Comments for Olympic Peninsula Environmental News

Comment on May 6, (Monday) 7:30 “Farmed and Dangerous, A Deadly Shrimp Cocktail” -Quimper Grange – Port Townsend by Alan Clark

Alan Clark — Sat, 04 May 2013 17:11:16 +0000

The fact that industrial-scale shrimp aquaculture brings a myriad of problems to coastal communities, seafood consumers, and coastal ecological systems should not come as a big surprise. The Mangrove Action Project has been active since the early 90′s both identifying and working on the problems caused by the expansion of shrimp farming along the coasts of Asia, Africa, and the Americas. Once again the sustainable management and development of ocean resources by local communities (rather than by outside agencies and businesses) seems to be part of the solution to the problems of environmental and resource degradation. I’m going to try to attend this program.

Comment on Sustainable salmon farming? Maybe, if you head inland by Alan Clark

Alan Clark — Fri, 03 May 2013 15:32:35 +0000

I agree with Daniel Pauly (UBC Fisheries) that even closed-system salmon farms leave a lot to be desired in terms of sustainability. Such systems use a lot of energy to filter/circulate water, monitor water conditions, and provide temperature control for the closed-system and facility. It will be hard to do on a large-scale and make a profit.

Another issue with any farmed-salmon is that they concentrate Dioxins, PCBs, Dioxin-like compounds, and sometimes mercury that have found there way into the food chain. Research has shown salmon from Northern Europe as particularly compromised. Some trials have been made with fish feed that has been “cleaned” of contaminants (usually by getting rid of the fats) but the problem remains that forage fish are being used to feed farmed salmon. Again there is that issue of efficient use of resources.

I have the nagging feeling that the most efficient way to raise salmon is to maintain, sustain, protect, and restore wild salmon runs. It won’t be easy, but we’ve got to face up to the many issues and problems that have come from our exploitation of natural resources. As much as we try to ignore the idea when using fisheries, there is “no free lunch”.

Comment on “Slime Eels” new fishery on the Peninsula by Linda Sutton

Linda Sutton — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 13:46:03 +0000

From the article, it sounded like the quantities being taken are so great that this question will hardly have time to be answered before they’re decimated. There was nothing explaining their place in the ecosystem in the article (read already in print edition)

Comment on Markets pledge not to sell genetically-modified salmon – Seattle Times by Dan Swecker

Dan Swecker — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 17:48:45 +0000

It is illegal to sell genetically modified salmon in Washington State.

Comment on Senator John McCain calls NW Salmon restoration projects “Pork-Barrel” by Linda Sutton

Linda Sutton — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 17:06:10 +0000

I just find it sad that salmon restoration cannot be put through as a stand-alone bill that will be supported by both parties. It certainly SHOULD be. Also everyone should understand that ALL of the money for restoration will be wasted if the fish net pens now being forced on us by the WA Department of Ecology happen. I understand they are fully in support of the fish farmers and helped stop HB1599. See “Salmon Confidential” at the salmonaresacred.org website for more background on how the fish net pens are destroying native fish in BC.. next door.

Comment on Canadian fisheries continue to decimate herring fisheries by Alan Clark

Alan Clark — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 18:14:49 +0000

What can be said about Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s claim that their, “… fisheries management program works to provide Canadians with a sustainable fishery resource that provides for an economically viable and diverse industry”, despite all evidence to the contrary. Currently Canada is working on a trade deal with the EU to cut tariffs on imports of Canadian fish and seafood. Watch for more pressure on the already impacted Atlantic and Pacific fisheries as Canada’s federal government works to increase exports of seafood products.

Comment on Hearing in tree-poaching case reset for Tuesday – PDN by Al B.

