Independent Conservation Council to Examine Salmon Aquaculture Debate

Vancouver, August 12, 2002 - The Pacific Fisheries Resource Conservation Council (PFRCC) announced today that it has commissioned the production of a report investigating the potential impact of salmon aquaculture on wild salmon and their habitat in British Columbia.

"Since the provincial government announced its intention to lift the moratorium on the expansion of the salmon aquaculture industry, there has been vigorous and aggressive marketing of viewpoints by government agencies, First Nations, industry representatives and environmentalists," said the Honourable John A. Fraser, Chairman of the PFRCC. "While many have done their part to advance their positions, the PFRCC believes that more needs to be done to independently evaluate arguments and determine their validity. This initiative is aimed at addressing that disparity."

"The future of salmon aquaculture in British Columbia lies at the heart of one of the most polarized and highly charged fishery debates on the Pacific Coast," Mr. Fraser asserted. "It is time to go behind the debate, defuse some of the rhetoric and examine the information and assumptions supporting the arguments of opposing interests."

This project is not an inquiry or a public consultation. Rather, it is a program of research, analysis and reporting. The goal is to expand and deepen the current public understanding about the potential impacts of salmon aquaculture on wild salmon by examining, evaluating and assessing the information and assumptions supporting the arguments of opposing interests. The project's objectives are:

To present and assess the arguments made by opposing interests;

To review the data and underlying assumptions on which the arguments are based;

To clearly present the strengths and weaknesses of these arguments;

To identify areas of agreement, areas of disagreement and areas in which more information is needed; and

To make information available to the public and the federal and provincial governments.

The PFRCC's mandate relates to the conservation of wild salmon and their habitat. Therefore, the report will focus on the science associated with salmon aquaculture issues that are most closely related to wild salmon and wild salmon habitat. The report will be released to governments and the public at the end of 2002.

"Council members are concerned about the lack of clarity on this issue," said Dr. Jeff Marliave, PFRCC member and Vice President Marine Science of the Vancouver Aquarium. "Many organizations have contradictory views and, naturally, the public is wondering whom to believe. More analysis is required so we can have a much clearer picture of how aquaculture affects conservation of wild salmonids."

Dr. Julia Gardner and Mr. David Peterson will manage the project. Dr. Gardner, of Dovetail Consulting Inc, specializes in marine conservation and sustainable development issues. Mr. Peterson, of Devon Knight Events, is a specialist in investigative research.

The Pacific Fisheries Resource Conservation Council was established in 1998. Its role is to provide independent, strategic advice and relevant information to Canada's and British Columbia's fisheries ministers as well as to the Canadian public on the status and long-term sustainable use of wild salmon stocks and their freshwater and ocean habitats.

For more information on this project, please consult the accompanying backgrounder or visit www.fish.bc.ca.

For more information, contact:

John Paul Fraser
Media Liaison Pacific Fisheries Resource Conservation Council
604-775-5789
fraser@fish.bc.ca

Dr. Brian Riddell
Science Advisor Pacific Fisheries Resource Conservation Council
250-758-0894

Related Reports:

Making Sense of the Salmon Aquaculture Debate Executive Summary Analysis of issues related to netcage salmon farming and wild salmon in British Columbia

Making Sense of the Salmon Aquaculture Debate