Mainstream Canada Sues Activist



Bring it on!” said Don Staniford, global coordinator for the Global Alliance Against Industrial Aquaculture (GAAIA), in a press release on March 25. Staniford’s statement was a response to Mainstream Canada’s announcement that it is suing the anti-farmed salmon activist and his organization for defaming the company’s fish-farming operations.

Staniford and the recently formed GAAIA launched an international campaign against what it calls “Big Aquaculture” in January. Mainstream Canada is owned by Norway-based Cermaq, one of the world’s largest farmed salmon producers.

Alleging that salmon aquaculture is harmful to both the environment and human health, the campaign uses graphic imagery similar to the “Smoking Kills” tactics used against big tobacco. The GAAIA campaign message is “Salmon Farming Kills”. It alleges that salmon aquaculture is harmful to both the environment and human health.

In the press release Staniford said, “Norwegian-owned companies have blood on their hands and are responsible for the deaths of millions of salmon, hundreds of marine mammals as well as even their own workers. Cermaq’s disease-ridden feedlots have left a trail of tragedy in their wake ,especially in Chile and in British Columbia where they are spreading infectious diseases around the Clayoquot Sound UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, the Broughton Archipelago and the Wild Salmon Narrows.

Staniford said, “The Norwegian government, who are the largest shareholder and controlling interest in Cermaq, must not be allowed to get away with murder in British Columbia, Chile, Scotland and at home in Norway. Cermaq may be fueled by billions of dollars of dirty Norwegian oil-money, but GAAIA is armed with the sword of truth and shield of virtue.”

This isn’t the first time that Staniford has been sued. Creative Salmon sued Staniford for defamation in 2005, and in 2007 the British Columbia Supreme Court ruled in favor of the British Columbia salmon producer.

From: SeafoodSource By Steven Hedlund