We have won a respite. The fishfarms planned for the estuary of the Skeena, Canada's second largest salmon river, are on hold. But for how long? Millions of dollars are being spent in one-sided promotion of fishfarms to BC First Nations and others. The southcoast operations are being expanded. We need a BC moratorium on fishfarm expansion NOW!
The Skeena's Pink and Sockeye runs are millions strong. The huge Chinook and Steelhead are world renowned! Industry wants to place three huge farms right into their outmigration route with more to follow.
Our declaration is no longer a signable petition but look at the thousand who signed, and read their comments here.
"We, the undersigned, who are
concerned about the Skeena Watershed
and North Coast Region, insist
that the governments of
British Columbia and Canada
immediately place a moratorium on
any further expansion of
open net cage finfish farms
on the coast of British Columbia."
Save Our Skeena Salmon is the Prince Rupert Environmental Society's campaign to keep open net salmon farms out of the approaches to the Skeena River. We believe that the introduction of open-net salmon aquaculture to this region represents an unacceptable threat to the wild salmon who flourish here and the fisheries which depend on them. In our view, there is overwhelming evidence that when open net salmon farms are introduced near wild salmon migration routes, wild salmon stocks are severely impacted. This is indeed what happened after salmon aquaculture was introduced to the coasts of Norway, Scotland, Ireland and the southern coast of British Columbia.
Many many people and groups are trying to protect our salmon from fishfarms. Many of us have been acting. For Example:
It goes on and on.
Join with us, together we make stuff happen. Like making the May 7th event a success.
Since fall 2003 to 2007 the Prince Rupert Environmental Society focused only on fishfarms. Our Save our Skeena Salmon Campaign welcomed and sought out all sectors and has had many meetings where, First Nations, sport fishermen, environmentalists, commercial fishermen, loggers, students, left wing, right wing, all get along. As long as we focus on stopping these farms we get along great!And we won a local moratorium!
We are still working to protect wild salmon in our region; to bring together coastal and upriver groups, influential Steelhead angling clients, First Nations organizations, local sports fishermen, tourism businesses and many many others. We have and will continue to spread the word outside the region.
We need to find ways for friendly town and village councils and band councils to work with fishing industry groups and ordinary people like kayakers, sports fishing loggers and mothers who want to make sure they have jarred salmon for their kids lunches.
Spreading the word about the marvelous Skeena salmon and the threat fishfarms pose is still important. So is keeping up our organization and maintaining our networks. Become a member (it is only $5.00 -- see our donation page and mention membership at the end or go to Contact and write us.) We use the many contacts we are making to keep up the pressure.
As a result of the fishfarm issue we now have two pro moratorium NDP MLAs working for us and an NDP MP. This is not a left wing right wing issue, but we wanted a moratorium and we needed to get our government to put one in. Losing votes gets attention.
This site uses images by the following gracious photographers and artists:
Roy Vickers is an west coast artist who has given us permission to use
his work, Pink Salmon Drum; as our logo. Roy has this to say about
salmon:
Wild salmon have been the lifeblood of first nations people in
northern British Columbia for thousands of years. The Skeena river and
it’s tributaries reach deep into the interior of and affect the
Tsimshian, Gitksan, Nishga, Haida, and Wet'suwet'en people. Wild salmon
have been the main resource from the sea, supporting commercial
fishing, canneries, sports fishing, and most important to us, the
subsistence fishery. Without wild salmon stocks all animals in the
northern region will be affected. Without wild salmon stocks our forest
and ocean life will die.”
For more of Roy's work, visit his website: http://www.royhenryvickers.com
Keith Douglas has given us permission to use many of his works, throughout our website. The masthead uses a photograph of his as well. His site can be found at http://www.keithdouglas.ca/
We thank supporters, Sharon and Al Oskey, for givng us the photo record
they made while processing their wild salmon. You can enjoy "Preparing
the Winter Food Supply" in the Take Action section.
Some of the pictures on this site are taken from Twyla's film, Call from a Coast. Check out her site for updates from the Broughton
