The Pacific Salmon Forum describes itself thusly –

 “The BC Pacific Salmon Forum (PSF) is an initiative of the Government of BC announced by Premier Campbell in December 2004.  At this time, the government appointed seven individuals who would provide the direction required to enable the Province to realize the vision of an inclusive fishery sector that is financially viable”.

The BC Pacific Salmon Forum opened their office and officially began operation on April 1, 2005.

At the time it was founded in December 2004 I attended the press conference and asked my old friend John Fraser, the former Speaker of the House of Commons, and long time environmental who was to be the Chair,  how he could donate his considerable reputation to a board that had serious representation from the aquaculture community and fish farm interests. I said he was being made a dupe and while I don’t have enough information to do so yet, I may owe Mr. Fraser an apology. Just may, mind you.

Late last year the PCF were critical of a report out of the Broughton Archipelago which once more confirmed the fact that sea lice were killing the Pink and Chum salmon smolts. It was a false criticism and based upon s misreading of the report.

Now the PCF has issued a devastating report which confirms the recent studies by Martin Krkosek and Alexandra Morton and by irresistible inference, the many studies before that catalogued the plight of wild Pacific Salmon running the gauntlet of sea lice. In light of the fact that the PCF was founded and funded by the Campbell government – that’s the same Gordon Campbell who has consistently denied the problem existed – surely the governments must now take notice..

My apology to Mr. Fraser?

Looking at the membership in PCF it would be highly unlikely that, without Mr. Fraser, they could report as they have. I can only assume that Mr. Fraser’s leadership led the PCF to what was, for most of their members, a very unhappy conclusion.

If an apology is in order, John, here it is.  

In the meantime, Mr. Campbell and the federal minister must admit that they’ve been wrong and clear fish farms from the pathway of migrating Pacific Salmon.