This latest attack on DFO and salmon farmers is another example of anti-fish farming activists hypocritically demanding transparency while deliberately ignoring publicly available data and scientific evidence that debunks their claims.
Commentary
By Fabian Dawson
SeaWestNews
Anti-fish farming activists in British Columbia have long claimed that a conspiracy exists between the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) and the salmon farming industry — without providing any evidence.
This unfounded conspiracy theory surfaces every time activists seek to challenge the findings of globally recognized fisheries experts at DFO, who have determined that salmon farms in B.C. pose minimal risk to wild stocks.
When stripped of the sensationalist headlines generated by their press releases, the true objective of these activists becomes clear — to manufacture a crisis by distorting facts to fit a predetermined anti-aquaculture agenda.
The latest episode of this manufactured crisis revolves around the Information Commissioner of Canada asking DFO to disclose additional records related to the 2023 Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat (CSAS) report.
This peer-reviewed scientific publication concluded that sea lice — a naturally occurring parasite — on farm-raised salmon do not impact sea lice levels on wild juvenile salmon in B.C.
Further studies published in Reviews in Aquaculture confirmed that the average intensity of sea lice on wild Pacific salmon has remained consistently low over the past 20 years, regardless of whether salmon farms were present or absent.
The CSAS report debunked a key activist claim, prompting them to file multiple Access to Information and Privacy (ATIP) requests, insisting that the government’s findings contradict their preferred “independent scientific research.”
The demand for additional data, while reasonable in a scientific context, has become a tool for activists to perpetuate the idea that information is being hidden.
This tactic is evident in statements by activists who question, “What are they trying to hide?” without offering any proof of misconduct.
To add political pressure to their science-deficient crusade, activists co-opt groups like the First Nations Wild Salmon Alliance (FNWSA) to claim that DFO staff defend the salmon farming industry “at the expense of the honour of the Crown” – implying misconduct without presenting proof.
By framing regulatory processes as secretive and corrupt to mislead the public, these activists have conveniently ignored the large volume of publicly available data that led to the conclusions of the 2023 CSAS report.
Salmon farmers in B.C. have made all historical sea lice and environmental data available to DFO for analysis in support of science advice through CSAS.
CSAS, in turn, has submitted its analysis for peer-reviewed scientific evaluation, resulting in publications that contain data, models, and interpretations beyond what was included in its original report.
Additionally, sea lice monitoring information can be accessed on salmon farming producer websites.
Over the past year, salmon farmers have also issued multiple statements sharing sea lice data, all of which are available on the B.C. Salmon Farmers Association (BCSFA) website.
Ultimately, both independent long-term and government data continue to show that salmon farms do not significantly contribute to sea lice numbers in wild populations.
This latest attack on DFO and the industry is yet another example of anti-fish farming activists hypocritically demanding transparency while deliberately ignoring publicly available data and overwhelming scientific evidence that debunks their claims.
In 2011, an anti-fish farm activist accused DFO of not heeding her findings published in a paper entitled “Lethal Atlantic Virus Found in Pacific Salmon.”
That study, which triggered government reviews at taxpayers’ expense, was later proven false, and the laboratory that conducted the screening work for the activist was stripped of its international accreditation.
Around the same time, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) issued a public alert warning that some activist groups were misusing scientific literature to exaggerate risks to wild salmon.
The agency noted that activists repeatedly made statements that appeared to be based on science by citing published papers, adding, “in many, perhaps most, cases, the published papers do not support their statements.”
In 2018, a fisheries scientist allied with activists triggered a $100,000 government investigation after questioning the transparency and integrity of her colleagues at the provincial Animal Health Centre in Abbotsford, B.C.
The inquiry debunked her claims, finding that the Animal Health Centre, which also conducts diagnostic work for DFO, operates with strong professional, scientific, and ethical integrity.
That same scientist has also accused DFO of suppressing one of her studies related to the impact of a virus on salmon stocks.
However, SeaWestNews found that much of what she claimed was being covered up was already in the public domain, in newspaper reports and court filings for anyone to review.
The relentless efforts by anti-fish farming activists to push baseless conspiracy narratives have repeatedly been exposed as manipulative attempts to sway public perception rather than engage in genuine scientific discourse.
Yet, these activists continue to manufacture controversy by distorting facts and leveraging political pressure.
As long as activists prioritize sensationalism over scientific realities, the conversation about salmon farming in B.C. will remain mired in misinformation — something that serves neither the environment nor the public interest.
(Main image shows Diane Lebouthillier, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard)