreas disease in salmon in Norway.

"We have battled pancreas disease (PD) for four years, and now on top of this there is a new virus variant. Now is the time to evaluate whether the current strategy is working, or whether we need to make some changes," said Kristina Landsverk, Director of the Food and Safety Authority.

In order to fight PD, the country is divided into two zones. In the Southern zone the aim is to limit damage from the disease, and in the Northern zone eradication is targeted. Hustadvika is seen as the barrier between the North and South. Ms Landsverk said she believed that the fight in the North against PD has been successful.

Outbreaks of PD are commonly caused by virus variant SAV 3.

However, some recent outbreaks are caused by a new virus variant, called SAV 2. "This virus strain is the cause of recent outbreaks in central and North Norway," said Ms Landsverk.

The Food Safety Authority is asking the National Veterinary Institute to evaluate whether the current strategy is appropriate.

"We want them to consider whether Hustadvika is an effective barrier and to analyse whether the current strategy pays off financially, if North of Hustadvika is kept PD free."

"We are also asking the National Veterinary Institute to point out possible sources of infection for outbreaks North of Hustadvika, and assess whether the new virus variant could be fought by other means," said Ms Landsverk.

Russia

 Russia urges Norway to restrict salmon fishery February 15, 2012 “Coastal fisheries for Atlantic salmon in Finnmark, where salmon of Russian origin are intercepted, must be regulated by more restrict measures,” writes the Federal Agency for Fisheries in an unusual strong letter to Norwegian authorities.

The problem is that Norwegian fishermen with nets catch salmon that are migrating along the coast and the fjords of Finnmark towards Russian or Norwegian, Finnish rivers for breeding.

Salmon fishing net in a fjord in Finnmark. Photo: Thomas Nilsen In a letter dated January 31, Deputy Head of Department for International Cooperation in Russia’s Federal Agency for Fisheries V. Chiklinenkov writes: “”The Russian Federation is deeply disappointed by the proposals of the Norwegian Directorate for Nature Management to not only maintain the regulations that were in place for the salmon sea fisheries in coastal waters of Northern Norway in 2011, but to weaken the restrictions for this fishery be increasing its duration in the beginning of June by one more day per week.”

The dispute between Norway and Russia on coastal net fisheries catching salmon in Finnmark has been going on for nearly two decades. The North Atlantic Salmon Fund (NASF) points to a scientific study stating that between 60 and 70 percent of the biggest salmon catches by Norwegian nets belong to Russia and Finland.

The Russian letter is triggered by the Norwegian Directorate’s 2012 regulation for salmon sea fishery.

The regulations does not allow for the protest from the Russian side. “Russia is gravely concerned by the interceptor mixed-stock fishery in Northern Norway, as killing quite a large number of migrating salmon,” the letter reads.

READ ENTIRE BARRENTS OBSERVER ARTICLE HERE

USA

 House Passes Extreme “Drill Everywhere” Bill March 2, 2012

With all the excitement around the Republican presidential primaries, one alarming piece of environmental news was barely noticed. Just a few days ago, the House of Representatives voted to open the pristine Arctic National Wildlife Refuge—and also almost every acre of our coastline including off the East Coast, West Coast, the protected eastern Gulf of Mexico and Alaska’s Bristol Bay to oil drilling.

According to the press release from Caitlin Leutwiler at Defenders of Wildlife, this is all under the guise of funding this year’s transportation bill.

The funding issue is a scam. Even the most generous revenue estimates from this reckless expansion of drilling will not be enough to fund proposed transportation projects in the bill. In addition, what small amounts of revenue might be generated from oil and gas leasing in the Arctic refuge would not be seen for ten years as oil companies will still need to explore, apply for drilling permits and start development. In short, H.R. 3408 is a fiscal gimmick that relies on unknown future revenues that are speculative at best to pay for transportation projects today.

Upon passage of the bill, Defenders’ president and CEO Jamie Rappaport Clark said, “Today, the House approved the most radical drilling-bill we have seen in recent memory. This fiscal boondoggle would industrialize the pristine coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, home to iconic wildlife like polar bears and the Porcupine Caribou herd, exposing thousands of miles of coastline to chronic pollution from offshore drilling and potential oil disasters like the Deepwater Horizon.

The vote came only one day after an exploratory well exploded on Alaska’s North Slope, spewing drilling mud, leaking natural gas and requiring the intervention of a company specializing in blowout control.

“Yesterday’s exploratory well explosion on Alaska’s North Slope demonstrates once again that drilling is a dangerous business. We can’t afford to take those risks with some of our most pristine and fragile places, some of which may never recover should a drilling accident occur. The Senate should reject this funding scam and look for realistic ways to meet our transportation needs without sacrificing the health of our environment.”

Alaska

 Pebble Mine Permit Status February 27, 2012

US Representative Jaime Herrera Beutler (Washington State – 3rd Congressional District) Thank you for contacting me regarding your concerns with the proposed Pebble Mine in Bristol Bay in Alaska. It is an honor to represent the people of Southwest Washington and I appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts with me.

Since the Clean Water Act (CWA) was signed into law in 1972, enormous advances have been made to the quality of water in this country. Under the CWA, discharges from a point source into a "water of the United States" will trigger the need for a permit under the Act. Before this permit is approved, certain controls are set in place, and the effect the discharge will have on the critical water is evaluated. Under Section 404(c) of the CWA, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) can preemptively veto a permit application without a thorough review of the project. This authority has rarely been used, especially since there is an intense review process before a permit is approved for discharge into a critical water.

The EPA considered using the 404(c) veto authority in Bristol Bay but instead decided to go through the entire review process. By going through this review process, a permit is not guaranteed for mining operations. However, when the process is completed, everyone that uses the Bay – for fishing, pleasure or commercial uses – will have a solid understanding of whether or not they can coexist with the mining operation.

I appreciate your concerns for the health of Bristol Bay. I will continue to follow this issue as the permit application for the proposed Pebble Mine continues through EPA's process.

