Dear editor:
The other day I set up my little table and chair outside the Sointula Co-op store, looked up at the sign “Founded 1909” and couldn’t help thinking this town was built on the backs of wild salmon.
I felt like a panhandler asking for donations for the defense of Don Staniford vs Mainstream/Cermaq, the Norwegian owned fish farm company operating in Canada.
Another ex-fisher pulled up and asked me what I was up to.
Looking at the poster she said “I’ve already donated on-line” but reached into her purse and yanked out a $20 throwing it into the hat.
She said, “I can’t believe how many successful fisherman and companies made their livelihoods and supported their families off wild salmon. It’s time more of them opened up their wallets too.”
The choice has never been clearer; farmed or wild.
It’s been proven time and time again the two can’t coexist no matter how much propaganda they feed us stating they can. You can either sit back and watch the demise of the wild fish continue or step up to the plate and help in whatever way you can.
I discovered two things I believe to be truth: The first is the DFO is a lying, deceitful disgrace to the people it serves and the resource it is mandated to protect.
Their platform hasn’t changed over time, it remains deny and discredit all those who speak out to defend our resource and question their motives mismanaging it.
The Cohen Inquiry illustrated that fact again most recently. Secondly, after being close to this issue now for so many years, I am convinced the truth is that salmon farms are indeed the smoking gun as referred to in the Cohen testimony.
As a founding director of the Pacific Wild Salmon Society along with Alex Morton and several other very committed ladies, I would like to set the record straight about the work we do. It is definitely a non-profit society and sole purpose is to protect the resource, wild salmon.
No paychecks, salaries or corporate bonuses here, only a bunch of dedicated volunteers.
Every penny you give goes to things like sampling costs, lab tests and, yes, a large sum goes to legal challenges all of which have been successful.
There seems to be this myth our society is well-funded by wealthy American or foreign interests with underlying agendas. Not so. We are independent of CARR, SUZUKI, Living Oceans, Sierra or any of the other big enviros none of which are looking at the fish.
Findings are based on peer reviewed science without corporate persuasion or expensive, feel good, mistruth advertising.
Presently the society’s coffers are empty. To carry on ISAV sampling and the expensive lab testing we need money from you.
Or would you choose to believe that DFO or CIFA is safeguarding your wild salmon? The little fry are wriggling out of the gravel as I write this and the smolts from the legendary sockeye run of 2010 will be making their way to the ocean. Some of the team will be there sampling them and bringing you the results.
Alex spends her days tirelessly fighting for this precious gift from nature. She lives, breathes, sleeps wild salmon and is truly the inspiration and driving force that — along with your donations — keep us going.
Our only funding is contributions from you and we applaud you for your continued support. We need it now more than ever. Keep up to date at www.alexandramortontypepad.com or www.salmonaresacred.org, the only two public forums for our society.
So after sitting there at the store for the better part of the day I packed up my things and headed up to the town hall to say goodbye to an old time highliner, Pentti Kiiskila. I was feeling good about fundraising for an imperiled resource that fed him and his family, his entire life.
John Dawson
Pacific Wild Salmon Society
Sointula, B.C.
