Please direct all media inquiries to Allison Murray, Communications Associate, at allison [at] murraycommunications.org | 604-442-1846.

Sharing the bounty: orca’s stake in salmon protection

Research shows need for restoring salmon population key to orca recovery November 9, 2011 VANCOUVER – In a paper published today in PLoS ONE, researchers reveal the energetic needs of killer whales for Chinook salmon in the Salish Sea. This important information underscores how recovery planning for both species needs to factor in just how many salmon the killer whales…

Read more »

Health and environmental organizations call for province-wide ban on cosmetic pesticides

Georgia Strait Alliance joins other groups in asking the BC government to ban the use of all lawn and garden pesticides. Please read our statement here. Dozens of BC communities have already banned local use, and opinion polls show British Columbians don’t believe the health and environmental risks posed by chemical pesticides for non-essential, “cosmetic” uses are worth taking. Thanks to…

Read more »

Salmon Inquiry shows need for government overhaul

Conservation groups say focus must be salmon, not industry October 18, 2011 VANCOUVER – The federal government must re-prioritize science and conserving salmon rather than surrendering to short-term industry interests, according to recommendations made by conservation groups to a national inquiry into the decline of Fraser sockeye. The recommendations were submitted on October 17 by the Conservation Coalition, which was…

Read more »

Big step taken in protecting the Strait of Georgia

Ministers’ announcement milestone in creating Conservation Area for Southern Strait October 13, 2011  Vancouver – Today’s announcement of an agreement between the Federal and BC Provincial governments regarding seabed rights in the proposed National Marine Conservation Area in the Southern Strait of Georgia was greeted by enthusiastic support by the Georgia Strait Alliance. The announcement by Minister Kent and Minister…

Read more »

54 local, provincial and national organizations call for salmon farm closures along wild salmon migration route

Evidence emerging at Cohen Inquiry reaffirms urgent need to protect wild salmon from salmon farm diseases and sea lice

September 6, 2011 VANCOUVER, BC – The Wild Salmon Narrows Declaration, signed by 54 local, provincial and national organizations is calling for the removal of open net-cage salmon farms from the Wild Salmon Narrows (WSN) in the northern Georgia Strait. Today, the Georgia Strait Alliance (GSA), a member of the Coastal Alliance for Aquaculture Reform (CAAR), is delivering the signed declaration to…

Read more »

New salmon farm proposed in Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Reserve

CAAR calls for moratorium on net-cage tenures   May 18, 2011 VANCOUVER, BC – Mainstream Canada has submitted a tenure application to the Provincial Government for a new open net-cage salmon farm located in Fortune Channel on the east side of Meares Island. If approved, and then licenced by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, the site would add about…

Read more »

Salmon farm restocking threatens wild salmon migration route

April 28, 2011                                                      VANCOUVER -Mainstream Canada is restocking their Venture Point salmon farm in Okisollo Channel. With the recent reactivation of the Conville Bay farm in HoskynChannel (sublet by Grieg Seafood from Marine Harvest), the…

Read more »

Federal Court awards costs on orca protection case

Fisheries on the hook for $80,000 in legal costs

by Mark Hume The Federal Court of Canada has stuck the Department of Fisheries and Oceans with an $80,000 legal bill because, in a court battle over orca habitat, the government “displayed reprehensible, scandalous or improper conduct that is deserving of reproof or rebuke.” DevonPage, executive director of Ecojustice, a not-for-profit legal foundation, said the decision “is exceptional” and its…

Read more »

From sea to poisoned sea, federal government proposes new regulation that would facilitate toxic pesticide use on salmon farms

February 16, 2011 FREDERICTON, HALIFAX, VANCOUVER – Despite mounting public concern over the impact of aquaculture pesticides on the marine environment, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) is in the process of developing regulations that will facilitate and enable the ongoing use of eco-toxic pesticides in the open water by the salmon aquaculture industry. DFOʼs proposed "Pathogen and Pest Treatment" regulation…

Read more »

CAAR celebrates AgriMarine’s first commercial-scale closed containment tank installation

January 17, 2011VANCOUVER – Commercial-scale closed containment salmon farming in BC just took one huge step forward with the installation of a marine-based salmon farming tank in Campbell River.Local closed containment technology leader AgriMarine Inc. has installed the first of four solid-wall floating tanks that will be used to farm Chinook and coho salmon at Middle Bay. The Coastal Alliance for…

Read more »