North Islander

March 1, 2003 

I read with interest the cover story on the North Islander of Jan 18, 2003.  the photo of Regional Director George Sirk well expresses the hatred fomented by anti fish farming factions. As a person who has fed my children since 1986 by working hard in the supply sector I well know what it feels like to bear the brunt of this hatred. I can well understand the frustration expressed by the fishermen and natives present since I fished commercially for 10 years prior to 1986. Their assertion that fish farming has displaced them is ludicrous. They well know that one of the biggest sockeye runs in recent memory passed through Johnstone Strait this summer with basically no fishing opportunities for local fishers. I suggest they redirect their hatred towards the federal government whose fishing strategy has switched harvest patterns so that sockeye are not harvested in the Fraser River even though water marked fish are worth a dollar a pound less to our beleaguered economy. That is worthy of your fury!

I suspect that much of the furor stirred up by so-called science based environmental organizations is founded in this hatred fishermen have for fish farms. After all Suzuki is a name well know in the wild fishing industry and Lynn Hunter was directly involved with the United Fishermen and Allied Workers Union. Is it coincidence she is the Suzuki Foundation’s spokesperson on fish farming? Is their concern really scientific or economic?

Lets assume for a moment that these protesters got their way and fish farms moved out of BC tomorrow. What would we see? First off we would see a big for lease sign up on the Omega offices where the protest took place. Do we need another for lease sign added to the multitude already found in town? We can add at least 12 more of these signs if the farms and their support industries move out. OK, so what about the big improvement in the price fishermen get for their catch? Unfortunately fish are sold onto the world market and within months Chile and Norway will more than fill the gap left by the demise of our industry. Zero benefit for our fishers.

What else? Oh yeah, me and my kids along with my employees and their children and families will be joining the thousands of others formerly employed by fish farming looking for social assistance.

So before you direct your hatred at the hard working people of this industry take a second to think about the consequences. Our beleaguered economy needs a healthy wild fishery. We should be working together to compete on the world market to benefit all British Columbians. Don’t believe the fear mongering mantras of the radicals, this is an attainable goal.

March 13, 2003

To: The Editor, Courier-Islander

 Re: Letter from Harry Allen “Names can cause confusion” your March 12 edition.

 I respect Mr. Allen greatly and I must thank Harry for clearing up the fact that there are two ‘Suzuki’ organizations. I’m afraid there could also be more than just the one Lynn Hunter. I was thinking of the one who “enjoys tormenting fish farmers” but I could have been confused with another. I apologize for any confusion.

 Harry describes a time past when the T. Buck Suzuki foundation was formed. This was a time when people were still honorable as is evident by whom he mentions. I am sure the T. Buck foundation has done and continues to do many positive things [e.g. habitat restoration and salmon enhancement.] This contrasts with your larger namesake.

 I am afraid that things have deteriorated since your involvement. The T. Buck foundation is in fact in an “unholy alliance” [your words] it is the C.A.A.R. This alliance includes your big brother Suzuki foundation along with other activist groups that depend on negative press for funding [“Good news stories don’t sell”]. Also allied are a variety of other groups that don’t like farmed salmon competing in “their” marketplace.

 I am concerned for my friends in the wild fishery who throw their hat in with the activists who depend on negative press for funding. After the farms are gone the wild fishers will be like sitting ducks.

 Have these activists claiming concern for wild salmon ever done anything positive, habitat restoration or salmon enhancement for example? With all their funding, have they contributed to Q.I.S.E or Oyster River Enhancement?

 I wonder if Harry still has enough influence to encourage the T. Buck foundation to stick to the positive and let those who make their living from the negative wallow in the glory of “their” negative press? 

Sincerely,

Gary Krook

March 26, 2003

  To: The Editor, North Islander

 Re: "Net job gain the untold story" A. Morton, your Mar 22 issue

 Ms. Morton's "untold story" or should I say, fairy tale, asserts that the many problems faced by the wild fishery can be blamed on growing salmon. Absurd!

 A number of co-workers and myself are former fishers. We currently work year round [not seasonally] as suppliers to salmon growers. Has Ms. Morton not heard about the multiple "Buy Back" programs that reduced the over capacity of the commercial fleet? This is why we no longer fish.

Doesn't Ms. Morton know, one of the most massive runs of sockeye ever, migrated through our local waters last summer? There was plenty to keep the north island fish plants going for at least a couple of months. But few local fishers or workers benefited from this massive run. Why? There were virtually no fishing opportunities granted. Was the fisheries department pressured by Ms. Morton and her activist cohorts to over zealously apply the "precautionary management principal"? I only hope this situation doesn't affect the sockeye rung in the same way the Broughton pinks were affected. We will all see when the sockeye return, or if they don't, four years from now.

Sincerely,

Gary Krook

Re: Sean Dorsett’s  letter (April 26, 2003)

Come on Sean, your “facts” are obviously taken from fear and hate campaign spawned by Alaskan Salmon Marketers and their friends at the Pew Oceans Commission, the EGA (Environmental Grantmakers Association), and the attack groups that they fund. (CAAR & others: follow the millions.

            Their green shield allows them to use black marketing tactics and unethical actions that would otherwise be banned by any trades commission. Maybe you are not aware that they black list all Canadian salmon, not just farmed. Sadly their dangerous salmon campaign had done more to hurt your wild fish business than fish farming ever could.

            Studies show that when a consumer is at a meat counter and “feels” anything  “might” be wrong with fish they simply turn to the beef, pork, or poultry section, the real competition for fish.

            Fishermen like to blame others for their problems. Sporties blame commercial fishermen, gill-netters blame trollers, trollers blame seiners, seiners blame food fishers and so on and so on, around and around it goes.

            Now salmon farmers are a target that all can vent on. Their rhetoric with regard to wild salmon is not justified. Remember last summer, local newspapers were positively giddy with eh excellent angling occurring in local waters, and surely you are aware of the biggest run of sockeye we’ll ever see in our lifetime that passed through here last August? Would you like to blame the lack of sockeye fishing opportunities on farmers was well?

            Sean, it’s time to end the blame game and start working together for the benefit of the environment and everyone supporting families on this coast. There is room for all.

            Everyone must come to see the Alaskan instigated fear and hatred nonsense for what it is. A Black MARKETING CAMPAIGN, targeting all Canadian salmon. We must come together and market Canadian salmon for what it is, good for one’s health and environmentally sustainable.

            The Alaskans certainly market “their” fish as such, even though they may have originated in B.C. rivers (look at the migration routes of our wild salmon).

            Sean, have you ever heard of “divide and conquer”? Our neighbors to the south and to the north sure have and our B.C. attack groups just love taking their millions.