On Saturday, Oct. 3rd the Wilderness Committee attended a large wild salmon rally organized by the new citizens group the Wild Salmon Circle.
The rally was a great success, with about 700 people gathering, making it the largest rally for wild salmon in recent years. The emphasis of the rally was to urge the federal government to remove salmon farms from the BC coast, as they breed sea lice deadly to wild salmon.
Some inspiring wild salmon protectors spoke at the rally, including Alexandra Morton - Marine Researcher; Chief Bob Chamberlin and Chief Robert Joseph - both of the Musgamagw Tsawataineuk Tribal Council (First Nations in the Broughton Archipelago); David Lane - Environmental Director for the United Fishermen and Allied Workers Union (commercial fisherman union); Dr. Lawrence Dill - SFU Professor of Behavioural Ecology (studied the effects of sea lice on juvenile salmon); and Shannon Ellis - wilderness tourism operator of Bella Coola Grizzly Tours (bear watching tours).
There were kids games, music, many banners and placards. There was even an action that participants could do with their cell phones. People were encouraged to text the Prime Minister an Fisheries Ministers' emails with the message: "Remove Salmon Farms Now".
Check out the video of Alexandra Morton's speech
There was also a lot of media at the rally. Some of the media stories include:
1- CTV - video news story
2- CKNW radio coverage - News report and interview with Alexandra Morton and the Wild Salmon Circle's Tyee Bridge on the World Today
3- The Tyee - online newspaper article
Please also take action by writing the federal government to take action on protecting wild salmon, especially the Fraser Sockeye, and removing salmon farms from the coast. Visit the take action page.
Thanks to everyone who helped out and came out to this great event!
Geoff Senichenko
Wild Salmon Campaigner
Wilderness Committee
Photo: by Maria Morlin - Crowd of 700 gathers at Vancouver Art Gallery for a Wild Salmon Rally
This organization is admirable in its committment to protection of these sacred wild spaces and in its effective and respectful collaboration with Native people and other environmental groups. I would highly encourage others to get involved with this amazing organization !