Thank you again for contacting me on this important issue.

Sincerely, Jaime Herrera Beutler Member of Congress

 Time to protect Bristol Bay cultures, not sell them March 9, 2012 Count me among the Alaska Natives who are saddened by multinational mining companies who work tirelessly to create the illusion of local, Native support for their dangerous projects. They call it “local consent” or “social license” when they think we aren’t listening. In board rooms in London and Vancouver, men in suits sit to budget and calculate the cost of our consent. They predictably put a select few on their payroll, have them form third-party groups, and head to our nation’s capitol to give our leaders a false impression. It is currently happening here in Bristol Bay, and I’m writing to set the record straight.

The people of Bristol Bay overwhelmingly oppose the proposed Pebble Mine. Our Yup’ik, Dena’ina, and Alutiq people who have thrived on our land for thousands of years know the Pebble Mine could devastate our environment and therefore our cultures. Our subsistence way of life couldn’t exist without our pristine environment our ancestors fought to ensure we would have for the future

generations. Why would we ever consent to the potential destruction of our people to develop what could be the world’s largest copper and gold mine at the headwaters of our bay -- home to the greatest salmon run left on our planet.

The most recent survey conducted by Bristol Bay Native Corporation showed more than 80 percent of their in-region shareholders do not approve of the project. Perhaps more impressively, less than 10 percent of local residents strongly support it. That’s why I was so shocked when I read that a group called “Nuna Resources” traveled to Washington D.C. to attempt to skew our region’s resounding opposition to the Pebble project.

Nuna Resources is funded entirely by the multinational mining companies who seek to develop Pebble Mine. Their five member board consists of high-profile individuals who contract directly and indirectly with the companies who want to develop Pebble. So as Pebble is effectively paying their salaries, they have the nerve to go back to DC using the disguise of “cultural survival” to promote Pebble. Anyone in Bristol Bay who knows anything about subsistence and our cultures has no doubt that first and foremost for our cultures to survive we have to respect and protect our land and waters in Bristol Bay. Shame on Nuna Resources for abusing and using their heritage to promote the Pebble Mine. They even had the nerve to criticize us for partnering with the coalition of stakeholders such as commercial fishermen and sportsmen who agree that developing Pebble poses an unacceptable risk to not only our subsistence way of life, but also our sustainable resource based economies.

The native people of Bristol Bay are fighting Pebble for cultural survival. Not because of profits, self interest, or a corporate board decision, but because we have to protect our salmon, land, and water to ensure our way of life continues for our the generations to come.

This is why our tribal governments, Native corporations, and others have banded together to ask the Environmental Protection Agency to use their power to take a closer look at our region and protect Bristol Bay. They heeded our call and we are awaiting the release of their Watershed Assessment this spring. We are thankful the EPA is upholding their trust responsibility to our tribes and have welcomed their visits to Bristol Bay to listen to our people’s overwhelming concern about Pebble.

Throughout our history, even in times of great change and uncertainty our ancestors have ensured our cultures survived. The time has come for this generation to work for our cultural survival by fighting unsustainable resource development like Pebble. It’s a sad day for the Alaska Native community when people like those who run Nuna Resources abuse their connection to our land and heritage in the name of greed. But in Bristol Bay we know the resounding opposition to Pebble proves our cultures and people don’t have a price tag.

California

 A Bold Plan to Reshape the Central Valley Flood Plain March 1, 2012

Jacob Katz, a Ph.D candidate at the University of California, Davis, at an experimental flood plain

Jacob Katz stood shin-deep in a flooded rice paddy that is often dried out at this time of year. He thrust his hand into a writhing mass of baby salmon in his net and plucked three of the silver fry from the wind-whipped water’s surface. Jacob Katz stood shin-deep in a flooded rice paddy that is often dried out at this time of year. He thrust his hand into a writhing mass of baby salmon in his net and plucked three of the silver fry from the wind-whipped water’s surface.

In late January, five acres of this farmland in Yolo County was flooded and stocked with thousands of weeks-old Chinook salmon. It was the beginning of a three-year experiment that conservationists and government officials hope will provide scientific data to help guide a sweeping transformation of riverfront lands throughout the Central Valley, California’s prolific farming region.

“They were about two-thirds this size when we put them in,” said Mr. Katz, a doctoral candidate at the University of California, Davis, as the plump fry flapped off his palm and into the water. “They’re growing very, very rapidly. They’re looking great. It’s exactly what we want to see.”

An ambitious draft flood-prevention plan, published in December by the California Department of Water Resources, would re-engineer the valley’s network of rivers, canals and levees in an effort to prevent floods, restore wildlife habitat and protect water supplies for millions of people in the Bay Area and other parts of California. The plan, which calls for reversing the effects of 160 years of ad hoc levee building in the Central Valley, is a response to the deadly 2005 floods in New Orleans that followed Hurricane Katrina. Experts say a collapse of the Central Valley levees could cause similar devastation in California.

READ ENTIRE NEW YORK TIMES ARTICLE HERE

 A Victory for Central Valley Salmon March 2, 2012 Today, the Ninth Circuit ruled, once again, that Westlands Water District and other junior Central Valley Project (CVP) water users in the San Joaquin Valley are only entitled to “surplus” water from California’s Bay-Delta, and are not entitled to flows that Congress dedicated to restore California’s beleaguered salmon runs. The decision may be found in full here. This decision should put a rest to the relentless campaign by Westlands’ approximately 600 agribusinesses to elevate their claims to California’s water resources above the public’s interest in healthy rivers and fisheries.

Here are a few highlights of the decision: •

The court reiterates that the CVP was initially authorized “to provide for the transportation of ‘surplus’ waters within the Sacramento Valley to the San Joaquin River.” Page 5.

•

It affirms that “[t]he construction and operation of the CVP, along with other stressors, has had a devastating effect upon California’s native fish populations, including, in particular, its native salmon.”

Page 8.

