[October Caddis]

An environmental group called, Living Oceans Society is planning peaceful protests throughout the the world on the 15th of January. The reason for the protest is for the protection of wild salmon and the coastal communities that depend on their survival.

Omega Salmon, a fish farm corporation owned by Norwegian giant Pan Fish, is building a monstrous Alantic salmon hatchery in Ocean Falls, between Bella and Bella Coola. This hatchery promises a supply of up to 10 million smolts per turnover. Pan Fish is intent on expanding into most pristine reaches of salmon ecosystems left in Canada.

There is no question in my mind that these protests are a combined effort between environmentalists and the commercial salmon fish industry. But like all environmental issues these days with so much unfavorable goverment acts against the environment I see no problem with sleeping with what some would call an enemy to dispearse of a greater enemy. Hope that if you can find the time to attend one of these peaceful protest you will do so. I for one have not been to a protest for 3 years now,(WTO) and need one to revive the soul a bit and renew my faith that we can make a difference.

Locations of protests:

Ocean Falls.
At construction site of new hatchery, Noon time.
Contact: Ian McAllister - (250) 881-2235.

Seattle
North American PanFish HQ 8th Ave NW Seattle.
Time: 2 pm
Contact: Anne Mosness [email protected]

Campbell River
Location: Details pending
Contact: Greg Higgs (250) 799-5800

Vancouver, BC
Location: Norwegian Consulate, 200 Burrard Street, Vancouver.
Time: 10:00am
Contact: Theresa Rothenbush (250) 655-1229

Hanburg, Germany.

Hong Kong.

 

[Moonlight]

Ocean Falls...

The site of a cut and run Pulp Mill that went out of bussiness in the first wave of mill closuers they were selling houses there for dirt cheap. The Sea Run Cutthroat fishing there abouts is rated "Best in the World" by folks who know. Very remote area with lots of fresh water, big lakes with short rivers to the inside passages.
I think the pulp mill was operated by Crown Zellerbach. Once again there is no industry and few jobs in this area so there may not be a whole lot of local protest, but that may be a bum assumption on my part. I was reading someplace about a smallish tourist industry starting up at Ocean Falls a couple of years ago, haven't checked back to see how they are doing.
Its so far off the shipping lanes that I don't make it back in there on my travels back and forth to Alaska on my boat. Friends fly in with small float planes to partake of the spectacular sea run fishing.

 

[fredaevans]

Man, this Thread Jurked Me Back 50 years!

I lived in Ocean Falls when I was a lad, Dad worked at the Crown Z mill until he got ill. That took us to Vancouver, BC and his stay in Hospital until he died.

Man, a flood of memories!

One tid-bit of history (I'll assume some truth to it) was years ago the BC Government looked into buying the entire town and turning it into an 'open prison.' 125 air miles to Van., other than the main logging road coming down the mountain, the nearest 'other road' was on the other side of the Selkirk Mountain Range. So it was by boat or nothing. (Remember Mom putting in her food order for a month at a time.)

Idea was that it rained 300+ days per year, no place to 'escape' and 'go ahead if you want to try.' Are we having fun Mr. Prisoner??? Huge lake behind the town (Link Lake?) that had an outstanding fishery; and the ocean at the front door.

Back in the 90's Marin County, CA was going to 'purchase' all the free water coming out of the lake (millions of gallons per day and litterly 'pure as wind driven snow') and tanker it down to CA. Sounds strange, but the numbers suggested it would have been far more cost effective than trying to tap into water from the Sierra's. Deal was 'ok-ed' by the BC Gov., but the Canadian Fed's put the squash to it. Thought it might build a precident they'd not want to live with elsewhere.

God the memories!!!!!!

 

[October Caddis]

Sounds like a great place to be a kid growing up, Fred. Is that where you started fishing? From yours and Moonlights description I will be putting Ocean Falls as a place to stop into when I'm lucky enough in the next few years to sail my sloop up into Alaska waters and then back down the west side of Vancouver Island.

Moonlight,
Most of the protest in this area will come from both First Nations in the area. The Heiltsuk and Nuxalk Nations.