Why does the sea lice article need clarifying?
Last week’s Courier-Islander article entitled “Sea lice levels said dropping, but Morton issues caution” (July 24th) requires clarification and correction. The article correctly speaks to the collaboration between Marine Harvest Canada and a consortium of environmental groups to monitor the effectiveness of an innovative sea lice management program. Simply put, the plan is to alternate grow-out sites between two separate migration channels East of Port McNeill – one channel containing only first year farmed-raised salmon (or empty sites) and the other channel containing larger, second year salmon. First year salmon are sea lice free when entered into our saltwater farms and larger, second year salmon may require further management to reduce sea lice levels that have transferred from wild sources. From 2009 until 2014, this management program will be monitored by third party researchers to judge its effectiveness at reducing the risk of sea lice transmission from farmed to wild fish. Bu
The article contains several erroneous statements from environmental activist Alexandra Morton. Specifically; 1. It is correct that the spring of 2009 has seen low levels of sea lice on farmed and wild salmon, much similar to 2008 but lower than 2003-2007. But Morton’s statement “when you remove the farm, the number of lice on the wild juvenile salmon decreases” ignores the fact that all researchers report sea lice at low levels throughout the area, not simply when farms are empty. 2. Marine Harvest is not seeking to “double or triple” production. In fact, there is an agreement to cap the production at current levels. The requested amendments to our farm sites are simply to allow the farmer to grow his/her fish “all in and all out” – meaning you won’t have to move fish between farms mid-cycle as was previously done. 3. One of the management tools available to the farmer to reduce or eliminate sea lice is a drug called Slice®. Ms. Morton incorrectly states that this medicine is “unappro
Last week’s Courier-Islander article entitled “Sea lice levels said dropping, but Morton issues caution” (July 24th) requires clarification and correction. … Sources: http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&ct2=us%2F0_0_s_1_0_t&usg=AFQjCNEqI9Uux8_zakeMODEDk0krlHyH5Q&cid=1401470471&ei=7EB4SpCmN8nymQf8wK-VAg&rt=SEARCH&vm=STANDARD&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.canada.com%2Flice%2Barticle%2Bneeds%2Bclarifying%2F1847971%2Fstory.
