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[Every Day]

All your speculation about ISA is a red herring.......   the real story here is in the headline of the report Chris posted ! "Canadian Cover-Up on Infectious Salmon Virus - Leaked report reveals over 100 positive ISA cases in farmed and wild salmon"

Obviously ISA has been present for a while. The denials by DFO and the fish farms is criminal, when they obviously were aware of these tests!

The fact is the same people that have been given the responsibility to protect wild salmon are the same people that are responsible for building the open net fish farming business   .......and we are supposed to trust them to look after the wild salmon??

Did you even read my comment? And the quote I took right out of the paper? Go back and look....
Truth is, it was found to be asymptomatic, so they were protecting wild fish AND farmed fish because they knew people like you would over react.

Since Dave did the tests I guess he is all part of this huge cover up too 
Can I shake your hand sir? Maybe go Steelheading in December with you 

[StillAqua]

I don't see any "cover-up" in the report and the email exchange attached to it. They are debating whether or not a draft manuscript on an ISA surveillance study could be submitted to a scientific journal for publication, which carries a very high scientific standard for peer review and acceptance. If an independent lab couldn't confirm the RT-PCR lab results or if they can't explain the discrepancy (or if they ignore the discrepancy) they shouldn't submit it to the journal for peer review and publication (it would probably be rejected). That's the correct scientific method.

Harper's office isn't doing DFO any favours by gagging their scientists from talking freely and openly debating the science behind all the fish farm issues. It all just gets spun out of shape by the media and special interests. Guess we'll have to wait for the Cohen hearings and cross examinations.

[buck]

 StillAqua

            Don't believe everything that comes out of the Cohen hearings. Lots of politics and fancy lawyers who can manipulate data to their liking. As you can see we can't trust DFO or the federal government.

[absolon]

All your speculation about ISA is a red herring.......   the real story here is in the headline of the report Chris posted ! "Canadian Cover-Up on Infectious Salmon Virus - Leaked report reveals over 100 positive ISA cases in farmed and wild salmon"

Obviously ISA has been present for a while. The denials by DFO and the fish farms is criminal, when they obviously were aware of these tests!

The fact is the same people that have been given the responsibility to protect wild salmon are the same people that are responsible for building the open net fish farming business   .......and we are supposed to trust them to look after the wild salmon??

Have you read the report and the emails regarding it's submittal for possible publication? Or are you just relying on a Seattle reporter's version of the version of the story he was given? You can find the manuscript at http://www.superheroes4salmon.org/sites/default/files/files/DFO%20draft%20mamuscript_2004%281%29.pdf.. Pay particular attention to Dr. Simon Jones' email to Molly Kibenge. It specifies the criteria by which ISA is officially recognized and you will note from both the comments and the report, that those conditions were not met. With that being the case, what exactly is being concealed?

There are not 100 positive cases of ISA in farmed and wild salmon in BC. There are no cases of ISA and have not ever been any cases of confirmed ISA in the province. ISA is a disease, not a virus and it has never been present. There is a possibility that a virus that is a precursor to the virus which causes ISA is present, but that can't be confirmed because the virus could not be cultured in any of the purported cases. The accusations by the anti-farm lobby are deliberate misinformation intended to wind up uninformed people and conceal the scientific reality. It is not the DFO that can't be trusted. It is the DFO that works with proven facts and science.

You have Morton to thank for the responsibility for farms being placed with the DFO. If the DFO are so untrustworthy, why did Morton push so hard to put it in their hands. Perhaps you should ask her why she did and when you do, would you please enlighten us. Perhaps Chris might do this for us seeing as he is plugged into that network.

[Dave]

Welcome to FWR absolon

[chris gadsden]

Welcome to FWR absolon

Oh no, not another fish farm advocate to deal with.

Does he work for FOC too?

[StillAqua]

Don't believe everything that comes out of the Cohen hearings. Lots of politics and fancy lawyers who can manipulate data to their liking. As you can see we can't trust DFO or the federal government.

So we should reject sworn and cross examined testimony from many witnesses before a Judicial Judge and instead believe an anonymous blogger? OMG 

[chris gadsden]

Some more reading for our newest member and the others to pick apart.

