Operation Virus Hunter: Sea Shepherd announces major victory for Wild Salmon and Orca Whales
by Sea Shepherd Conservation Society 30 Dec 2018 12:57 UTC
Operation Virus Hunter © Sea Shepherd Conservation Society
Operation Virus Hunter began in 2016 as a collaboration between Sea Shepherd, Dr. Alexandra Morton and the Kwikwasut'inuxw Haxwa'mis, 'Namgis and Mamalilikulla First Nations.
Sea Shepherd provided our sailing vessel Martin Sheen each summer for 2016, 2017 and 2018. The objective was to assist and support the research efforts of Dr. Morton and the activist activities of the First Nations of British Columbia.
Dr. Morton and our Sea Shepherd crew visited salmon farms throughout each summer to do tests that successfully exposed evidence of salmon retroviruses and sea lice parasites being transmitted from domestic alien Atlantic salmon to indigenous native Pacific salmon. The Sea Shepherd crew also provided transportation and support for First Nations activists who boarded and occupied salmon farms.
These activities led to a recent decision by the Provincial Government of British Columbia to remove salmon farms and to give First Nations the power to inspect salmon farms and order their removal from their legal territories if they should so choose.
Removing salmon farms from the salmon migration routes is a huge step in the right direction for the salmon, as well as the Southern Resident Killer Whales who rely on wild salmon as a major food source.