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November 23, 2005: NDP to undertake fish farm study in B.C.

B.C.

 

 

NDP to undertake fish farm study in B.C.

Nov, 23 2005 - 11:10 AM

 

CKNW(AM980) - The future of the fish farming industry in B.C. is now in the hands of a party that's on record as wanting it to be phased out, the NDP.

Liberal Agriculture Minister Pat Bell says he hopes the NDP leaves out politics and focuses on the facts as it reviews the industry.

The New Democrats will study the industry over the next 18 months.

The NDP has campaigned against open-net fish farming but Bell sees a softening of their stance lately, possibly because so many fish farms are in NDP ridings.

http://www.cknw.com/news/news_local.cfm?cat=7428109912&rem=24389&red=8011092

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Fish farm review being watched closely

Nov, 23 2005 - 11:20 PM

 

VICTORIA/CKNW - A review of BC's fish farms by the Provincial Government is being met with some concern by many workers whose livelihoods depend on it.

Executive Director of the BC Salmon Farmers Association Mary Ellen Walling says that's what she's hearing from members in smaller communities, "We have had some concerns expressed by some of our member companies. Of course, you know we've created jobs and opportunities for about 4 thousand British Columbians and a lot of them are working in small communities where unemployment rates are high. You know for example, we're the largest employer in a community like Port McNeil."

A newly appointed committee has a year and a half to review the industry, followed by a 6 month period for the Government to go over the report.

http://www.cknw.com/news/news_local.cfm?cat=7428109912&rem=24444&red=8011092

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Robin Austin to lead legislative aquaculture committee

 

By Rod Link

Nov 23 2005

Terrace Standard

 

 

SKEENA NDP MLA Robin Austin will be named chair of an all-party legislative committee charged with examining the aquaculture industry.

The intention to form the committee and for it to have an opposition MLA as chair was first announced in September when the legislature re-opened after the provincial election.

As the NDP fisheries critic, Austin's selection as chair was pretty much a given.

"We'll be given 18 months to do the work of the committee and there will be six months for the government to implement the work," said Austin.

The committee will have six opposition MLAs on it and four government MLAs.

Austin said people shouldn't be surprised that the committee majority will rest with the NDP.

"We represent a lot of the coastal ridings," he said.

"Aquaculture is a complex issue to understand," said Austin. "The critical thing is that it does not damage our wild fishery."

 

The NDP for years has been a critic of aquaculture, saying that some of the techniques use are dangerous to farmed salmon as well as wild stock.

Environmental and other groups say fish farms pollute and help spread salmon diseases.

Just last week Austin was at a Sport Fishing Institute of B.C. conference in Richmond where he said he was impressed with the value the industry creates.

"It's incredible. An angler here may have a fish that's $100 in value. But in the sport fishing industry, a fish can be worth thousands," he said once expenses such as fishing lodges and guides are taken into account.

Austin said that there's a business in Nanaimo created specifically to can salmon caught by foreign anglers.

"And that alone employs 40 people," he said.

 

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Topic(s): Ocean News, policy news, Political News, Pollution and Waste News, Wildlife News

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