I realized that everyone wants to focus on aquaculture, but one thing I noticed from this study was that it appeared to answer some questions following Cohen's criticism of DFO enhancement facilities and the possible release of endemic diseases. The results from this study appear to be favourable for those facilities which is good news for everyone. Hopefully, this type of surveillance continues.
Another thing to note was that one of the labs utilized for the study was the lab at the Pacific Biological Station (i.e. called one of the super labs by anti-fish farms critics and workplace of Dr. Kristi Miller....You remember....proclaimed "Scientist of the Year" by anti-fish farm critics). However, I guess PBS is part of this conspiracy now because the results of the CFIA study do not sit well with the anti-fish farm crowd. I guess we have to include the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife also in this conspiracy as their recent results appear to concur with those in Canada now. Lets not forget the First Nation groups who contributed their catch to the CFIA surveillance study. I guess they are part of the conspiracy also.....although they donated fish to Ms Morton's "surveillance" program also....but don't tell the antis that. Not many FN involved? Hmmm...here is an example of how many members with the UFFCA:
http://www.uffca.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=46&Itemid=63Another thing I noticed was the that CFIA did a better job at being forthcoming and transparent than Ms Morton. Not only did they post an Executive Summary and press release, but if you noticed, a complete text of the report (which includes methods on how samples were collected, handled, transported and stored....not erroneous interpretations of results to grab headlines) is available upon request. On the other hand, Ms Morton has been doing her "surveillance" since the end of the Cohen, tracking European viruses apparently and has produced no report on her activities, but is front and center in the media (and YouTube) making accusations against the BC aquaculture industry, DFO and the BC government. Funny how the big, bad government people are more transparent than the "saviours" of wild fish who preach about being concerned about the muzzling of scientists, transparency, cover-ups, corruption and good science.
In Ms Morton's May 23rd blog post, she states:
It is very important that the debate about whether European viruses are spreading from Atlantic salmon feedlots into the Pacific and whether they are causing wild salmon populations to decline to be open and transparent.Instead of focusing on names and personalities as a reason for not engaging with people with an opposite opinion perhaps Ms Morton should quit make excuses and start following her own advice in the above quote. For instance, start with publishing her own methods and results in the same open format as the CFIA did today (and the WDFW did last week). At the moment, it appears as though the one hiding things is Ms Morton.
http://www.inspection.gc.ca/animals/aquatic-animals/diseases/reportable/isa/wild-anadromous-salmonids/eng/1370960326837/1370960742286