Winter 2012

Letter from the Interim Executive Director

As you all know, at Living Oceans Society we come up against some very fierce and well-funded opposition in our day to day efforts to protect the ocean. When we're faced with a government determined to uphold the interests of exploitive and extractive industries, we are inspired by the thousands of people across Canada, in the U.S. and globally who recognize the value of our magnificent B.C. coast to everyone on this planet.

In this issue of Oceans Update we pay tribute to a few of the many folks, businesses and organizations that supported us over the past year. In 2011 we won some significant victories for the ocean. Our campaigners testified at Crown commissions and inquiries, contributed to government science advisory committees and negotiated for sustainable fisheries from sea to fork. Your support – sending a message to a decision maker, making a donation or sharing our stories with your Facebook friends is vital to our continued success.

We hope you will be inspired by the stories from some of the people who strengthen our resolve and give us hope. Thank you so much!

With sincere appreciation,
Mary Lindsay,
Interim Executive Director

Thanks for speaking at the Northern Gateway hearings

Living Oceans Society wants to thank the 4,500 people who signed up to voice their concerns during the federal review of Enbridge’s proposed Northern Gateway Pipeline project. Public speaking is no easy feat. By standing up and speaking out, you’re sending a strong message to Ottawa: We’re not willing to endanger our coast for the benefit of Big Oil! And for that, we thank you.

Living Oceans will be at the hearings this fall as formal ‘intervenors’, defending the communities, cultures and creatures of the coast. We're presenting evidence on the risk of tanker accidents and the fact that industry cannot clean up oil once it spills. Stay tuned. It’s going to be an exciting year for the pipeline to tanker debate.

Send an email to Premier Christy Clark

proposed Northern Gateway tanker-pipeline project.

These tankers are the length of three football fields and carry nearly eight times more oil than was spilled by the Exxon Valdez in Alaska. History shows that oil spills come with oil tankers. Our coastal economies, ecosystems and cultures are not worth risking for the benefit of Big Oil.

There are currently no oil tankers sailing B.C.'s North Coast. Let's keep it that way.

Thanks to Jodi Stark who won our blogging contest

At Living Oceans it’s not all about work. Sometimes we have fun too, like when we got to read all the great entries for our The Way I Sea It blogging contest where contestants shared an experience that inspired them to make a difference. Jodi won an adventure sailing cruise for her amazing story, Whangamata junction on Highway 25. We'd also like to thank Maple Leaf Adventures for providing the winning prize of a six-day Whales and Totems Tour of the Great Bear Rainforest aboard the luxury schooner Maple Leaf.

The cruise gave Jodi a once in a lifetime opportunity to blog, film and sing her way through the Broughton Archipelago. You can see the result in the video below.

“This summer, I was privileged to spend a week on the B.C. Coast on the Maple Leaf, a beautiful 104 year-old wooden sailboat. While playing guitar one day on the boat, Neil Young's song Long May you Run became a tribute to the boat - Long May you Sail. Many thanks to Living Oceans Society and Maple Leaf Adventures' The Way I Sea It contest.”
~ Jodi Stark
To find out more visit: www.jodistark.ca/sail.

Thanks to our allies at the Cohen Inquiry

The Cohen Inquiry into the Decline of Sockeye Salmon in the Fraser River is now closed and we’d like to thank some people. First, EcoJustice’s Judah Harrison and Tim Leadem who provided legal counsel to the Conservation Coalition throughout the Inquiry, and guidance as CAAR members, including Living Oceans, prepared to testify.


Judah Harrison	Tim Leadem	Stan Proboszcz

Early in the proceedings, they won the fight for the release of years of fish health data from all salmon farms along the Fraser River sockeye migration route. Despite the objections of industry and government, the documents we had been refused so many times before were entered as evidence at the inquiry for all to see. Once Judah and Tim pried off the lid of silence, Fisheries Biologist Stan Proboszcz from Watershed Watch Salmon Society stepped in to help analyze the reams of research on the salmon farming industry’s fish health.

Justice Cohen re-opened the hearings in December 2011 to look at recent reports that samples from wild Pacific salmon were testing positive for Infectious Salmon Anemia virus (ISAv). Alarm bells went off with the revelation that DFO did not consider earlier research showing the European strain of ISAv may have infected wild Pacific salmon important enough to initiate a robust sampling program. As well, information was entered into evidence that a new strain of ISAv was confirmed in salmon eggs at AquaBounty’s Prince Edward Island hatchery. AquaBounty is the company applying to the U.S. government to approve their genetically modified farmed salmon.

The Cohen Inquiry’s final report is due to be released on or before June 30, 2012.


Making it easier to buy ocean-friendly seafood
Through SeaChoice we connect shoppers with industry retailers and suppliers who are pioneering sustainable fishing and aquaculture practices. We're grateful for the support of farsighted seafood suppliers and retailers. These progressive businesses are seeing the benefits of offering ocean-friendly products: Albion Fisheries, for showing leadership as a sustainable seafood supplier in the Western Canadian marketplace, presenting at the Aquaculture Innovation Workshop and closed containment committee Parliamentary hearings. Canada Safeway for creating and implementing a Sustainable Seafood Policy and support of reform opportunities. Overwaitea Food Group for their ongoing progress made with their Sustainable Seafood Policy and support of reform opportunities.	Be Happy. You can feel good about choosing ocean-friendly seafood. When fish are caught or farmed in ways that protect the ocean, that's something all seafood lovers can be happy about.

Thanks for volunteering

Nicola

Sharp

We’d like to thank Nicola Sharp for volunteering her mapping skills. Since last October, Nicola has been updating our commercial fisheries closures database for our Missing Marine Protection report and brochure by looking at fisheries management plans and marine protected areas to see whether no-take zones have been set up or if there are fisheries still permitted in protected areas.

“I’ve been hearing about Living Oceans in the news for the past few years and I was interested in volunteering because of the strong GIS department and knowledge base,” Nicola said. “It’s nice to be able to volunteer with an organization where I’m able to do work that is interesting and where I’m learning GIS techniques. I’d definitely be interested in volunteering again because it’s been a great experience. Everyone has been very supportive.”

You can see more of our wonderful supporters at http://www.livingoceans.org/about/supporters