Occupy Vancouver, Vancouver, Unceded Coast Salish Territory, November 17, 2011 —
The Wild Salmon Workgroup, in collaboration with the Direct Action Committee, is planning a Direct Action in support of Wild Salmon; and specifically the call for the immediate removal of all open-net fish farms from BC Waters.
“Open-net fish farms break natural laws and are unsustainable practice,” says J Peachy, Wild Salmon advocate and Occupier at the Occupy Vancouver site. “Open-net, uncontained fish farms pollute our oceans and host disease and pathogens that affect young wild salmon.”
The recent discovery of the ISA Virus in BC Wild Salmon, which has been present in fish farms in Europe and Chile, has destroyed the wild salmon fisheries in those regions. Independent scientists have now discovered this virus in two other West Coast Salmon species, and see this as an ecological emergency.
At noon this Friday, November 18, Occupy Vancouver protesters will march from the art gallery to rally outside of the Canadian Department of Fisheries offices at 401 Burrard Street (at Pender) in Vancouver.
Occupiers will march the streets, and set up mobile tents outside of the DFO offices, in order to raise consciousness around the Federal Government’s support of destructive fish farming practices. We call on the Canadian Department of Fisheries to legislate the immediate removal of open net fish farms from BC Waters.
In addition, as part of an ongoing consumer boycott of farmed salmon in BC, every Sunday, many Occupiers will target retailers, grocery stores and restaurants with the intent of encouraging these establishments to remove the sale of open net farmed salmon products from their shelves.
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If you would like more information or would like to schedule an interview with J Peachy, please contact:
Communications Work-Group,
Occupy Vancouver Media Committee,
communications@
or call: 604-760-5957?
