Bob, if you don't think opinion is an significant factor in science and the scientific method then you seriously don't understand how either works. I long felt the "contribution" you make to this particular discussion demonstrates such a lack of understanding. Science isn't found in the marketing tabloids of the aquaculture industry to which you commonly supply links. Neither does science rest in the number of studies or scientists that support a certain theory or viewpoint. Another falsehood we hear a lot these days is that good policy should be based on 'science'. Mostly it's used by people like you who advocate for specific policies that will benefit them. But that is nothing new. Science often has little interest in policy. However policy such as policy about salmon farming has to consider a number things including cultural factors , cost, risk and the precautionary principle. As far as the link about "a scientist" (you can find a scientist who thinks just about anything fairly easily who thinks peer review is obsolete. Peer review (which I didn't mention) isn't done to keep scientists in check, reduce productivity or to prevent major paradigm change. If these are not what one scientist thinks they should be it may have something to do with other factors such as the lack of funding without implicit strings or the rising cost of research. Peer research basically to ensure a piece of research has what is accepted principles of experimental design and interpretation... most of which is based on statistics It's also not done by other scientists who agree with the particular with the findings and conclusions of the paper in question. It is also worth noting that when use of the net was used to publish paper many of questionable value went straight to new periodicals that did not conduct peer review creating great alarm in community.
BTW the review of the Broughton pink salmon collapse is the temporally closest and complete done at the time. It can't be done any better since DFO responded to late and in sufficiently to get it right. It makes a solid case the collapse was caused by a sea lice bloom associated with salmon farming operations and has had a long lasting influence on the farms operate. Typically there was denial by the industry and great foot dragging on their part to employ measures to reduce such blooms in the future.
I hope these comments make some sense to those reading them.
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Topic: William Shatner and fish farming (Read 4449 times)