Doc Draws Large Crowd

~ by Jim Rosgen -

Earlier this month over 100 people went to the FO Hall to view ‘Salmon Confidential’, the final draft presentation of a new documentary film covering the state of the salmon farming industry in BC. The film was prepared by film maker Twyla Roscovich together with Alexandra Morton and Anissa Reed. Alexandra takes us through the Cohen Commission, where we can see the hypocrisy of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, both having dual and conflicting roles. In the case of the DFO, the department is charged with protecting the wild salmon, while at the same time fostering the aquaculture industry. For the CFIA, while the nominal responsibility is the safety of the food supply in Canada, their additional role is to ensure trade remains unaffected by problems with the food industry. Footage from the Cohen Enquiry shows both organizations unable to respond to direct questions, and uncovers their history of withholding information from the public.

In addition we follow Alexandra and Anissa on their journey to test the wild salmon stocks, and to train the First Nations and commercial fishermen in how to take samples for virus testing. We learn of the current situation with the wild salmon, with a large percentage of returning salmon dying in the rivers before being able to spawn. Salmon testing is then done at laboratories in PEI and Norway, looking for viruses such as Infectious Salmon Anemia. Testing is also done to determine the origin of the viruses through DNA fingerprinting.

Attempts to get testing done on farmed salmon is stonewalled by the government and the farms themselves, leading to creative solutions to obtain samples. We are taken on a shopping trip to several supermarket chains, where fresh farmed salmon are purchased directly from the fish counters. At least one supermarket confirmed the salmon were from BC. In addition, we see an eagle snatch a mort (dead salmon) directly from a tote bin on a salmon farm, and fly off with it. Alexandra and Anissa were able to follow the eagle, keeping it in sight, and obtained fresh samples when the eagle landed to eat its lunch. Chain of custody on this sample is well documented on video, although the eagle was somewhat reluctant to pass the sample on.

Throughout the film we see the blatant lack of cooperation from both the fish farms and the federal and provincial governments in their continuous efforts to belittle the attempts of private citizens to do the work that should properly be done by them. Of  seven different labs used to run tests, the only one unable to find the ISA virus is the federal lab in Moncton. Unable to disprove the tests, the CFIA is even trying to have the world-accredited lab in Prince Edward Island stripped of its credentials. We see DFO scientists muzzled, and not allowed to discuss their research with the press or the public. Scientists testifying at the Cohen Commission are not allowed to discuss their findings outside the courtroom, and are in fear of the funding for their work.

Overall, this is an important film, and it needs to get the distribution it deserves as soon as the final copy is available. The work done by Alexandra, Anissa, and Twyla is truly excellent, and the message is one that the whole country needs to see. This is a lucky community to have people of the quality of Alexandra and Anissa living here, and fighting for the survival of the wild salmon and the people who depend on it to sustain our world, our livelihood and our lives.  We should be thankful for their efforts, and give them whatever support we can, as their work is our work as well.

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