Posts from — July 2008

My long-time friend and former colleague Rey Umlas (right) has been working hard for Vision in the Filipino community, building on his record of service with a number of community organizations. Many Sundays he helps out with the regular dances organized by groups like the Philippine New Era Society, as he did July 14. Rey, who retired recently after a successful career as a staff representative for the Hospital Employees Union, has announced his intention to seek a Vision council nomination, which is good news. He’s one of the outstanding leaders in his community.

The first project I did with Gregor Robertson was a news conference on the need for “closed containment” salmon farming during his successful bid to become MLA in my riding of Vancouver Fairview. Using a friend’s fishboat as the setting, we purchased a sockeye from a Granville Island fish stand that was raised in the province’s only closed containment salmon aquaculture farm. It was proof, Gregor noted, that there is a sustainable option that protects wild salmon stocks. (I believe the farm is now closed.)

And now, a confession: I took the fish home, cooked it and tried to eat it. Couldn’t do it. It tasted awful. Closed containment is just a more expensive form of on-land battery farming of salmon.

Scientific research has now proved beyond doubt that sea lice breeding on farmed salmon are exterminating salmon smolts as they pass through the Broughton Archipelago to the Pacific. Closed containment remains a glint in the environmental movement’s eye. Two organizations I support to work on this issue are Alexandra Morton’s Adopt-A-Fry campaign and the Georgia Strait Alliance. I served on the GSA’s board for several years.

In the 25 years I have followed this issue, salmon farms have never delivered on their promise to leave wild stocks unaffected. (Much of my early work on this issue was summarized in my book Salmon: The Decline of the Pacific Fishery, now out of print but available at Vancouver Public Library.)

It’s time for tougher action, as I argued today in a letter to the Vancouver Sun:

Broughton Archipelago salmon farms must go

Re: Sea lice infestations need to be dealt with, Soundoff, July 8

If a chemical spill threatened to exterminate migrating salmon on an annual basis, the source of the spill would be removed. When sea lice emanating from salmon farms have the same impact, the B.C. government promises to review “closed containment” and does nothing.

It’s time to insist on the removal of salmon farms from the Broughton Archipelago before they exterminate the wild salmon stocks that are one of our province’s most beautiful natural resources

By the time “closed containment” arrives, if it ever does, the salmon will be gone.

Geoff Meggs, Vancouver

My old friend Jim Green formalized his endorsement of my candidacy this week in a phone call from Haida Gwai, where is he working on a new community development program initiated by the Haida Nation. I first met Jim when we both lived in Strathcona during his period at the helm of the Downtown Eastside Residents Association in the 1980s. I edited Jim’s outstanding history of the Canadian Seamen’s Union, Against the Tide. I also supported Jim’s first run for mayor against Gordon Campbell, his bid for a seat in the Legislature, also against Gordon Campbell, and his two later campaigns for council in 2002 and for mayor in 2005. Jim has an unparalleled record of building social housing and became the key link between Larry Campbell’s team and the development community. I appreciate his support and rely on his advice.

Vision Vancouver mayoral nominee has asked Councillor Raymond Louie to be his “right-hand man,” chairing caucus and advising on policy issues, particularly planning and development. You can read full details of the July 4 news conference here.