•

It explains that Congress attempted to address this devastating impact of the CVP on our fisheries and ecosystem by adopting in the 1992 Central Valley Project Improvement Act a directive that the Bureau develop a “program which makes all reasonable efforts to ensure that, by the year 2002, natural production of anadromous fish in Central Valley rivers and streams will be sustainable, on a long-term basis, at levels not less than twice the average levels attained during the period of 1967-1991…” Pages 9-10.

•

It emphasizes that the 1994 Bay-Delta Accord – which Congressman Nunes and the House of Representatives attempted to freeze into place for all time this week via H.R. 1837 – contained only “interim measures for environmental protection” that were “intended to be in force for three years,” not in perpetuity under the revisionist history now painted by H.R. 1837 proponents. Page 13.

•

It firmly rejects Westlands’ argument that water released for any “environmental” purpose – such as protecting drinking water quality, or flows to prevent saltwater intrusion into agricultural water supplies – must be counted toward achieving salmon doubling goals, regardless of why the water was actually released or whether salmon were even in the affected rivers at the time. Pages 47-54.

•

It acknowledges that “only meeting the [Water Quality Control Plan] and post-1992 ESA requirements may not be sufficient to meet the anadromous fish doubling goal and other restoration purposes and measures included in the CVPIA.” Page 60.

•

It affirms that “Under section 8 of the Reclamation Act of 1902 …, the Bureau is required to comply with state law in acquiring water rights for the diversion and storage of water by the CVP.” Page 7, note 3.

•

It recognizes that the water released by the Bureau in June of 2004, that was the focus of Westlands’ attack in this case, was released at a time when very few if any salmon were even in the system, making it very hard for this water to “benefit” salmon. Page 36.

Let’s hope that this decision finally puts a rest to Westlands’ relentless campaign against providing sufficient water to restore and sustain California’s salmon runs, which form the backbone of our 150-year old salmon fishery and the thousands of jobs and communities it supports.

ď ś Fishing

the North Coast: Huge abundance of ocean salmon forecasted for

2012 March 1, 2012

If the Department of Fish and Game's ocean abundance forecasts are true, there's a whole lot of salmon swimming off the coast of Northern California right now. The D.F.G. held their annual salmon abundance meeting Tuesday in Santa Rosa, where discussions centered on in-river data from the 2011 season and to project the number of salmon swimming in coastal waters in 2012. And what the models kicked out - at least for the Klamath River - are pretty amazing. The agency projected an ocean population of more than 1.6 million adult Klamath River Fall Chinook salmon! To put that in perspective, last year's abundance forecast was 371,100. Even scarier, if you add up the previous four years - they still don't match this year's forecast.

The reason behind these lofty projections - a huge return of two-year old salmon, or Jacks to the Klamath River in 2011. A record 85,840 returned, the most since they started keeping records back in 1978. Not only did a bunch return to the river, even more stayed out in the ocean. According to Wade Sinnen, Senior Environmental Scientist with the Klamath/Trinity Program, each Jack that returns to the river correlates to approximately 18 jacks that stayed in the ocean. To be exact D.F.G. is forecasting there to be 1,567,660 now three-year-old Klamath salmon in the ocean. Add in 79,600 four-year-olds and 4,600 five-year-olds, and you've got yourself a hell of an outlook for 2012. The Sacramento River also saw a huge return of Jacks in 2011 and their ocean abundance is forecasted to be 819,400, which is up from a 2011 projection of 729,000. We're talking over two million ocean salmon just from those two rivers. If I were to make a wager, I'd bet Humboldt County will have some of the best ocean salmon fishing in the state in 2012.

Next up, the Pacific Fishery Management Council is set to meet March 2-7 in Sacramento to consider its recommendations for the length of this year's salmon season, with a final decision to come later in the spring.

For more information, visit www.pcouncil.org/salmon/stock-assessment-and-fishery-evaluation-safedocuments/preseason-reports/2012-preseason-report-i/

North Carolina



Aquaculture in NC: The Global Connection February 15th, 2012

“We just sold a much bigger one to Denmark, but couldn’t be this style”, said the trade show representative as if he had traveled to the town next door. Aquaculture has its roots in northern Europe in many ways, mainly through connections to the beginnings of domesticating Atlantic salmon. So many American companies are making good money selling their technology and feed to customers around the world that have already made the step into large-scale aquacultural production.

A few countries in particular made their influence known several times: Denmark, Chile, and Canada. Though these have prominent roles in the global capture fisheries as well, their particular geology gave them a head start on salmon that is expanding over into other types of aquaculture.

According to Denmark’s Ministry of Food, Agriculture, and Fisheries, they are expecting advances in saltwater breeding and reduction of environmental impacts of aquaculture to further expand their industry in the coming years. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, Denmark is already the sixth largest exporter of seafood products, mostly of freshwater farmed trout and trout roe, which have a century of history in the country.

Chile’s start in aquaculture began with Atlantic salmon in the wrong hemisphere – that is, they brought salmon from Norway down to the similar ecosystem of the Chilean coast, jumping the barrier of warm equatorial water that prevented the salmon from doing so naturally. They’ve added bivalves and the seagrass Grassilaria to the portfolio. According to the FAO, they export most of their aquaculture products and growth is currently halted due to environmental concern from the grand salmon experiment.

Aquaculture in Canada is much more highly organized, with several professional organizations such as the Aquaculture Association and the Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance. They trace their aquaculture back to stocking programs of trout and oysters in the 1950′s (FAO fact sheet), but it is now mostly comprised of salmon. Future expansions will focus on cod, halibut, and haddock. Our connection to Canadian fisheries is likely due to proximity, because though highly organized, they represent only .3% of the world’s aquaculture production.

Either way, the connection to these countries is through aquaculture technology. We share UV sterilization technology, water quality testing, feed formulations, and other demands. Our producers play on the same stage at the world seafood expos such as the one in Boston, where our American Prawn Cooperative recently had a display. The biggest international news of late is that China is crossing the boundary this year from a net exporter of seafood to a net importer. Our connections to Denmark, Chile, and Canada through networking in the global seafood expos might help North Carolina seafood explode on the global market to meet this new demand. But then again, maybe we’ll let the big producers bear the heavy burden and keep North Carolinian seafood to ourselves, the pride of our land and sea. Only the future will tell.

