Triumphant Victoria Finale for Salmon Migration

[CommonSenseCanadian]

The only thing that's clear is nothing is clear. Wouldn't you love to declare victory on this - in your typically simple-minded way. But the overall state of Fraser sockeye and all of BC's coastal salmon runs is in bad shape - just because we had a good Fraser run this year doesn't mean we can rest on our laurels. The precautionary principle demands we take any risks we can control out of the equation so as to give our wild fish the best hope of survival and recovery - including salmon farms.

[CommonSenseCanadian]

One thing this extraordinary Fraser run this year does is puts to rest the favorite foil of you fish farmers for shirking responsibility onto other factors - namely climate change and ocean conditions are to blame for declining wild salmon populations. Clearly that contention has been put in serious doubt this year. Finally, it is impossible to rule salmon farms out as an impact on future Fraser sockeye runs when your industry keeps its sea lice and pathogen testing secret. What are you hiding?

[Folkboat11]

UPDATE!!!!! (it's 2010). Now we have record returns of sockeye salmon in British Columbia. Great pink salmon and chinook salmon too.

So, it's clear this "scare" was a trumped up tactic to try to scare the consumer away from a healthy food source - farm-raised salmon. The only thing Mortan has right is when she said " I dont have a great set of credentials."

[CommonSenseCanadian]

One thing this extraordinary Fraser run this year does is puts to rest the favorite foil of you fish farmers for shirking responsibility onto other factors - namely climate change and ocean conditions are to blame for declining wild salmon populations. Clearly that contention has been put in serious doubt this year. Finally, it is impossible to rule salmon farms out as an impact on future Fraser sockeye runs when your industry keeps its sea lice and pathogen testing secret. What are you hiding?

[CommonSenseCanadian]

Kudos to William Shatner for standing up for Canada's wild salmon. Check out "William Shatner Supports Bill for Wild Salmon"

[Folkboat11]

Why are there so many "Comment removed" ? Lets leave them on. This is just a one sided propaganda video.

[CommonSenseCanadian]

@Folkboat11 You have to ask "labernese" that question. He/she removed their own comments after the fact. Perhaps they didn't want to leave of record of how they lost the above argument....Yes it is one sided. As the Atlantic Monthly said of my recent documentary on the global salmon farming industry, "It's the side the industry doesn't want you to hear."

[CommonSenseCanadian]

You ignore my earlier point, which is that we absolutely need to reduce the harvest of our wild salmon. We are already in agreement on that point. I'm not arguing for the consumption of wild salmon. I'm arguing for the removal of open net salmon farms from our coast. Plain and simple.

[CommonSenseCanadian]

Strong's the guy who would have us all trading carbon w Goldman Sachs - another great market scam that would do nothing to reduce carbon emissions or help the planet...so consider the source. And farming a carnivore that takes 5 lbs of wild fish to produce 1 lb of farmed fish makes no sense, PARTICULARLY in light of Strong's comments. Farming salmon is a losing proposition. PS you'll get no argument from me about the need to reduce over-fishing. Check out the excellent doc The End of the Line.

[CommonSenseCanadian]

I'm concerned for BC's wild salmon, and for our global fisheries. In BC - like everywhere open net salmon farms operate - these farms are demonstrably impacting our wild fish by transfering pathogens and parasites into the marine environment. No matter what Alaskan hatcheries are doing (and hatcheries are generally a bad idea - you'll get no argument from me there either), salmon farms deplete global fisheries w their demands for food fish, as I noted earlier. 2 wrongs don't make a right.

[Pacific222]

Great video, shows the actual numbers that ended up at the Legislature. I was on the walk, and totally support Alexandra's Save Our Salmon efforts. It is time for fish farms to get OUT of our oceans and into land containers.

[5079439]

Thank you for this brilliant sharing of events which I had heretofore not been aware of due to the busy minutiae of my own life just trying to make a living in BC. I care deeply about all these matters ... your wonderful YouTube sharing is greatly appreciated to help me become and stay better informed as a citizen of Canada, BC and of the planet Earth. Very Sincerely, S.Graham, White Rock, BC

[Folkboat11]

Morton has decided shes an economist in addition to her other areas of mastery. Those fish farm jobs are too low-paid to matter much in communities devastated by unemployment, she now argues. This follows the pattern of throwing whatevers handy against aquaculture and hoping something sticks.

[CommonSenseCanadian]

She doesn't have to be an economist to do the math: 6,000 direct and non-direct fish farming jobs putting at risk 40,000 wild salmon-dependent wilderness tourism jobs; plus 92% Norwegian-owned industry, meaning the profits leave our communities = BAD DEAL FOR BRITISH COLUMBIANS. And all Alex or anyone else on the Migration has asked is to move salmon farms to land-based closed-containment, so we can protect everyone's job. That's just common sense.

