Elizabeth May joins Alexandra Morton calling to end open net-cage fish farms

SIDNEY, BC -- Today national Green Party leader Elizabeth May joined conservationist and scientist Dr. Alexandra Morton at a press conference in Sidney, BC, to call for an end to open net cage fish farms two days before the Mayday for Wild Salmon march and rally in Greater Victoria on Sunday, May 1 (see below for details).

“After I am elected to Parliament on Monday, the Green Party will be positioned to push louder than ever before for a rapid phase-out of open-ocean net-cage fish farms and to ensure that this aquaculture industry does not continue to harm wild salmon populations through sea lice, viruses, and pollution,” stated Ms. May. “I am proud to support and walk with the heroic and unstoppable Alexandra Morton to defend our wild salmon that are such a fundamental part of BC.”

There are many problems with open net cage fish farming in BC’s marine environment, including transfer of diseases and parasites to wild salmon, the use of wild fish as feed for farmed fish, the dispersal of tons of solid waste and nutrients into the surrounding waters, and the problematic use of antibiotics in farmed fish.

The Green Party envisions long-term sustainability of coastal fisheries based on harvesting methods that work within ecological limits and management practices that enhance wild fisheries. Open-ocean net-pen salmon farms do not fit within this sustainable framework and the Green Party is calling for a rapid phase-out of existing salmon farms. 

Scientist and activist Dr. Alexandra Morton has been touring British Columbian communities since April 13 to ask candidates if they will protect wild salmon from fish farms.  Morton has lived in the Broughton Archipelago for almost three decades and has extensively studied the relationship between the proliferation of salmon farms and the crash in pink salmon populations in the region due to parasites that come from farmed salmon and displacement of resident orca.

“Wild salmon are the foundation for so much of British Columbia’s marine and terrestrial ecosystems,” stated Morton. “They are also vital to most of BC’s First Nations people and are a fundamental part of BC’s heritage. Those politicians who don’t get this, such as Stephen Harper and Gary Lunn, who continue to justify the status quo, are jeopardizing the very fabric of what makes BC so special and unique. Elizabeth May understands the gravity of the situation and supports an end to open net-cage fish farms, the wild salmon people of British Columbia need her voice in Ottawa. I certainly support a change in the politics of Saanich-Gulf Islands – Ms. May will be a champion in Parliament, for all of us who want a future with clean air, water and food."

Elizabeth May will join Morton for a portion of the 22 km Mayday for Salmon march and rally, which will take place on Sunday, May 1, a day before the federal election.  The march will start at 9am from the Tsawout First Nation reserve in Saanich (7728 Tetayut Rd), and will meet at 12.30pm at Lana Popham's constituency office (4085 Quadra St), and will culminate at the BC Legislative Buildings for a rally from 3pm to 5pm. 

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Contacts:
Kieran Green
Director of Communications
C: 613-614-4916
Kieran.green@greenparty.ca