Atlantic Salmon Net Pen Summer Lecture Series

Atlantic Salmon net pen – Contributed photo

UPDATED – The SJ Update has just learned there will be another event here on San Juan Island as well. So – 2 events, One at the UW Labs on August 8, and one on Orcas in Eastsound on August 9th…

This past March, Washington state successfully passed a law phasing out open-water Atlantic salmon aquaculture from Puget Sound.  While this law represents an unprecedented environmental success, Our Sound, Our Salmon is launching a new campaign to educate the public about a debilitating and potentially lethal salmonid virus remaining in Puget Sound Atlantic salmon net pens that cannot be ignored until 2022.

You’re invited to join Kurt Beardslee of Wild Fish Conservancy for a public discussion on PRV (Piscine Reovirus) in Puget Sound.

Kurt will explain what recent science reveals about the virus and how exposure to PRV-infected farmed fish places our native salmonids at risk.  He’ll review the results of recent PRV-testing in Puget Sound farmed Atlantic salmon and what these results suggest about the potential scale of infection in the remaining net pens. 

Kurt will also discuss Our Sound, Our Salmon’s efforts to stand in solidarity with B.C. First Nations as they petition the Canadian government to remove PRV-infected fish farms from their ancestral waters. Finally, learn all about Our Sound, Our Salmon’s new campaign to ensure PRV-infected farmed Atlantic salmon are removed from Puget Sound and how you can support these efforts.

The presentations will be followed by a Q and A.

San Juan Island Event:
Friends of the San Juans has joined with the Wild Fish Conservancy to bring you a public discussion about Atlantic salmon net pens and PRV (Piscine Reovirus) in Puget Sound.

Wednesday, August 8, 7:00pm
The Commons at Friday Harbor Laboratories on San Juan Island
620 University Road, Friday Harbor

Orcas Island Event:
Our Revolution San Juan County, along with the San Juan County Democrats and the Orcas Food Co-op, are sponsoring the event on Orcas Island next Thursday evening:

August 9th, from 6:00 to 8:00
Emmanuel Parish Hall
Eastsound, WA

ORSJC sponsored a similar event last winter (during a snowstorm) and it was well attended.
Admission FREE with snacks/ beverages provided by Orcas Food Co-op.

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