[Folkboat11]

@CommonSenseCanadian Can you please tell us how moving to closed-containment will help coastal communities? How much land needs to be cleared, and where is the fresh/salt water taken from? Is Pure Salmon alaska to grow their farmed salmon to harvest size in closed-containment? This is just a double standard from professional protesters.

[CommonSenseCanadian]

@Folkboat11...By replacing the open net farm-based jobs with land-based closed-containment jobs. If you want a working model, check out AquaSeed in Washington State - you know, the ones who just got the contract to exclusively supply Overwaitea...Pure Salmon is not, as you fish farmers erroneously suggest, an arm of the Alaskan fishing lobby. You're evading the issue. Open net salmon farms must be cleared from our wild salmon migration routes. Period. The rest is up to you. No more stalling

[Folkboat11]

Alex Morton is a self taught biologist who benefits from funding from the U.S. A professional protester at best.'Get Out Migration' campaign was organized and funded by a Washington, DC based protest group called Pure Salmon. I've never seen a stranger way to protect wild salmon than to promote eating it.

[CommonSenseCanadian]

The Pure Salmon Campaign DID NOT FUND the Migration. They had one representative there, the global campaign coordinator. That's it. Alex has made no bones about the fact that she came to BC's coast over 20 years ago to study orca - and stayed all these years to help save our wild salmon. Her academic credentials have been sufficient to see her work published in the world's top scientific journrals - and to be awarded an honourary PhD from SFU. You know not of what you speak, fish farmer.

[Folkboat11]

@CommonSenseCanadian Unfortunately, this organized campaign had nothing to do with protecting wild salmon" says Cory Percevault, President of Positive Aquaculture Awareness. "These activists are well funded and have a clear agenda - to drive down public confidence of a sustainable business that supports thousands of hard working British Columbians.

[CommonSenseCanadian]

@Folkboat11..The fish farming industry quoting themselves. I love it! Nothing sustainable about this business, fish farmer.

[Alaskrab]

@Folkboat11 Supporting wild salmon fisheries gives the fish value.

[arbutusage]

let's just blow the fuckers out of the water and take back what is ours!

[STEEVOCANUCK]

Save the wild salmon! Kill them and eat them! Good thinking you dummies.

[Larissima99]

Thank you Damien Gillis, Alexandra Morton, and Twyla Roscovich, for this. Thank you Alex Morton for your incredible work. Thank you to everyone who made the time and found the resources to join the 'Migrators'.

[frenchdujour]

this is beautiful!!!!!

Norway you better leave canada!

[mylittlemusicman]

This video brought tears to my eyes. I wish I had been there to participate in this wonderful show of support for our wild salmon. Alexandra Morton, you are one of my heroes. I am in awe of your dedication to this cause.  Thank-you.

[Slavestorms]

Government is not our servant.

We are it's slaves.

From the moment the doctor slaps you on the ass and tells you to get a job till the taxes are paid on your funeral you are in debt to your masters

If you pay taxes on it you don't own it. Stop paying property tax and see how long you stay in the house. Stop paying income tax and see how long they let you walk free

Most of Canada is un-ceded native land yet the natives beg government not to kill them & steal more then they cheer on canada day

[tomexicowithkids]

Thanks for capturing the migration and communicating the message. This an INCREDIBLE video and I'm sharing it with everyone I know. Thanks to all who participated in the migration and all who worked on this video.

[animalactivist]

There is nothing more 'sacred' about a fish farm on land than in the ocean. It's only a lesser evil! ALL fish farms are factory farms!

Let's remember what is truly SACRED and remember to RESPECT all life. Yes, wild salmon forever. But NO more factory farms...in the water OR on land.....NO MORE CAGES!

It's our choice. It's YOUR choice. Please don't sell out what is sacred! Thankyou to Alex, thankyou to everyone working to reclaim the sacred and restore respect. All my relations....

[meangenemitch]

Save the Salmon! Corporate influence on Nature WILL fall at the feet of the people!

[AboriginalJourneys]

Great video Damien. I along with my family were proud to be a part of this. Its time for BC and Fed Governments to wake up n smell the coffee. Fight on!

[tristanaaronshaw12]

what a shame the mainstream media refused to cover this monumental event its just another example of corporate control we should boycott all mainstream media and spread the word,the trouble is the masses are so lethargic its hard to get the numbers required to make any impact i hope some day that will change. mark shaw.

[MissfitNikki]

amazing video Damien! In Norway and we are showing this video at every meeting. Thank you so much for your dedication

[strangeclouds]

good going...

Ive seen enough of the stranglehold that has affected us all..

finally someones putting up a fight.....

its about time.

Oliver E

[cradel3]

Out of this world Damien. So well done and so right on

[carcultured]

Wonderful!!!

[Lettermail]

Thanks Damien for showing how large and successful The Get Out Migration was with this video. We must keep the pressure on!

[TwylaJean]

DAMIEN! You are awesome!!! I'm so glad you were able to portray that incredible event. So well done. Thank-you. This really needs to be seen by many