Image by GSA. To raise awareness and funds for the plight of endangered Southern Resident orcas, Canada’s original organic chocolate company Denman Island Chocolate has created a brand new Orca Bar for Orca Action Month in June. Made with dark, organic, fair trade chocolate and shredded coconut, the Orca Bar is available at hundreds of retailers from…
Read more »Press Category: Species Protection
Terminal 2 expansion threatens orcas, salmon and climate action
Photo: Rachael Merrett-GSA. Orca sharing salmon. Tomorrow, conservation groups will present three main concerns with the proposed Terminal 2 expansion at Roberts Bank in Delta to the federal review panel. Groups will raise concerns about the effects of underwater noise and pollution on marine mammals, fish and fish habitat, and greenhouse gas emissions. The David Suzuki…
Read more »Conservation groups take ministers to court to protect endangered killer whales
Six conservation organizations are launching a new lawsuit aimed at protecting endangered Southern Resident killer whales. The suit comes less than a month after a killer whale mother carried her deceased calf for an unprecedented 17 days, drawing worldwide attention to the imminent threats facing the genetically unique population of whales. Ecojustice lawyers asked the Federal Court to review the…
Read more »Conservation organizations respond to Province’s fish farm announcement
It's too long for wild salmon
Vancouver, B.C.—In response to the B.C. government’s announcement this week to introduce new rules for renewing fish farm leases beginning in 2022, conservation groups Georgia Strait Alliance, Watershed Watch and Living Oceans have issued the following statement: “Yesterday’s policy announcement by the Province is a significant step towards defending wild salmon against the threats posed by open net-pen salmon farms.…
Read more »Groups applaud feds’ fisheries announcement
Renew call for killer whale emergency order
Conservation groups are applauding today’s announcement from Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Dominic LeBlanc and Minister of Environment and Climate Change Catherine McKenna that endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales face “imminent threats” to their survival and recovery. Prompted by this assessment, the Ministers also announced immediate fisheries closures in key Southern Resident foraging areas. Faced with declining populations of Chinook…
Read more »Community-business-Indigenous leaders launch ‘Declaration in Defence of Wild Salmon’
Asks BC-ers to support removal of open net-pen fish farms
Today in Vancouver, a diverse group of B.C. community, Indigenous, and business leaders announced the launch of the “Declaration in Defence of Wild Salmon”. The declaration seeks to draw together the growing number of voices calling on the B.C. government to take action on salmon farming by refusing to renew fish farm leases when they expire in June, 2018. The…
Read more »Conservation groups put ministers on notice over Southern Resident killer whale protections
Without action, extinction is near
VANCOUVER – Conservation groups are putting Minister of Environment and Climate Change Catherine McKenna and Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Dominic LeBlanc on notice as the groups race to secure protection for endangered Southern Resident killer whales. In an April 4 letter sent on behalf of David Suzuki Foundation, Georgia Strait Alliance, Natural Resources Defense Council, Raincoast Conservation Foundation and…
Read more »Washington State Phases Out Salmon Farms
BC Groups congratulate Governor Inslee on signing the bill into law today
VANCOUVER: BC groups hailed the move by Washington State today to phase out salmon farming in State waters at the conclusion of current leases. The Bill, passed by both houses of government, was signed into law by Governor Inslee this morning. “It was a victory for the precautionary principle,” said Stan Proboszcz of Watershed Watch Salmon Society. “There are just…
Read more »Groups urge federal government to protect Southern Resident killer whales
Calling on the Ministers to recommend Cabinet issue an emergency order
A coalition of conservation groups from Canada and the U.S. is calling on the Canadian government to take immediate action to protect Southern Resident killer whales. Today, Ecojustice sent a petition to Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Dominic LeBlanc and Minister of Environment and Climate Change Catherine McKenna on Tuesday, requesting the Ministers recommend Cabinet issue an emergency order under…
Read more »Study links virus in wild salmon to fish farm exposure and stock decline
On December 13, 2017 the journal of Public Library of Science One published research that indicates the percentage of wild salmon infected with piscine reovirus (PRV) is much higher in wild salmon exposed to fish farms in BC than wild salmon not exposed to them. Christianne Wilhelmson, Executive Director of Georgia Strait Alliance, made the following statement in response: “This…
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