Please find enclosed a press update including:

 

"Pacific Salmon Think Tank" (Wilderness Committee, 1st December): http://www.wildernesscommittee.org/event/pacific_salmon_think_tank

 

"Alliance: Aquaculture pesticides threaten wild fisheries" (The Chronicle Herald, 1st December): http://thechronicleherald.ca/business/38496-alliance-aquaculture-pesticides-threaten-wild-fisheries

 

"Leaked: Nearly decade-old positive tests for salmon virus" (Alaska Dispatch, 1st December): http://www.alaskadispatch.com/article/leaked-nearly-decade-old-positive-tests-salmon-virus

 

"Canada covers up the presence of salmon virus on the West coast" (Alaska Native News, 1st December): http://www.alaska-native-news.com/article/State_News/State_News/Canada_Covers_Up_the_Presence_of_Salmon_Virus_on_the_West_Coast/23786

 

"Research finding ISA a decade ago was 'covered up'" (FIS, 1st December): http://www.fis.com/fis/worldnews/worldnews.asp?monthyear=&day=1&id=48096&l=e&special=&ndb=1%20target=

 

"Salmongate phase two" (Salmon Warriors, 30th November): http://salmonwarriors.blogspot.com/2011/11/salmongate-phase-two-covering-up-cover.html

 

"Canadian government still working to legalize toxic pesticide use in salmon farming" (Farmed & Dangerous, 30th November): http://www.farmedanddangerous.org/newsletter/2011/11/3785/#pathogens

 

"Report indicates seven-year coverup of Infectious Salmon Anemia in BC salmon" (The Tyee, 30th November): http://thetyee.ca/Blogs/TheHook/Environment/2011/11/30/infectious_salmon_anemia/

 

"BC Cover-up Questions the Dual Mandate of U.S. and Canadian Salmon Management" (Fly Rod & Reel Online, 30th November): http://www.flyrodreel.com/blogs/tedwilliams/2011/november/questions-salmon-management

 

"A Secret About Salmon Virus" (Southern Fried Science, 30th November): http://salmon.southernfriedscience.com/?p=301

                                                           

"U.S. senator slams Canadian officials over lack of communication on salmon virus" (Global News/The Canadian Press/Toronto Star, 30th November): http://www.globaltoronto.com/canada/us+senator+slams+canadian+officials+over+lack+of+communication+on+salmon+virus/6442532381/story.html

 

"U.S.: Canada hid salmon virus for 10 years" (United Press International, 30th November): http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2011/11/30/US-Canada-hid-salmon-virus-for-10-years/UPI-92651322680349/

 

"Did ISA exist off B.C. coast as early as 2002?" (Seafood Source, 30th November): http://www.seafoodsource.com/newsarticledetail.aspx?id=13082

 

"Salmon Virus Controversy: For 2nd time, salmon virus information withheld in Canada" (NPR/Associated Press/KPLU, 30th November): http://www.kplu.org/post/2nd-time-salmon-virus-information-withheld-canada

 

"Salmon Virus Cover Up? Blame Canada!" (The Sun Break, 30th November): http://thesunbreak.com/2011/11/30/salmon-virus-cover-up-blame-canada/

 

"More Reports Of ISA In Wild And Farmed Salmon Uncovered" (OPB News, 30th November): http://news.opb.org//article/more-reports-isa-wild-and-farmed-salmon-uncovered/

 

"Scientists at odds over B.C. coast salmon virus" (CBC News, 30th November): http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2011/11/30/bc-scientists-salmon-virus-paper.html

 

"Risk of Atlantic salmon colonization in B.C." (Mainstream Canada, 30th November): http://www.mainstreamcanada.com/risk-atlantic-salmon-colonization-bc

 

"More louse trouble for Eastern fish farmer" (Fish Farming Xpert, 30th November): http://www.fishfarmingxpert.com/index.php?page_id=76&article_id=93225

 

"Scottish salmon firm profits sink" (BBC News, 30th November): http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-15963958

 

"Layoffs hopefully temporary say Marine Harvest reps" (The Courier-Islander, 30th November): http://www2.canada.com/courierislander/news/story.html?id=537cd1f1-9b85-4bb2-8f75-2026ecde7a39

 

"Fish health manual launched for Irish salmonid farming industry" (Fish News EU, 30th November): http://www.fishnewseu.com/latest-news/world/7173-fish-health-manual-launched-for-irish-salmonid-farming-industry.html

 