READ ENTIRE SOUTHERN FRIED SCIENCE ARTICLE HERE

Washington State

 Large Wood Placement in Washington’s Waters – WSDOT Policy

Read the entire 30-page policy here via ISSUU (page flip technology)

 Is it time for “Capitol Lagoon” yet?

A

Aerial view of Capitol Lake in Olympia, Washington

B

Legend: A Puget Sound – Budd Inlet

C

B Capitol Lake – Lower Basin C Capitol Lake – Upper Basin Washington State Capitol Campus

by Bob Vadas, Jr. (past Board member of South Puget Environmental Education Clearinghouse (SPEECH) and past president of the Olympia Chapter of Trout Unlimited).

Caveat: my comments do not necessarily reflect state or local environmental non-governmental organization (NGO) policies.

A version of this article was originally published in SPEECH's 'South Sound Green Pages'

Recently, an Evergreen State College graduate student (Melanie Kincaid) undertook statistical analysis of 22 local people (including me) of various backgrounds and interests, to assess their views on the Capitol Lake vs. estuary controversy. There were three obvious groups that defined most people, i.e., pro-estuary (‘naturalresource’), pro-lake (‘aesthetics-including annual Capitol Lakefair’), and integrative (‘political-compromise’) folks. For numbers of people (albeit not necessarily a random sampling from the community), pro-estuary > pro-lake > integrative > undefined (‘independent’) people. The only common interest of the three main groups was a general concern about protecting Puget Sound, implying that major work will be needed to solve this management problem.

Kincaid emphasized the need for reducing this polarization, so I discussed the idea (based on my past research of California's coastal lagoons) of a compromise solution, i.e., brackish-lake management. Most likely, a new survey that focused more on the latter scenario would find more common ground among the three interest groups, as lagoon management is a potentially integrative solution.

Indeed, during a Sound Steward tour of Percival Landing last summer, I mentioned this idea to the group, several of whom thought it was a good idea but wondered why this potential, creative “win-win” solution hadn't been considered yet. Similarly, at SPEECH's Nisqually Reach seminar this past December (see http://www.oly-wa.us/GreenPages/Article.php?id=2011;11;201111b4), Senator Karen Fraser and other participants expressed interest in my Capitol Lagoon idea. Michael Garrity of American Rivers has also offered support for this lagoon idea.

Two environmental NGOs characterize this controversy, (i.e., Capitol Lake Improvement & Protection Association (CLIPA) and Deschutes Estuary Restoration Team (DERT)) that prefer lake vs. estuary solutions, respectively (see http://www.savecapitollake.org & http://www.deschutesestuary.org). Moreover, Olympia TU (including me) took a stand in favor of estuarine restoration, for likely benefits to Chinook and chum salmon and sea-run cutthroat trout (see the DERT web site).

Unfortunately, my compromise idea of Capitol Lagoon wasn't considered during past interagency (i.e., Capitol Lake Adaptive Management Plan (CLAMP) work, even though they examined five alternatives (see http://www.ga.wa.gov/capitollake). Indeed, my idea differs from the alternative of creating a split basin to segregate fresh- and saltwater areas, as I'm promoting full-estuary flushing that can better improve water quality there. Perhaps CLAMP's lack of consideration of my brackish-lake alternative is because coastal lagoons aren't as common (familiar) here as in the more-southern Pacific states, particularly farther south in California (CA).

Based on my past biophysical research in CA, I realized that anadromous salmonids regularly occur in stream basins with coastal lagoons, especially if they weren't depleted of their freshwater inputs (via human usage) to reduce winter flushing and worsen pollution (stagnation) problems. And the lagoon idea has merit here too, as Tacoma Metro Parks is planning such a brackish-lake ('pocket-estuary') restoration project farther north in Puget Sound for Titlow Lagoon, as the stagnant, algal-ridden ponds and tide gate there aren't fish-friendly (see http://www.thenewstribune.com/2008/04/29/v-printerfriendly/347151/tacomas-titlow-park-lagoons-could.html).

WDFW would like to undertake a similar brackish-lagoon project on the Bangor Naval Base of Kitsap Peninsula, to restore some estuarine functions. A natural example occurs even farther north, i.e., in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, where Jimmycomelately Creek has regular sandbar-closure problems at its mouth that impact chum salmon, so an interagency partnership has formed to achieve estuarine restoration there: (see http://www.jamestowntribe.org/programs/nrs/nrs_main.htm).

CLIPA's bottom line is that the 5th Street dam forming Capitol Lake shouldn't be breached, which is consistent with my lagoon idea, except that I'm arguing for a salt- rather than freshwater lake. This can be accomplished by completely opening the dam during winter, much like what occurs naturally in the Pacific Southwest (PSW) via sandbars that form across all or most of each coastal stream's mouth during summer.

When streamflows are higher during winter, these sandbars naturally breach, allowing (a) inmigrations of adult salmonids and (b) outmigrations of juveniles (smolts) that these sea-run fishes need to complete their life cycles. Bur far south in CA and in northern Baja CA (a Mexican peninsula), sandbars are closed most of the year via lesser freshwater inputs, so only the most warm-adapted salmonid with high life-history flexibility was historically found there, i.e., steelhead. Indeed, this trout is better able to stay an extra year in the ocean before spawning, and can also remain longer in the stream before outmigrating, often living in the brackish lagoon where food is abundant for excellent growth. Other salmonid species need longer durations for the sandbars to be breached every year to spawn and rear in PSW-coastal streams.