Al B. — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 15:04:11 +0000

Connie, while I totally agree with you, I think there are some issues that the court will take into consideration. While he is going to prison, he was apparently addicted to something, likely meth. My late wife was in the juvenile justice system for over 20 years, and I saw the devastation of meth up close through her work. Whether this guy has the money to actually pay restitution is going to be a question for the courts. He does have a young son, I have no idea if he’s married or not, but the courts will likely hope that he is capable of going into treatment, paying whatever he has in the way of savings as restitution (and then some), and going on probation sooner than later. That’s the way the prisons work these days, since overcrowding is such a problem, and the costs are high to house felons. The court will also consider whether he did a crime against persons or property, which matters in probation hearings. Whether he has learned his lesson or not, only time will tell. He did come from a decent family, which holds out the hope for rehab. The problem is that this is just brought about by an attitude. He represents a lot of other folks that are willing to break any environmental law for short term gain. Skate the rules. Nod and a wink about where the wood comes from. It would be great to see technology solve this problem. Google Earth doing very aggressive surveillance of the forests, and ways to mark trees with tracers like we do with fish. That would allow for tracking of the wood as it was moved. One of these kinds of trackers would never move unless a tree was downed. Sort of like a forest version of “find my iPhone”. These devices are incredible cheap these days. It wouldn’t take much to solve the problem.

Comment on Hearing in tree-poaching case reset for Tuesday – PDN by conniegallant

conniegallant — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 00:45:54 +0000

This is absolutely a criminal action that should demand higher punishment than what has been given. $120,000 in restitution is a pittance. In the meantime, the Marbled Murrelets keep losing more habitat, pushing them closer to extinction. But it is obvious that people who commit such crimes don’t care – and they will not stop if the punishment is so light weight in comparison to the financial gains.

Comment on Closed-Pen Fish Farms Offer Challenges and Opportunities: Study – Times Colonist by Alan Clark

Alan Clark — Sat, 09 Mar 2013 15:20:40 +0000

I’m a skeptic when it comes to cold water, closed-pen, fish farms. During a misspent youth I worked in marine research in CA. Later I raised salmon fry to release as part of a series of school/classroom projects. The energy costs of cooling, filtering, monitoring, and maintaining cold saltwater systems are huge. Denmark has some small fish farms doing this, but they may not be profitable. There is a current proposal to build a really large closed pen salmon farm in Scotland. The hope is that many of the energy needs can be met with renewable sources of power. They also plan to use alternative sources of feed to cut costs and also avoid high Dioxin and DLC levels in the fish they produce. Some challenges remain, one being the need to maintain high fish populations without disease, but it will be very interesting to watch.

Comment on Closed-Pen Fish Farms Offer Challenges and Opportunities: Study – Times Colonist by Al B.

Al B. — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 18:00:00 +0000

Good points Alan. It would be great to simply convince people to buy wild fish, but in lieu of that, it’s good to give an option to having these pens in our open waters.

Comment on Closed-Pen Fish Farms Offer Challenges and Opportunities: Study – Times Colonist by Alan Clark

Alan Clark — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 16:23:47 +0000

Closed-pen fish farms seem to offer a solution to the problem of transmitting disease to local wild salmon populations. However use of closed-pens does not offer a solution to the high levels of Dioxin and Dioxin-like compounds (DLCs) found in farmed fish. Studies have indicated that the cancer risk from eating fish contaminated with Dioxin and DLCs may cancel out any cardiac health benefits associated with their consumption. The high levels of Dioxin and DLCs come from fish meal (processed from forage fish which is in itself another potential problem) fed to the farmed salmon. It might be smarter to restore wild salmon runs. It would take longer, but would be healthier and ecologically sustainable in the long run.

Comment on ‘Band-Aid’ seawall likely to stay below failing landfill bluff in Port Angeles – PDN by Francisco

Francisco — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 16:00:44 +0000

What about creating some ” groins” or jetties that capture some of the 32 million cubic yards of sediment waiting to come down the Elwha to nourish the beaches and thereby reduce bluff erosion? It might even create some additional beach areas…..What about armoring the remaining 1000 feet of bluff to protect the area being eroded? (Everything from the cemetery, just to the east of the failed bluff is already armored to protect the six-foot diameter industrial water line that runs under the landfill and along the beach all the way to Nippon.) There are many details to this issue that are not well covered in the PDN, for a variety of reasons…

Comment on Coho salmon hitch ride to new saltwater home – Kitsap Sun by Josey

Josey — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 21:55:44 +0000

Hatcheries do not revive wild fish runs. Hatcheries harm wild salmon. We now have a large body of science that shows hatcheries are yet one more problem we inflict on salmon. But, yes, there are many organizations, such as WDFW and various tribes, that derive a lot of taxpayer revenue from hatchery operations, and these organizations dominate the flow of misinformation.