"Aquaculture luncheon packed" (The Courier-Islander, 30th November): http://www2.canada.com/courierislander/story.html?id=1b38f00d-4ad0-49d2-8784-c46d9bbe87c4 

 

"True colors are green" (The Courier-Islander, 30th November): http://www.canada.com/True+colors+green/5788597/story.html

 

"Eviction post cards to be delivered to salmon farming companies" (Farmed & Dangerous, 30th November): http://www.farmedanddangerous.org/newsletter/2011/11/3785/#postcards

 

"Marine Harvest cuts 60 jobs in Canada" (Seafood Source, 29th November): http://www.seafoodsource.com/newsarticledetail.aspx?id=13076

 

 

Including from today's Alaska Native News:

 

"If it weren't for the October scare involving the Salmon Virus, the world would probably never known about the results of work done a decade earlier on the subject. It was the October revelation that the Atlantic Salmon virus had jumped oceans to the Pacific. It was then that we found out that that news is about 10 years too late...... So, why would the Canadian government cover up the fact that there was a paper on the subject of the Salmon virus in the Pacific? The main reason would be that if the presence of the virus was confirmed in the West Coast waters, the Canadian government would have no choice to report that presence to the World Organization for Animal Health. Reporting this information would be devastating to Canada's Aquaculture industry."

 

From today's Alaska Dispatch (quoting The Seattle Times):

 

"We had no knowledge of any of this," said Jim Winton, a top fish virologist at the U.S. Geological Survey in Seattle, who reviewed the researcher's findings this week. "No one ever revealed that there was a publication that was ready to go to a journal or that the data were as compelling as they appear to be. This is puzzling and very frustrating. It's unfortunate that this information was not available sooner. This should have been followed up years ago."

                                                                                 

Ted Meyers, Alaska's chief fish pathologist, agreed. "If it were my lab," he said, "we would have looked a lot more thoroughly before we let 10 years pass. I have great respect for the scientists at Fisheries and Oceans, but I think sometimes the politicians get in the way."

 

And from Ivan Doumenc writing in 'Salmongate phase two':

 

"The only way that our public agencies can now sustain their broken defense system that "there is no ISA in BC" is if they somehow manage to suppress any further independent testing performed on behalf of private citizens such as Alexandra Morton. And to their credit they have succeed in Canada, as in this country today, quite shamefully, no labs will accept any samples from individuals and independent groups. But how do they intend to prevent other labs worldwide to conduct such tests? In particular, how do they plan to tame American labs after headlines such as those of the Seattle Times?"

 

 

Please note the 'Scientists' Think Tank' tonight (7pm) in Vancouver at Simon Fraser University (Harbour Centre, Room 1900, 515 West Hastings St) – details online here

 

Note that on 15th & 16th December there will be an ISA hearing at the Cohen Commission – details online here (more background here).   

 

 

Read the leaked Canadian Government report detailing over 100 positive tests for ISA in farmed Atlantic and wild Pacific salmon – online via 'Fishyleaks

'

For background on the global spread of ISA read "ISA: Diary of Disease Disaster" and "Fish Farmageddon: The Infectious Salmon Aquacalypse" – online via:  http://www.wildsalmonfirst.org/fish-farmageddon-infectious-salmon-aquacalypse

 

Read the official reports from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency on the second case of ISA in coho salmon in the Fraser River - online here

 

Read the report from the OIE Reference Laboratory on the positive samples in Fraser River chinook and chum – online here

 

Read the first official report of the European strain of ISA in sockeye salmon in Rivers Inlet on the Central Coast - online here

 

Read the Norwegian laboratory report on the 6th and 7th positive tests for ISA in Fraser River coho and sockeye – online here

 

More details via "Chronology of a Cover-Up in Canada: ISA in British Columbia"

 

 

Best fishes,

 

Don

[absolon]

Thanks Dave. I figured out how to better hide my goat and thought I'd join the conversation.

Chris, I'm not now and never have been associated with the DFO or FOC but I think you'll find I do know something about the subject of fish farming.

I was serious with what I suggested earlier about asking Morton why she pushed so hard to put the farms under DFO mandate. I really would like to know since it seems such a strategic error in her campaign to eliminate farms. As you may have noticed, Morton's blog never displays any questioning comments or answers any request for specific information. She only seems to publish and respond to the comments bestowing praise on herself and damnation on the farms. Consequently, I can't get an answer to my question. Perhaps you and your connection with her network would have better luck obtaining an answer. I'd really appreciate it if you could.