Indeed, state agencies formerly promoted backflushing of Capitol Lake with seawater, to better control aquatic-plant blooms that now plague the lake, which thus needs herbicidal treatments and is turning into a marsh. And although the New Zealand mudsnail can tolerate brackish water to some extent, this invader of Capitol Lake (which has caused closure of fishing and most water-contact recreation there) can better be controlled with higher-salinity conditions as winter backflushing could accomplish, as emphasized by a federal biologist (Kevin Atkin) at last year's South Sound Estuary Association (SSEA) training of beach stewards (see http://sseacenter.wordpress.com). Notably, any planned dredging work for the lake would need to address possible spreading problems for this exotic snail anyway.

Certainly, such dam operation reform would require collaboration with an engineer for feasibility in restarting backflushing.

“Capitol Lagoon-fair”, anyone? “Creature of the Black Lagoon” burgers might just work. For more on Capitol Lake and the Capitol Lake vs. estuary issues, please see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capitol_Lake.

 Hood Canal group seeks Atlantic salmon moratorium February 16th, 2012 Hood Canal Coordinating Council has voted to support Jefferson County — one of its three member counties — in calling for a moratorium on the deployment of new net pens for raising Atlantic salmon.

Manchester Research Station in Kitsap County conducts studies involving fish diseases. /NOAA photo A resolution presented to the council yesterday asks Gov. Chris Gregoire to impose and maintain the moratorium “until there is a plan in place to ensure that there is no risk to native salmon runs.”

I’m not sure how much direct authority the governor has over siting net pens, but she appoints the director of the Department of Ecology — one of the agencies that permits aquaculture projects.

Kitsap County Commissioner Josh Brown, chairman of the coordinating council, said he supported the resolution as a way to encourage the governor to increase research into the environmental impacts of salmon farming. Brown said he does not intend for his support to influence Kitsap County’s shoreline planning process.

The latest draft of the Kitsap County Shoreline Master Program includes language that would allow net pens and other aquaculture (PDG 60 kb) with limitations: “Aquaculture activities should be located, designed and operated in a manner that supports long term beneficial use of the shoreline and protects and maintains shoreline ecological functions and processes and should not be permitted where it would result in a net loss of shoreline ecological functions and processes…

“Aquaculture facilities should be designed and located with the capacity to prevent: a) the spread of aquatic pathogens, b) the establishment new non native species in the natural environment, and c) significant impact to the aesthetic qualities of the shoreline.”

READ ENTIRE KITSAP SUN ARTICLE HERE

 Ecology study finds high levels of pollutants in Port Angeles Harbor Editorial Comment: The open pen Atlantic salmon feedlots sited in the harbor at Port Angeles, Washington have a long and problematic history (escapes, pollution, more). Now we learn that these farm-raised Atlantics are being reared in contaminated water prior to going to market. Additionally, the Port Angeles harbor is just east of the Atlantic salmon and Steelhead trout net pen facility proposed for the Strait of Juan de Fuca,

PORT ANGELES — The Clallam County Health Department wants to know exactly how dangerous it is to eat fish and shellfish from Port Angeles Harbor after a study found several contaminants in excess of screening levels.

The long-delayed $1.5 million report, conducted by the state Department of Ecology and released Wednesday, found 22 of its 172 sediment samples exceeding standards for pollutants such as polychlorinated biphenyls, dioxins, mercury and arsenic.

Large amounts of wood debris also were found in the western harbor and around the former Rayonier mill site.

Ecology took 18 samples from fish and shellfish.

The agency concluded that the cancer risk exceeded 1 in 100,000 for both subsistence and recreation fishermen due to high levels of arsenic and PCB in the tissue.

The report doesn’t say how much has to be consumed for the risk to be met.

Dr. Tom Locke, health officer for Clallam and Jefferson counties, said he wants more information on the health risks of eating shellfish and fish from the harbor, including data on how much people have to consume to be at risk.

Locke said he has requested that the state Department of Health conduct its own study, which he expects to occur sometime this year, to determine whether new closures or advisories should be put into effect.

“In order to really make a good determination, we need another level of analysis,” he said.

The harbor already is closed to clamming, and an advisory has been in place since 2007 for harvesting crabs.

“My first impression is, yes, the crab advisory should continue,” Locke said.

“The question now is should it be extended to fish.”

READ ENTIRE PENINSULA DAILY NEWS ARTICLE HERE

ď ś Help LightHawk: Get Salmon-Tracking Antennae

A coalition of LightHawk partners has an urgent need to track the movements of steelhead salmon in Washington State's Klickitat River in March and April.

Aerial telemetry will allow scientists from the Yakama Nation to locate the fish during the spring spawning season when upper sections of the river are inaccessible on foot.

This information will guide stream restoration efforts.

LightHawk wants to help protect this threatened fish species, and volunteer pilots have already stepped up to help, but we need to purchase antennae and mounting hardware to make tracking possible. After this spring, this equipment will be used to track other wildlife in the Pacific Northwest, so this is a long-term investment in wildlife research.

Please help us reach our goal of raising $1,200 for this tracking equipment by making a donation today. Thank you!

Chehalis River Basin Flood Damage Prevention

In response to the devastating 2007 flood, basin interests came together and signed an interlocal agreement to form the Chehalis River Basin Flood Authority.

The purpose of the Flood Authority: develop a basinwide set of solutions to address flooding issues.

Approximate location of the proposed Chehalis River dam

 Wild Game Fish Conservation International Opposes Chehalis River Dam Olympia, Washington (February 26, 2012) - Wild Game Fish Conservation International denounces construction of the proposed Lewis County Public Utilities District’s Chehalis River dam near Pe Ell, Washington on environmental, cultural and economic grounds.

According to Bruce Treichler, WGFCI co-founder, “the soon-to-be-released Chehalis River Fish Study to explore the impacts of the proposed Chehalis River dam on the river’s salmon and trout reports that the dam and resulting reservoir will have a negative impact on environmentally-sensitive river and stream ecosystems above and below the proposed dam.”

