Mainstream Canada is suing anti-farmed salmon activist Don Staniford and his organization, the Global Alliance Against Industrial Aquaculture (GAAIA), for defaming the company’s fish-farming operations, calling his accusations “false and misleading,” the company announced on Thursday.
A subsidiary of Norway-based Cermaq, one of the world’s largest salmon producers, Mainstream Canada called Staniford’s statements illogical and contrary to the opinion of “well-respected researchers and third-party experts,” adding that Staniford is trying to frighten consumers to avoid eating farmed salmon. The company said Staniford’s statements are a direct attack on its parent company’s reputation as a responsible fish farmer.
“For a number of years certain environmental activists in British Columbia, Canada, have been attacking our company and the industry with false and misleading statements. We have a responsibility toward our employees, that is why Mainstream Canada is acting now,” says Lise Bergan, Cermaq’s corporate affairs director.
“Our employees are working hard every day ensuring responsible aquaculture,” added Bergan. “We adhere to strict regulations and our company code of conduct. Comparing fish farming with cancer is an offense to all our employees, but also disrespectful to all those who suffer from cancer.”
In late January, Staniford and the newly formed GAAIA launched an international campaign against what it calls “Big Aquaculture.” The campaign, “Salmon Farming Kills,” employs similar graphic imagery to the “Smoking Kills” initiatives against Big Tobacco. It alleges that salmon aquaculture is harmful to both the environment and human health.
“Salmon farming kills around the world and should carry a global health warning,” said Staniford at the time. “As good global citizens we need to face the fact that salmon farming seriously damages human health, the health of our global ocean and the health of wild fish. Salmon farming is spreading in Norway, Chile, Scotland, Canada, Ireland, the Faroes, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and now in Russia like a malignant cancer on our coasts. Quit salmon farming now and help stub out farmed salmon from the face of our precious planet.”
This isn’t the first time that Staniford has been sued. Creative Salmon sued Staniford for defamation in 2005, and in 2007 the B.C. Supreme Court ruled in favor of the British Columbia salmon producer. Staniford, who at the time was a Friends of Clayoquot Sound employee, had alleged that Creative Salmon used malachite green in its fish-farming operations. Then in 2009, the B.C. Court of Appeal opened the door for a new trial, ruling that Staniford should have been allowed a fair comment defense in light of another recent Supreme Court decision.
Staniford responded to Cermaq’s intention to sue him and his organization by saying, “Bring it on!”
