THURSDAYJUNE 5, 2014
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Family who bought one in Qualicum for $450 in 2002 troubled by new policy
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SHELLFISH INDUSTRY
Surviving acidic sea Company forced to change the way it farms JOHN HARDING
editor@pqbnews.com
Island Scallops continues to employ innovative measures to keep its business alive after the death of 10 million animals earlier last year, says the company’s CEO. High acid levels in the waters around Parksville Qualicum Beach killed 10 million scallops and forced the local shellfish producer to scale operations back considerably. Rob Saunders said this week the issue received international attention after the story appeared first in The NEWS, including some talk at a congressional hearing in the U.S. Saunders said his company is now taking scallops out of the ocean a year earlier than what was done in the past because the acid levels destroy the shells. “The mortality is just too high to keep them in the water for one more year,” said Saunders. “We’ve had to change the way we farm.” That means a smaller product, even though large Island Scallops were big sellers. It also means a different presentation in the market, he said. “We’re selling primarily live-in-the-shell product, but we’re not sure if the consumer wants that product,” said Saunders. Saunders said last year the carbon dioxide levels had increased dramatically in the waters of the Georgia Strait, forcing the PH levels to 7.3 from their norm of 8.1 or 8.2. Island Scallops seeds its animals at its hatchery in Qualicum Bay and they are reared in the ocean in small net cages attached to horizontal “longlines,” according to the company’s website. The longlines are submerged about 10 metres below the surface, in water about 30 metres deep. See BUSY TIME OF YEAR, page A8
AUREN RUVINSKY PHOTO
At least 30 Kwalikum Secondary students walked out of school Wednesday in protest over the impact of the strike and partial lockout.
YOUNG PEOPLE WALK OUT OF LOCAL SCHOOLS IN PROTEST OVER LABOUR STRIFE
Students: ‘We are not pawns’ AUREN RUVINSKY
writer@pqbnews.com
Students across B.C., including many in School District 69, walked out of class Wednesday expressing frustration with the ongoing rotating strikes and partial lockout of teachers. “This is neither for or against the B.C. Teachers’ Federation,” said Kwalikum Secondary Grade 10 student Robert Filmer who recently told The NEWS about his frustration with the teachers side of the issue. Holding a sign saying they are fighting for their education, he was picketing the high school with at least 30 other students first thing Wednes-
day. Students suggested they would be joined by many more during different class blocks through the day. “This is not a chess game, we are not pawns!” read another sign summing up the chatter among the group. “We’re tired of being stuck in the middle of this,” said one girl, “Don’t use us to try and prove your opinions.” Reports on various social media suggest at least 7,000 students across the province planned to walk out. They were joined in spirit by the B.C. Confederation of Parent Advisory Councils (BCCPAC) which said in a news release Tuesday that “the ‘feud’
between the B.C. Teachers’ Federation and the government is having a detrimental effect on students, particularly those most vulnerable, and creating financial hardship for struggling families.” They encourage people to write to Education Minister Peter Fassbender and BCTF president Jim Iker about the impact of the strike and lockout. Meanwhile, negotiations continue, a second teacher strike day is scheduled for the Parksville Qualicum Beach area today (June 5), and any further rotating strike days could be announced, depending on negotiations.
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