Additionally, the Chehalis Tribe and the Quinault Indian Nation (a member of the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission) rely on the Chehalis River, its tributaries and the surrounding land for fish, wildlife and other resources to support their unique cultures. Both tribes adamantly oppose this proposed dam Jim Wilcox, WGFCI co-founder, states that “several fish and wildlife species within the Chehalis River basin are listed either as Threatened or Endangered via the US Endangered Species Act. This fact is one of several major reasons to not proceed with plans to construct the proposed Chehalis River dam.”

As has been reported, the proposed dam sited in the headwaters of the Chehalis River will not protect Interstate 5, the communities of Centralia and Chehalis, and the Chehalis-Centralia Airport from flooding; thus failing to protect local citizens and businesses from severe storms – the stated purpose for this dam.

Effective and practical alternatives supported by Wild Game Fish Conservation International to prevent flood damage throughout the Chehalis River basin include an immediate and permanent curtailment of steep slope logging, in conjunction with reforestation, and an immediate and permanent curtailment of floodplain development. Continuing to ignore these important land use recommendations will lead to increased flood damage and loss of human life.

Wild Game Fish Conservation International and our associates demand the protection of this very special river basin (the largest river basin within Washington State), its citizens and the many valuable environmental, cultural and economic benefits it provides year in and year out.

Our View Whither the Chehalis River Basin Flood Authority It is time for the Chehalis River Basin Flood Authority (FA) to fish or cut bait. They have spent millions of dollars on studies, none of which can or should be thought of as conclusive. Most recently, they have spent more than a million dollars on a fish study, even though this study was not supported by a third party consultant.

In last month’s edition, we outlined the issues that we have identified with the study. Various state

agencies, most notably, the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife provided many pages of commentary about the study.

But if you are not aware, the FA has also spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on an engineering study for a dam to be located just below the headwaters of the Chehalis River (SW Washington State). Like the fish study, it has significant flaws that even non-engineers like us can find without much effort. They have also spent some $400,000 on a study to figure out what type of governmental entity the FA should become. This study has gone nowhere and has been ignored.

The 2012 Washington state legislature requested a budget proposal from the FA. The proposal submitted requests for some $10,000,000 in capital budget funds for flood control projects. This has now been reduced to $5,000,000 with much of the money to be spent on maintaining and repairing levees in Lewis County. There are two things to think about here. First, the FA was and is not ready to submit such a list. They have, to their credit, been working for some five months on developing a list of possible projects. These projects are not yet scoped nor has a budget been developed for them. Consequently, the request put forward is a ‘category’ list.

This means that some money would go to levee repair and maintenance, some to modification of the Sickman Ford bridge, some to so-called ‘critter pads’, and so on.

Second, because the request from the legislature came so late in the session that one has to wonder whether any of these funds will be appropriated for this use. And to clarify, some of these state dollars will be used on levees that Lewis County is responsible for in the first place. We have seen nothing to indicate what Lewis County’s fiscal contribution will be or even if there will be county funds appropriated for the proposed levee projects.

The FA has been in business now for four years. The editors of the Legacy are not in agreement about what should happen with the FA. One of us wants it to go out of business at least until permanent moratoriums against steep slope logging and floodplain development are implemented.

The other co-editor would prefer to see it convert to a taxing district that could plan, obtain funds through grants, taxes, appropriated funds from the state legislature or Congress and be able to contract for various flood risk projects in the basin.

Regardless, of our take or yours, it is time, indeed overdue, for the FA to fish or cut bait.

.

ď ś Phase

1 Chehalis River Mainstem and Tributaries Comprehensive Salmonid Habitat Enhancement Plan February 2012

Prepared for Chehalis River Basin Flood Authority Prepared by Anchor QEA, LLC 3 DISCUSSION

Editorial Comment: Wild Game Fish Conservation International salutes this important effort by the Chehalis River Basin Flood Authority to identify and rank salmonid habitat enhancement projects throughout the Chehalis River Basin. Considerable time (decades) and money (millions) will be required to effectively implement these projects throughout this uniquely complex basin.

“This assessment identified potential restoration projects within WRIA 23 that would provide additional habitat for the various salmonid species found within the watershed. Projects primarily focused on those that addressed four of seven limiting factors identified as limiting salmonid production, fish passage conditions, floodplain conditions, riparian conditions, and large woody debris. Salmonids rely on habitats, many located above barriers that may be passable, partially passable, or impassable, as well as areas of refuge typically located within the floodplain. Based on the Tier 1 ranked culverts, approximately 2,400 miles of habitat is inaccessible or has limited accessibility for salmonids due to barriers. The majority of projects identified focused on fish passage due to the intensive culvert surveys that have been conducted by both the Chehalis County Conservation District and MCD and several projects were identified that related to other limiting factors as indicated on Table 3; future projects may need to consider other limiting factors, as well as those that are the focus of this report During the workshop, several attendees identified the need for preservation of areas that already contain suitable habitat and support the various salmonid species. This is an important consideration since preserving existing habitats may be more cost effective than restoring degraded areas. The documents reviewed during this assessment did not explicitly identify areas in need of preservation, but following a similar methodology of assessing the limiting factors and identifying areas most likely to contain these features would be a first step to identify areas to protect. One example discussed during the workshop was the coldwater areas within the Black River that currently provide summer refuge for salmonids.

It was suggested that these, and similar areas, be preserved. Additional areas may be identified by evaluating areas of groundwater upwelling based on the Department of Ecology report on hydrology in the Chehalis basin (Stanley et al. 2010).

The integration of limiting factors, fish use, and habitat availability is important for assessing subbasins or reaches within the watershed that would provide the greatest gain for cost. Since funding availability will limit the number and timing of projects that can be completed, it is important to identify and then rank projects properly. A recent study was conducted to help the Flood Authority evaluate future flood protection investments (Earth Economics 2010). As part of that study, the annual value of ecosystem services within the basin was estimated between $1.3 and $11.6 billion.

