GreenWatch

B. McPherson

B.McPherson Diseased salmon being unloaded in Tofino.  Coming hard on the heels of the federal Tories sacking of senior scientists who monitor the health of our oceans, the Provincial Liberals are contemplating passing a gag bill that would make it illegal for people to obtain information about “farm disease epidemics”. Industrial production of fish, meat and poultry is about as far as from what has traditionally been a farm as it can get. Currently there is a viral epidemic in the fish raising industry. This mostly foreign owned industry uses open nets in the clean clear waters of our coast and has feed lots for fish. They are crowded, fed generously, dosed with antibiotics and drop their copious poop into the water. When an epidemic breaks out the billions of infective agents drift out to the wild salmon stocks, endangering them. While I am a confirmed carnivore, I will not eat this fish. I had two reasons, the first that the quality of the fish is not as good a...

Something is killing ringed seals in the Arctic. The dead seals are being found in Russia, Canada and Alaska. The seals are showing up with skin lesions or showing up dead. When autopsied, they are found to have massive internal damage as well. Walruses in Alaska have been reported sighted with similar symptoms. Greenland researchers have reported similarly diseased seals in Greenland. NOAA is trying to get to the bottom of the mystery, but in the meantime is urging the people who may be exposed to dead and diseased animals to use caution. It is not known at this time if the disease is transferable to humans. The ocean is home to many organisms that can cause disease. Viruses, bacteria, fungi can be passed when conditions are right. As the oceans warm due to climate change, changing conditions may favour the growth of these organisms previously held in check.