Please read below for more information about the rally…
Large Crowd Gathers for Wild Salmon Rally
The rally for wild salmon the Wild Salmon Circle held on Saturday brought out a crowd of over 200 people to listen to speakers and to add their voice to the growing unrest about the state of salmon farms on the coast of British Columbia. To the rallying cry “how do we want our salmon?” there was a resounding “WILD.”
Chief Bob Chamberlin Leads Welcoming Song
The sun shone brightly on banners in both English and Norwegian with the same general message: open-net salmon farms must be removed from B.C. waters now. According to speaker Otto Langer, formerly fisheries scientist and manager at the DFO, salmon farms are placed on young salmon smolt migration routes when the smolts are so small the lice they pick up from fish farms kills them. “It’s like you and I carrying a 40 pound animal stuck to our body, draining us of life.”
The message was clear that Canadians are in solidarity with the Norwegians that salmon farms must clean up their act. Shannon Ellis, a Grizzly Wilderness Tour operator, was outspoken in her talk about the ecological damage that will occur if wild salmon are allowed to die off. “There will be no more salmon swimming upstream to spawn and die, ensuring healthy growth of both our big trees and predators such as grizzlies, otters and eagles.”
“It’s symbolic to me that there were families with young children at the rally, because the next generation is going to inherit whatever we leave them,” says Rick Glumac of the Wild Salmon Circle and emcee at the Rally. “It breaks my heart that their generation may not see BC’s incredible wild salmon runs. We must be more willing to commit to the precautionary principle to protect these fish.”
Former Department of Fisheries and Oceans Biologist Calls for Action
First Nations Chief Bob Chamberlain spoke of the blight of salmon farms in his Broughton Archipelago territory. “We have a long tradition of salmon in our culture, and to be unable to pass this tradition to our children is unthinkable.”
Global Salmon Campaigner Don Staniford Delivers a Heartfelt Plee to the People of Norway
“The rally was a big success. It was wonderful and heartwarming to see so many people out to lend their support,” said Maria Morlin, biology professor and emcee at the rally. “Considering the Olympics were on – a big distraction and the reason we held the rally now – there was a great turnout. I hope our message gets through to the Norwegian government loud and clear – don’t mess up our waters, you have enough problems with your own atlantic salmon escapees and wild salmon collapses.”
“Let’s unite our combined citizenry – the Canadians, Norwegians, British, and all other nations who want healthy wild salmon,” exclaimed Derek Spragg of the Wild Salmon Circle. “Together we can convince the regulatory bodies to regulate farms to – at the very least – closed containment and off migration routes.”
Speaker Don Staniford of the Pure Salmon Campaign agreed. “We can change the state of salmon farms as they now exist – with our united stand and combined effort.”
The rally ended with a letter writing to King Harald the fifth of Norway. Forty-one letters were sent to the King from attendees at the rally. As Graham Girard of the WSC said, “People just need a nudge to do the right thing.” Forty one nudges will get the message heard.
Protesters Bring a Message for Norwegian Salmon Farming Companies
The rally was filmed by Damien Gillis, documentary film maker, and should be out shortly to add to a growing number of excellent films he has produced. Check out www.puresalmon.org or www.wildsalmoncircle.com for links to his latest films.
The Decline of Our Wild Salmon Touches Young and Old Alike
Photos courtesy of John Prentice.
They need to hear your message over and over!
May I suggest joining in with the BC Federation of Labor and many social and enviromental groups to form a Coalition to Build a Better BC. A peaceful demonstration is planned for April 10th at the Vancouver art Gallery.
Contact me for more info
Barry