Recommendations in the study identified a combination of natural capital (e.g., floodplains), selective built capital (e.g., dams and levees), and social capital (e.g., early warning systems and training) as the best investments to achieve flood protection (Earth Economics 2010).�

READ ENTIRE CHEHALIS RIVER FLOOD AUTHORITY REPORT HERE

Featured artist: Michelle Nickerson - For the Ocean, Wild Salmon and Me Click, Watch, Listen

Youth Conservation News (new section)

 McDonald Creek’s Hero #1 February 3, 2012 Stream Team Dream

Not many teenagers can say they’ve successfully managed a stream restoration on a fish-bearing stream in their community over several years of sustained effort, making effective presentations to county organizations, finding money to make it possible and gaining support A very happy Jarred Figlar-Barnes poses by his first completed from volunteers and professionals. restoration project on McDonald Creek last September 2011.

But Jarred Figlar-Barnes can.

At 15, Jarred dreamed of restoring McDonald Creek in Elma, Washington to a clean, salmon-bearing stream in the midst of development and invasive weeds. At 16, his dream is becoming visible.

Jarred mapped the many fish-prohibiting culverts in the watershed while riding his bike. After making his first-ever PowerPoint presentation to the Chehalis Basin Fisheries Task Force in 2010, Jarred received $66,000 from the Salmon Recovery Funding Board to remove and replace these fishbarriers. When asked how he did this, Jarred replied “I use Google Earth a lot, and I just love hydrology,” which is how and where streams flow.

Jarred and his family walk their dogs along what he used to call the “ditch,” officially named McDonald Creek. While there, Jarred got interested in what the creek held, where it went, what old-timers knew about it. Once he saw its course online, he talked to the people who had lived near the creek for many years. Some of them remembered the fish. “They told me they used to see lots of coho (salmon). Lots. But in the years I had been walking there, I had never seen any big fish at all.”

Jarred, with his parents, both of whom are what Jarred calls “environmentally friendly, to say the least,” put their heads together and contacted Janel Spaulding, Watershed Coordinator for the Chehalis Basin Partnership and the Grays Harbor Stream Team, and Lonnie Crumley, President of the Chehalis Basin Fisheries Task Force. Jarred invited Janel and Lonnie to come out to Elma for a site visit of McDonald Creek. With Lonnie and Janel, Jarred had hit pay dirt. Lonnie, along with Janel, took a real interest in what benefits McDonald Creek might offer to fish and other aquatic life, along with its streamside human inhabitants. The Task Force and the Partnership have long worked toward positive change in fish habitat and community involvement in making a difference to fisheries resources.

“It has been such an honor and pleasure working with Jarred over these past two years. Seeing a young man like Jarred, with such a passion for helping out his local stream, is so inspiring. I have seen Jarred grow and develop over these past two years, and I have no doubt that he has found his calling in stream restoration,” says Janel Spaulding.

And the rest is not only history, but the restoration of McDonald Creek, which will probably be complete before June 2013 if Jarred has anything to do with it; that is, by the time he graduates from high school.

LAST CALL for 2012 Academy ď ś 2012 NORTHWEST YOUTH CONSERVATION & FLY FISHING ACADEMY The Washington Council of Trout Unlimited and the Washington State Council Federation Fly Fishers jointly announce they will begin accepting applications for the 2012 Northwest Youth Conservation and Fly Fishing Academy on January 1. The Olympia Chapter Trout Unlimited and the South Sound Fly Fishers will again host the Academy at the Gwinwood Conference Center on Hicks Lake in Lacey, Washington from June 24 through 30, 2012.

The Academy is designed to educate youth about the importance of conservation and resource stewardship. The Academy is modeled after the nationally acclaimed, award winning Pennsylvania Rivers Conservation and Fly Fishing Youth Camp held annually in Boiling Springs, Pennsylvania.

The curriculum is structured to provide students with a background in fundamental science and includes presentations on ecology, hydrology, aquatic entomology, invasive species, watersheds, wildlife management, and fish behavior. Participants will also learn the essential fly fishing skills that include fly casting, fly tying, fly selection, streamside ethics and etiquette, knot tying, reading water, and water safety.

Twenty-four youths, ages 12 to 16, who show an interest in the outdoors and fly fishing will be selected to attend. The Academy is co-educational with acceptance based upon a candidate’s written essay indicating his/her desire to attend and what she/he hopes to learn from this unique experience..

Applications will be accepted until April 15, 2012. Total cost, including meals and lodging, is $275.

Fly fishing rods, reels, and fly tying equipment will be available. A limited number of full scholarships are also available, thanks to fishing organizations, supporting corporations and individuals.

 South Sound Student GREEN Congress 20th Annual Student GREEN Congress – Watershed Summit For Nearly 400 Local Students Date: Friday, March 23rd, 2012 Time: 8:30 am to 3:00 pm Location: The Evergreen State College Longhouse

South Sound Global Rivers Environmental Education Project (South Sound GREEN) and the Nisqually River Education Project (NREP) are celebrating 20 years of providing opportunities for hundreds of teachers and thousands of students to do hands-on, real world science in the field at their locally adopted stream, river, lake, or shoreline of the Puget Sound.

Students (grades 3-12) participating in these programs gather water quality monitoring data throughout the school year in their respective watersheds. Students also engage in a variety of restoration projects and plantings at their adopted location.

The Student GREEN Congress is a culminating event for more than 400 student delegates to present their data, discuss water related issues in their communities, and generate recommendations for solving problems.

This year’s Keynote presentation will be a fun and engaging performance by Dana Lyons. This local singer, song writer, and author is most well know for his radio hit “Cows With Guns” and his awardwinning illustrated children’s book The Tree.

Students also attend environmental skill building workshops taught by local resource professionals.

Delegates are from schools in the South Sound (North Thurston, Olympia, Griffin and Tumwater School Districts) and Nisqually Watersheds (Yelm, Clover Park, Steilacoom Eatonville, and North Thurston School Districts).

Workshops include a salmon carcass dissection, making bird boxes, getting up close with inter-tidal creatures or stream bugs, shellfish tasting, Native American beading and storytelling, nature journaling, fly casting, live raptors, tree planting, and much more.

