Wild Salmon Circle Newsletter

In This Issue

Salmon are Sacred Migration and May 8th Victoria Rally
Judicial Inquiry open for Public Submissions!
WSC and Fraser Riverkeeper launch ‘Stand up for Pacific Salmon’ campaign
Fingerling Festival on May 1!

About Us

The Wild Salmon Circle is a grassroots, volunteer citizen-run and -funded action group, dedicated to the removal of open-net fish farms from BC's coast and the restoration of healthy wild salmon runs in Canada. Quite simply, we're of the people, by the people and for the salmon! Read More »

5 for 5

Remember, the Wild Salmon Circle isn’t so much an organization, but a network of concerned citizens like you standing up and making their voices heard. Help spread the word – Talk to five of your friends or family members about the importance of wild salmon in BC and get them to join the Wild Salmon Circle. Let’s all stand together and create the healthy future with plentiful wild salmon that we all want to see.

April 28, 2010

Dear friends of wild salmon,

Spring and sunshine are upon us, we hope with it has come a renewed motivation to stand up for wild salmon! Soon, salmon all over B.C.’s coast will be making the migration back to their natal homes to spawn and continue such a fascinating cycle, so important to our coast. With that in mind, there are many events to be involved in and actions to undertake this Spring to ensure the health and longevity of our wild salmon stocks. There is no doubt that with continued support and dedication from concerned citizens everywhere, we can together create a future that includes wild salmon. Read on to find out what we all can do this spring, as individuals and within our communities!

Cailyn

Salmon are Sacred Migration and May 8th Victoria Rally

As many of you may already know, Alexandra Morton is leading the “Get Out Migration”, a walk down the length of Vancouver Island to demonstrate to our government that wild salmon are important, to our families, our communities, our environment, and to a healthy future for our coast.

The Migration is well underway, having began on April 23rd in Sointula, at the Northern end of Vancouver Island. The great march will end with a massive rally in Victoria on May 8th.

There’s a lot to be involved in during the 17 day Migration. Spread the word, sign the “Get Out Migration” petition, send a card to Fisheries Critic, MP Finn Donnelly, sign the letter to Fisheries Minister Gail Shea, create salmon inspired artwork, and even put on your running shoes and join the journey yourself! There will also be events all over Vancouver Island, as the Migration makes it way south. There are also satellite migrations and events taking place all over the province if you’re too far to participate in the Vancouver Island walk. To find an event close to you, check out the link below, and click on the itinerary tab.

On May 8th, there will be a rally in Victoria to celebrate the culmination of the 17 day March. Join us for a wild salmon barbeque, music, and an array of speakers including, Grand Chief Stewart Philip, MP Finn Donnelly, and Alexandra Morton. The rally will begin at 2:00 pm in Centennial Square in downtown Victoria. There will be a variety of speakers, music, and wild salmon related activities, until 3:00 pm when the Migration itself arrives. There will then be a march at 3:45 pm to the Legislature buildings where the final rally will commence. To find the fully day’s itinerary, check out our website, http://www.wildsalmoncircle.com/. If you’re able to be in the area, come down and stand up for wild salmon, have your voice heard!

To find out more about the Migration, view the itinerary, sign the petition, and discover more about what you can do to help, check out http://www.salmonaresacred.org/. This is the largest event ever in BC for wild salmon, so make sure you don’t miss out and add your voice!

Hope to see you all there!

Judicial Inquiry open for Public Submissions!

On April 15th, the Cohen Commission of Inquiry in the Decline of the Sockeye Salmon of the Fraser River granted standing to 20 groups and individuals to participate in the commission’s formal hearings. This means that those with standing can propose witnesses, make oral submissions at the Commission’s hearings, and may cross-examine witnesses. Represented within the participant list for the Inquiry are environmental, First Nations and Aboriginal, and industry organizations, as well as associations representing commercial and recreational fishers.

The Cohen Commission is also asking for members of the public to make written submissions on the decline of Fraser River sockeye. Relevant submissions will be considered by commission staff, and passed along to the Commissioner himself, if deemed of value. Those submissions deemed useful will then be posted on the Commission’s website. To post a submission or to find out the Commission’s terms of reference in order to make a submission, go to http://www.cohencommission.ca/en/submissions/PublicSubmissions.php.

For a full list of participants and joint-participants with standing, go to www.cohencommission.ca.

For additional and background information on the Cohen Inquiry, visit the Judicial Inquiry page at our website, http://www.wildsalmoncircle.com/judicial-inquiry/.

WSC and Fraser Riverkeeper launch ‘Stand up for Pacific Salmon’ campaign

Wild Salmon Circle and Fraser Riverkeeper are about to launch their Stand Up for Pacific Salmon campaign. This is a ‘shareware’ approach to social change, using multimedia consumer education kits. These kits contain a cartoon by Watershed Watch, a video by Damien Gillis, an NBC spot, and several background documents. The goal of this kit is to educate Pacific region consumers on the dangers of net-pen salmon farms.

Several Wild Salmon Circle volunteers have collaborated with Lauren Hornor of Fraser Riverkeeper to create the documents and the PowerPoint included in the kit, using information from various allies.

On or before May 8th, twenty-seven Riverkeeper groups from Alaska to California will begin hosting SUPS events and engaging with retailers in their region, asking them to follow Target’s example and take net-pen farmed salmon from their shelves.

This was an all volunteer effort. Thanks Judah, Damien, Maria, Graham, Tyee, Lauren, Shauna, and all others who contributed. From here, WSC and Riverkeeper will discuss the possibility of adapting the kit for other citizen groups in BC and throughout North America. If you’re interested in receiving one or learning more about the kits, then send us a message.

The Stand Up for Pacific Salmon campaign will be announced at the final rally for the Get Out Migration on May 8th in Victoria.

Fingerling Festival on May 1!

Join the Wild Salmon Circle at the Port Moody Ecological Society’s Fingerling Festival this Saturday, May 1st. The event highlights the release of young chum salmon from the hatchery into Noons Creek. There will also be performances, a variety of children’s activities, as well as displays from various stewardship organizations from around the lower mainland, including a video display booth by the Wild Salmon Circle.