Save our wild salmon

I joined the Get Out Migration in Campbell River, Courtenay and Fanny Bay, walking to raise awareness about our disappearing wild salmon, because I agree with Alexandra Morton when she says, “Salmon are Sacred”.

As the Member of Parliament for Vancouver Island North from January 2006 to October 2008, I had the opportunity to visit many areas and communities of this constituency. As I travelled around, especially to some of the more remote areas I was always struck by the natural beauty of this place and it reminded me, as an elected official, what I had a responsibility to protect.

As this riding is surrounded on three sides by water and includes many little islands, many of its communities and First Nation villages are coastal in nature. They depend on the bounty of the sea for their sustainability. Or rather, many of them used to.

So much of our history is rooted in salmon fishing. There used to be canneries up and down the coast and a vibrant commercial fishing industry employing thousands of workers, not to mention all the spin-off industries. But it’s all gone.

I raised the issue of disappearing salmon in the House of Commons in June 2008, I tried to have an Emergency Debate on the topic but it was ruled, not to be an emergency.

I wanted to raise awareness about what it will mean when wild salmon are gone from our waters. Not just for people but for other animals that depend on them for their survival. When I mentioned in the House that bears depend on wild salmon, I was heckled. I don’t think the bears are laughing about being hungry.
I wanted to know why some wild salmon species are at risk of extinction.

I believe there are many reasons, overfishing, development, bad management, lack of enhancement, and open net fish farms.

I say this because of the many reports I have read that point to these things, in talking with people, and I have seen the impacts as I travelled around the constituency.

But I don’t think it is too late, not yet. We can do something about the declining wild salmon. We must do something. The government must act before it’s too late.

- Our government must hire enough Enforcement officers to make sure that logging is not happening
too close to streams, and that development does not interfere with salmon habitat.
- Our government can also hire enough Enforcement officers to monitor sports fishing to make sure
not one fish is taken illegally.
- Increase funding for salmon enhancement, it is currently at the same level of funding that it was in
1999.
- Do not allow open net pen fish farms. Make all fish farms closed pens.

These are the reasons why I joined Alexandra Morton and so many others on the “Get Out Migration”. I want to add my voice to the many who want to see our wild salmon thrive. To follow the “Get Out Migration”, go to: www.salmonaresacred.org

I want our Federal Government to fulfill it’s responsibility to protect wild salmon. Before it’s too late.

Catherine Bell
catherinebellndp.ca
http://catherinebellndp.wordpress.com