3 Number 22 November 3–16, 2011 $2 at Selected Retailers Canadian Publications Mail Product Sales Agreement Nº 40020421

s Gulf Island Every Second Thursday & Online ‘24/7’ at Regional News ~ Linking the Salish Sea Archipelago islandtides.com Volume 23 Number 22 November 3–16, 2011 $2 at Selected Retailers Canadian Publications Mail Product Sales Agreement Nº 40020421 Photo: Henny Schnare Issues are global, national and local, but the ‘System’ is the target. Occupy spreads to the Gulf Islands. Milestone in protection Occupying Canada — COmmentary by PatriCk brOwn he expression of protest which started with Occupy But while large corporations and financial institutions serve of Salish Sea waters Wall Street has spread around the world. Hundreds as both real and symbolic targets, the fundamental issue for n October 13, the BC and Canadian governments T of people are camped out in the centre of cities, with Occupiers is the ‘System’—the combination of corporations, announced their agreement on a proposed their numbers swelling to thousands on some days when government, and the media that enable the 1% to exploit O boundary for a national marine conservation area marches, demonstrations and rallies target banks, big the 99%. reserve in the southern Strait of Georgia, also known as the business, and government offices. Occupy seeks basic changes in the ‘System’ and its Salish Sea. As the widespread Occupy movement has no identified behaviour, described as unfair, unjust and sometimes Adoption of this boundary would protect a broad area of leadership, membership structure, demands or program, corrupt. And, so, the System cannot itself fix their problems. approximately 1,400sq.km in the southern Strait of Georgia existing political and economic organizations and the media Interestingly, the System also cannot deal with the stretching from Cordova Bay in Saanich, past Gabriola have found it difficult to relate to. But because so many Occupiers via its usual techniques: co-option, infiltration, Passage to southern Gabriola Island, and including Saanich worldwide can participate, it cannot be ignored. deception, bullying, diversion, intimidation, bribery, media Inlet. The proposed area would surround the Gulf Islands The ‘System’ is the Base Problem manipulation, blackmail, arrests and prosecution, etc. National Park Reserve, ensuring ecosystem protection on In the US, there is no shortage of issues: economic and That’s the reason that politicians, corporations and the both land and water. political inequality, unemployment, poverty, many without media complain so loudly about the absence of identifiable Next Steps for Feasibility Assessment health care, student debt, housing foreclosures, corruption leaders or spokespersons, and the lack of clear demands: In-depth consultations will now take place with First of the political system, exploitation by corporations and the System’s usual methods of dealing with protest groups Nations, local governments and stakeholders in the financial institutions. A focus of protest is ‘the 1%’ of the don’t work. There’s nothing to grab on to. proposed marine conservation area. Then, the governments population, who control some 40% of the nation’s wealth. OCCUPY, please turn to page 3 of Canada and BC will consider the input and determine whether a national marine conservation area (NMCA) New wrinkle in the salmon debate ~ Sara Miles reserve is practical and desirable. If the decision is FU researcher Rick Routledge announced on October throughout much of British Columbia and beyond,’ said favourable, the two governments would then negotiate an 18 that lab tests had positively identified a European Routledge. ‘The combined impacts of this influenza-like agreement to establish the NMCA. Sstrain of Infectious Salmon Anemia virus (ISA) in two virus and the recently identified parvovirus that can Designation of this NMCA reserve would occur in wild sockeye salmon smolts from Rivers Inlet, BC. The tests suppress the immune system could be particularly deadly.’ phases, beginning with a core section of about 800sq.km were conducted at the Atlantic Veterinary College in Prince The disease could also be devastating for BC’s salmon including the waters of Active Pass to the south and Edward Island, which is one of two reference labs that the farming industry; it almost completely wiped out Chile’s surrounding Mayne, Prevost, Pender and Saturna Islands, World Organisation of Animal Health uses for ISA virus. farmed salmon stocks a few years ago. along the southern shores of Salt Spring Island and south Although it poses no risk to people, ‘ISA is a deadly exotic Dr David Groman, section head of Aquatic Diagnostic to D’Arcy Island. disease which could have devastating impacts on wild Services at the Atlantic Veterinary College, said the test NMCA, please turn to page 2 salmon and the many species that depend on them SALMON, please turn to page 10 is available at these SERIOUS COFFEE locations — look for the ‘Island Tides’ yellow boxes or racks inside! Sidney—Beacon Avenue Nanaimo—Across from the Hospital Parksville—Heritage Centre Mall South Duncan—Sun Valley Mall Nanaimo—Hammond Bay Road Courtenay—Southgate Centre, Cliffe Avenue Duncan—Cowichan Commons Mall Nanaimo—South Parkway Plaza Port Alberni—Shoppers Drugmart Plaza, 10th Avenue Mill Bay—Island Highway @ Frayne Rd Nanaimo—Hammond Bay Rd CO-OP Campbell River—Willow Point Village Page 2, ISLAND TIDES, November 3, 2011 AT PoInT ATKInSon november Day Time Ht./ft. Ht./m. Day Time Ht./ft. Ht./m. 0353 4.6 1.4 0559 14.4 4.4 2 1132 15.1 4.6 10 1117 10.5 3.2 WE 1813 9.5 2.9 TH 1605 13.5 4.1 2221 10.8 3.3 2316 3.3 1.0 0452 5.9 1.8 0637 14.8 4.5 3 1221 14.8 4.5 11 1154 10.8 3.3 TH 1916 8.5 2.6 FR 1631 13.5 4.1 2347 3.0 0.9 0008 10.5 3.2 0715 15.1 4.6 4 0558 6.9 2.1 12 1232 11.2 3.4 FR 1304 14.4 4.4 SA 1659 13.1 4.0 2003 7.5 2.3 0143 11.2 3.4 0019 3.0 0.9 5 0707 7.9 2.4 13 0752 15.1 4.6 SA 1341 14.1 4.3 SU 1314 11.5 3.5 2041 6.6 2.0 1731 13.1 4.0 0256 11.8 3.6 0054 3.0 0.9 6 0811 8.9 2.7 14 0831 15.1 4.6 SU 1415 14.1 4.3 MO 1402 11.5 3.5 2114 5.6 1.7 1806 12.8 3.9 0353 12.5 3.8 0131 3.3 1.0 7 0907 9.2 2.8 15 0911 15.1 4.6 MO 1444 13.8 4.2 TU 1459 11.2 3.4 2145 4.9 1.5 1848 12.1 3.7 0440 13.5 4.1 0211 3.6 1.1 Photo: Derek Holzapfel 8 0955 9.8 3.0 16 0953 15.1 4.6 Scuba divers may encounter the golden dirona nudibranch in the Salish Sea. TU 1512 13.5 4.1 WE 1608 10.8 3.3 2216 4.3 1.3 1945 11.5 3.5 0521 14.1 4.3 0256 4.3 1.3 NMCA from page 1 NMCA History 9 1038 10.2 3.1 17 1035 15.1 4.6 WE 1538 13.5 4.1 TH 1717 9.8 3.0 What is an NMCA? In 2003, the Canadian and BC governments signed a 2246 3.6 1.1 2104 10.8 3.3 National marine conservation areas are protected areas Memorandum of Understanding that committed the two to ADD ONE HOUR FOR DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME - ENDS NOV 6 managed for ecologically sustainable use by Parks Canada assess the feasibility of a NMCA reserve in the southern under the Canada National Marine Conservation Areas Strait of Georgia. Act. They include the seabed, the water above it and all living Since 2004, Parks Canada, in partnership with the BC resources. The goal of these protected areas is to harmonize government, has been conducting a feasibility assessment ECOFIR FLOORING conservation practices with human activities such as fishing, to determine if the area should be protected as a NMCA ECOPREMIUMFIR FLOORING FROM FLOORING THE GULF ISLANDS shipping and recreation. Mining and oil and gas exploration reserve. PREMIUM FLOORING FROM THE GULF ISLANDS and exploitation are prohibited. From 2005-2010, Parks Canada hosted information A NMCA reserve in the Strait of Georgia would be sessions, open houses, workshops and meetings in southern PREMIUM WIDE PLANK VG managed in collaboration with Fisheries and Oceans Gulf Island and Lower Mainland communities. They also PREMIUM WIDE PLANK VG Canada, which would continue to manage the area fisheries. completed technical studies and analysed ecological, FIR FROM 100% SALVAGED Unique Aquatic Environment cultural and socio-economic information. A map atlas was FIR FROM 100%OLD GROWTH SALVAGED TIMBER The marine life along the west coast of BC is among the most developed, detailing the marine values and resource uses in OLD GROWTH5” to 9” TIMBER random widths diverse in the world’s temperate waters. The southern Strait and around the proposed reserve. 5” to 9” random widths. of Georgia’s marine biodiversity is highly representative of Other NMCAs the larger Strait of Georgia marine ecosystem. The unique Currently, four national marine conservation areas exist in 250-539-3211 habitat supports rich subtidal communities, lush kelp Canada: Fathom Five National Marine Park and Lake 604-377-5385 604-377-5385 forests, harbour seals, killer whales, sea lions, porpoises, Superior National Marine Conservation Area in Ontario; www.ecofir.com seabird colonies, thousands of invertebrate species, and the Saguenay-St Lawrence Marine Park in Quebec; and most www.ecofir.com world’s largest octopus, the giant Pacific octopus.

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