Almost 2,000 sign biologist's petition calling on feds to regulate fish farms

Shadi Ellen
March 9, 2009
Straight Talk

B.C. biologist Alexandra Morton has collected nearly 2,000 signatures on a petition from members of the fishing community who want to see the federal government immediately take over responsibility for fish farms from the province.

The petition, addressed to federal fisheries minister Gail Shea and B.C. premier Gordon Campbell, calls on Fisheries and Oceans Canada to apply the Fisheries Act to fish farms right away. It also calls for observers to assess the amount of bycatch—the catching of fish other than those intended—during the fish-farm harvest, and for the examination of farmed fish to see if they’ve eaten wild fish.

“I’ve never seen anything like this,” Morton told the Straight over the phone. “When I see all these fishermen and non-fishermen signing on and sending me e-mails, it makes me feel very optimistic.”

See the full article on Straight.com

Posted March 10th, 2009