In June we had a salmon escape of 8,000-10,000 fish at Long Pond, Hermitage.
A Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) spokesperson was quick off the mark to say: “They will be doing everything possible to recapture the escapees.” Everything possible — what does that mean?
In the past 30 years there have been many escapes of farm salmon on Newfoundland and Labrador’s south coast and DFO has never been successful in recapturing any significant number of escapees.
Let the media ask what are they doing differently this time? How many escapees have they recaptured?
Then the provincial minister of Fisheries, Forestry and Aquaculture appeared on TV to suggest Newfoundland and Labrador has the most strenuous regulations in the aquaculture industry in this country.
Again, just empty hollow rhetoric.
The Newfoundland and Labrador Aquaculture Policies and Procedures manual has more holes in it than the fin fish net pens on the south coast.
It is like Swiss cheese. I would be glad to debate this with the minister anytime.
I am afraid that they just utter empty, hollow words.
Don Hutchens,
Past president,
Salmonid Council Newfoundland and Labrador (SCNL),
St. John’s