Dear Editor
Re: “Will election bring closure to fish farm issue,” Brian Gunn, April 14, 2011
A recent letter by Brian Gunn is a good example of how misinformation oversimplifies complicated topics, deteriorates reasonable discussion and dismisses hard-working honest people.
In rapid succession, he throws out a stream of unsupported accusations before preaching about a technology he doesn’t seem to understand and demanding the closure of an industry that’s providing a backbone to North Island communities.
Every part of our management program is built on science, collaboration and documentation. Every false sentence an anti-farm campaigner throws out takes four or five to correct. Their lack of accountability allows them to get away with it.
We however, are very accountable as an industry. Our regulations, the eye of the public, the focus of the environmental community has made us the strong, responsible business we are today. Posted on our website, on BCSalmonFacts.ca, and by our regulators is extensive information showing that Mr. Gunn’s blind accusations are in fact concerns that have been raised, researched, planned for and mitigated.
We are a steady, successful business because our farms are run by great people, in a great place and we grow a great product. It’s important that the communities we operate in are successful.
And that’s why we agree with only one thing in Mr. Gunn’s letter: that wild and farmed salmon are important issues in this federal election. They truly tie together the protection of the environment and sustainability of the North Island, and both deserve our support.
Mary Ellen Walling
Executive Director, BCSFA