[chris gadsden]

Thanks Dave. I figured out how to better hide my goat and thought I'd join the conversation.

Chris, I'm not now and never have been associated with the DFO or FOC but I think you'll find I do know something about the subject of fish farming.

I was serious with what I suggested earlier about asking Morton why she pushed so hard to put the farms under DFO mandate. I really would like to know since it seems such a strategic error in her campaign to eliminate farms. As you may have noticed, Morton's blog never displays any questioning comments or answers any request for specific information. She only seems to publish and respond to the comments bestowing praise on herself and damnation on the farms. Consequently, I can't get an answer to my question. Perhaps you and your connection with her network would have better luck obtaining an answer. I'd really appreciate it if you could.

I would suggest you ask her yourself so you can correspond directly.

[chris gadsden]

More cover up?

Unpublished DFO report finds 100% of Cultus Lake sockeye found with deadly salmon virus
  By Paul J. Henderson, Chilliwack Times December 1, 2011 1:59 PM   A seven-year-old unpublished report indicates 100 per cent of a sample of Cultus Lake sockeye salmon tested positive for a potentially deadly salmon virus.

The undated report (likely from 2004) produced at a Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) station in Nanaimo, tested wild Pacific—sockeye, chinook and pink—from various locations, including Cultus Lake.

Twenty-two per cent of the salmon, or 117 out of more than 500 samples tested positive for ISA, with more than half of the positive tests from the Fraser River.

And more than half of all the positive test results came from the 64 out of 64 samples of Cultus Lake sockeye found with ISA virus.

While it is unclear why the report was shelved when it was first produced, co-author Molly Kibenge sent a Nov. 4, 2011 email to another co-author asking permission to now submit the work for publication to a scientific journal.

"I would like to submit it to Diseases of Aquatic Organisms or Journal of Fish Diseases," Kibenge wrote to Dr. Simon Jones. "What do you think?"

In an email that same day, Jones declined to give her permission, saying that DFO scientists disagreed with her results. He also said that the Cohen Commission was scheduled to reconvene in December to hear evidence on ISA virus in B.C.

"I will wait to hear the outcome of these processes before further discussion on a seven-year-old manuscript," Jones wrote.

The emails and the report were posted on an anti-salmon farm blogger's site, superheroes4salmon.org. On the site, the write said the report was made available on Nov. 23 to participants in the Cohen Commission, the judicial inquiry looking into the decline of Fraser River sockeye salmon.

When asked Tuesday by a Seattle Times reporter, DFO declined to answer questions and issued a brief statement that said, in part: "Based on the best science available, it was concluded that her results had produced a false positive."

Infectious Salmon Anemia virus (ISA) was in the news a month ago when federal officials said reports that the deadly virus was infecting B.C. salmon were unfounded.

"There are no confirmed cases of ISA in wild or farm salmon in B.C.," said Con Kiley, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency's national aquatic animal health program director.

"There's no evidence that it occurs in fish off the [coast] of B.C."

Earlier test results found 48 sockeye smolts tested positive for the deadly European strain of the virus, but DFO said the samples were degraded rendering the conclusions useless, which is the same thing the agency said of Kibenge's results.

Groups opposed to the aquaculture industry in B.C. say the big questions is, if ISA is in the province, was imported on salmon eggs by Norwegian-owned salmon farming companies, and what would happen if it got into fish farms, mutated and spread to wild populations.

Mary Ellen Walling, executive director for the B.C. Salmon Farmers Association, said her organization was "dismayed at the way campaigners used this to create fear about our operations."

The 2004 the report does not address the source of the ISA virus, including whether it is linked to fish farms.

The Canadian government may be disputing the recent ISA test results, and the results from the 2004 study, but American politicians are acting.

On Nov. 17, the U.S. Senate passed a bill introduced by Washington Senator Maria Cantwell, and backed by all eight western state senators, that calls on the National Aquatic Animal Health Task Force to evaluate the risk the virus could have on wild salmon off West Coast and Alaskan waters.

While those inside DFO question the results from seven years ago, the aquatic habitat specialist for the David Suzuki Foundation said the implications of the unreleased report were appalling.