You might want to make arrangements with “The Osprey” to publish Bill McMillan’s story in the current issue. Bill documents how eliminating hatchery fish increased the total population of salmon in the Wind River, which had previously suffered hatchery plants for many years.

Comment on The Environmental Priorities Coalition: WEEK of February 25, 2013 Environmental Community 2013 Legislative Session Hot List by Al B.

Al B. — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 00:55:37 +0000

WordPress with a custom skin. But I know lots of folks using Drupal. More for those doing storefronts I think. I’ve liked WP. I’ve been using it for years.

Comment on The Environmental Priorities Coalition: WEEK of February 25, 2013 Environmental Community 2013 Legislative Session Hot List by growbox

growbox — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 00:49:11 +0000

Hey would you mind stating which blog platform you’re using? I’m
going to start my own blog soon but I’m having a difficult time choosing between BlogEngine/Wordpress/B2evolution and Drupal. The reason I ask is because your layout seems different then most blogs and I’m
looking for something unique. P.S Apologies for being
off-topic but I had to ask!

Comment on Net Pen Bill Dies in Committee – Time to change the rules of the game by Heather McFarlane

Heather McFarlane — Sat, 23 Feb 2013 17:48:35 +0000

This is another terrible example of exploitation under xGov.Gregoire’s Shellfish Initiative where the (undefined) interests of the State overrule the choices of the locals most impacted by decisions. It is obvious that those “interests” are up for sale to the highest bidders.

Comment on Lobby Day 2013 by Al B.

Al B. — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 05:20:54 +0000

Ah, you had to be there., Larry. We don’t disclose names without permission. But she does live in Jefferson County! It was great to see a wide range of ages present to speak out.

Comment on Lobby Day 2013 by Larry

Larry — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 02:55:40 +0000

Wow….who is that girl on the far right?!? Right on, everybody. Earth warriors.

Comment on Lobby Day 2013 Collage by Connie Gallant

Connie Gallant — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 04:33:58 +0000

Great photo, Al! And great to see all those folks present. Thanks so much!

Comment on Van De Wege’s net pen bill gets hearing–PDN by John Bielka

John Bielka — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 02:54:00 +0000

We are far more than doubly cautious when permitting sites. Did you know that it has been more than 20 years in this state since a new marine net pen site has been approved? Many protections for ESA listed species and the environment already exist with current legislation. For example permits required for a fish farm include:

County Shoreline Substantial Development Permit
County Critical Areas Compliance Certificate
State Environmental Protection Act (SEPA) Compliance
Dept. of Ecology NPDES Discharge Permit
Dept. of Ecology Coastal Zone Management Determination
WDFW Fin Fish Aquaculture Permit/Farm Registration
WDNR Aquatic Lands Lease
Section 10 Corps Permit with ESA, EFH, MSFCMA Review

Studies required for a permit application are numerous. These include:

Sediment and Water Quality Studies
Operational Plan
Best Management Practices
Expanded SEPA Checklist
Accidental Fish Release Prevention and Response Plans
Critical Areas Mitigation Plan
Critical Areas Habitat Management Plan
Biological Evaluation for ESA Effects Determination

It woud take more than 2 years to complete an application costing more than $300,000. Even if the proponent was successful and showed limited if any impact the application would be challenged by environmental groups costing even more in time and money. This is why companies go off shore and send back the finished product into the USA.

Check out:

ftp://www.ecy.wa.gov/sea/NET%20PEN%20FORUM%20JAN%2010%202013/

http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/aquaculture/aquaculture_in_us.html