Congress concludes with students adopting the Nisqually and South Sound Watershed Action Declaration, which will include activities the students have agreed to participate in to protect and restore their local watersheds.

In an effort to support this event, a restaurant fundraiser and silent auction will be held on March 20 th from 4-midnight at McMenamins Spar Café. Bring the family out to enjoy a dinner out for a good cause!

CONTACT: Anne Mills or Amber Smith South Sound GREEN Program Coordinators, (360) 754-3588 ext. 108 www.thurstoncd.com/south-sound-green.html Or Sheila Wilson, Nisqually River Education Project Coordinator, (360) 561-0203.

Featured Fishing Photo from Around Planet Earth: Martine Bouchard: Quebec, Canada Gouffre River in Saint-Urbain-de-Cahrlevoix

“I was so proud to catch my first Atlantic salmon ever all by myself on August the 19th 2011, at Du Gouffre River in Saint-Urbain-de-Cahrlevoix, Québec, Canada.” Martine Bouchard

Featured Wild Game Fish: Snake River fine-spotted cutthroat trout

The Snake River fine-spotted cutthroat trout is a form of the Yellowstone cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki bouvieri) subspecies. Sub-species designation has been proposed with a trinomial classification of Oncorhynchus clarki behnkei, but the sub-species is not formally recognized. This cutthroat trout takes its common name from its original habitat, the Snake River of southern Idaho and western Wyoming, and from its unusual pattern of hundreds of small spots that cover most of its body.

While fine-spotted x rainbow trout crosses are observed in the South Fork of the Snake River in Idaho, they are infrequently encountered and appear to be hatchery hybrids. Conversely, Yellowstone x rainbow crosses are common; the "cutbows" of Yellowstone Park in the Lamar River drainage are natural hybrids.

In addition to their natural aversion to cross-breeding with other trout, fine-spotted cutthroats are unusual in their pursuit of a vertebrate diet, mainly other fish, but occasionally including small mammals. They are the only river cutthroat with a vertebrate diet, and as a result their territorial waters are almost devoid of whitefish. While the finespotted cutthroats can be very selective feeders during a major hatch of aquatic invertebrates, they are not as focused as rainbow or brown trout, and can be diverted with small terrestrial imitations. In addition, when there is no obvious hatch, anglers can be very successful with large streamer flies that imitate small fish.

The above photo and text are from Wikipedia.

Thanks to Bruce Treichler (WGFCI co-founder) for submitting this material for publication in Legacy.

Legacy readers are encouraged to submit photos and descriptions of wild game fish to Legacy Publisher

Featured Fishing adventures: Klickitat Riverfront Inn – Klickitat, Washington

Premier salmon and steelhead fishery from drift boat or bank, with guided trips available

http://www.klickitatriverfrontinn.com

Legacy distribution

”Legacy” is distributed around planet earth via Facebook “groups” and it is shared with others via e-mail and other means.

Facebook groups utilized to distribute “LEGACY”  Fishing World Wide (300)  Salmon Are Sacred (3,400)  Save Our Rivers (4,500)  Save the Baltic Salmon (3,000)  Straight Lines and Bent Poles With James T. (1,000)  Wild Game Fish Conservation International (3,900)

WGFCI Facebook Friends

April 2012

Conservation Video Library – “Why we fight” The End of the Line (1:08) Sacred Headwaters - British Columbia, Canada (16:14) Atlantic salmon feedlots - impacts to Pacific salmon (13:53) Salmon: Running the Gauntlet - Snake River dams (50:08) Farmed Salmon Exposed (22:59) Salmon farm diseases and sockeye (13:53) Shame Below the Waves (12:37) Locals Oppose Proposed Pebble Mine (7:23) Occupy Vancouver, BC - Dr. Alexandra Morton (6:18) Farming the Seas (Steve Cowen) (55:53) Farming the Seas (PBS) (26:45) Cohen Commission – Introduction (9:52) Deadly virus found in wild Pacific salmon (1:57) A tribute by Dr. Alexandra Morton (5.35) Green Interview with Dr. Alexandra Morton (6:06) Closed containment salmon farms (8:15) Don Staniford on 'Secrets of Salmon Farming' (7:50) H2oil - A documentary about the Canadian tar sand oil (3:20) From Tar Sands to Tankers – the Battle to Stop Enbridge (14.58) Risking it All - Oil on our Coast (13:16) To The Last Drop: Canada’s Dirty Oil (22:31) Greed of Feed: what’s feeding our cheap farmed salmon (10:37) Land-based, Closed-containment Aquaculture (3:14)

Photo from: Greed of Feed: what’s feeding our cheap farmed salmon?

Attention Conservation-minded Business Owners Many businesses around planet earth rely in part on sustained populations of wild game fish. This is true for fishing guide/charter services, resort and hotel owners, fishing tackle and boat retail stores, clothing stores, eco/photo tours, grocery stores, gas stations and many more. In fact, wild game fish are the backbone of a multi-billion dollar per year industry on a global scale.

This is why we at Wild Game Fish Conservation International offer complimentary space in each issue of “LEGACY” for business owners who rely on sustained wild game fish populations to sustain your business. An article with one or more photos about your business and how it relies on wild game fish may be submitted for publication to LEGACY PUBLISHER. Please include your business website and contact information to be published with your business article. Selected submissions will be published each month.

Sustained wild game fish populations provide family wage jobs and balanced ecosystems while ensuring cultural values. They also provide a unique, natural resourcesbased lifestyle for those fortunate to have these magnificent creatures in our lives.

Conservationists working together with the business community can effectively protect and restore planet earth’s wild game fish for this and future generations to enjoy and appreciate. This will be our LEGACY.

WGFCI endorsed conservation organizations

 American Rivers  Global Alliance Against Industrial Aquaculture  LightHawk  Salmon Are Sacred  Save Our Salmon  Sierra Club – Cascade Chapter  Sportsman’s Alliance For Alaska  Trout Unlimited  Wild Salmon First