“Someone should be going to jail over this,” said Werring wrote in an email to other environmental organizations on Nov. 23. “Never in my over 20 years of doing my work have I seen such duplicity by our government. The closest thing I can relate to is when whistle blowers in the U.S. released documents showing that tobacco companies knew their product harmed people. This document (2004 draft) shows our government has known for years that ISAV has been in the Pacific and they have done nothing except cover it up. Appalling!”


Read more: http://www.chilliwacktimes.com/news/Unpublished+report+finds+Cultus+Lake+sockeye+found+with+deadly+salmon+virus/5797701/story.html#ixzz1fL0LqTDZ

[alwaysfishn]

Have you read the report and the emails regarding it's submittal for possible publication? Or are you just relying on a Seattle reporter's version of the version of the story he was given? You can find the manuscript at http://www.superheroes4salmon.org/sites/default/files/files/DFO%20draft%20mamuscript_2004%281%29.pdf.. Pay particular attention to Dr. Simon Jones' email to Molly Kibenge. It specifies the criteria by which ISA is officially recognized and you will note from both the comments and the report, that those conditions were not met. With that being the case, what exactly is being concealed?

There are not 100 positive cases of ISA in farmed and wild salmon in BC. There are no cases of ISA and have not ever been any cases of confirmed ISA in the province. ISA is a disease, not a virus and it has never been present. There is a possibility that a virus that is a precursor to the virus which causes ISA is present, but that can't be confirmed because the virus could not be cultured in any of the purported cases. The accusations by the anti-farm lobby are deliberate misinformation intended to wind up uninformed people and conceal the scientific reality. It is not the DFO that can't be trusted. It is the DFO that works with proven facts and science.

You have Morton to thank for the responsibility for farms being placed with the DFO. If the DFO are so untrustworthy, why did Morton push so hard to put it in their hands. Perhaps you should ask her why she did and when you do, would you please enlighten us. Perhaps Chris might do this for us seeing as he is plugged into that network.

Welcome aboard Absolon...   Initially, I thought you were Dave's alter ego (you sound a lot like him), but I think I recognize your handle from another forum. You've said you don't work for DFO, so you must work with the fish farms.

The oceans and whatever happens with them has always been the responsibility of the federal government (constitution thing). The provincial government in their enthusiasm to create an industry growing salmon in cages in the ocean, took on the responsibility. They had the blessing of the federal government because it was a cost they didn't have to pay for yet they still got the tax dollars.

The problem was that the provincial government did not have the legal right to do anything about the farms! They didn't even have the right to lease the pen locations! It is impossible to legally challenge someone on something they have no jurisdiction over. Morton recognized that and raised the issue in court. As a result DFO took back the responsibility. Unfortunately we still have a problem where the fox is looking after the hen house....

Interesting spin on making Morton responsible for the DFO fish farm fiasco. Is that what the fish farm publicists are spinning now?

[absolon]

Thanks for the welcome. No, I don't work for the farms. I have a small business building doors, cabinets and furniture that I've been building for 15 years. I do have training and I have worked in the industry in the past so I have the tools to understand it and some actual experience to contrast to the claims made. Mostly though, I'm just interested in salmon farming and stay informed but I also have to admit that Morton's disinformation campaign fascinates me.

The situation prior to DFO assuming responsibility was acceptable to all parties involved except Morton, not unreasonable since agriculture and crop production are a provincial responsibility. It was her court challenge that caused the change to the current state of affairs. I can't for the life of me understand why Morton would be so insistent on DFO taking responsibility if they are as dishonest, incompetent and secretive as Morton and folks like yourself suggest that they are. If those allegations are true, it would be like issuing a death sentence to wild salmon and we all know Morton is devoted to saving them.

Did you read the linked material underlying this latest tempest? Any thoughts?

[absolon]

I would suggest you ask her yourself so you can correspond directly.

Thanks anyway Chris. Morton doesn't respond well to those who have criticisms of her methods and ideas. I thought you might have a better chance of actually getting a response.

[Dave]

Welcome aboard Absolon...   Initially, I thought you were Dave's alter ego (you sound a lot like him)

I take that as a huge compliment; thanks alwaysfishin

The only fish farm fiasco I see is that the general public is getting way too much poorly advised media coverage, both from the Morton camp and the conspicuously non existent Communications Branch of DFO/PMO.