Governor joins fight against cod farming
Murkowski calls for study of black cod farming's economic, environmental effects

By ELIZABETH BLUEMINK
JUNEAU EMPIRE

Gov. Frank Murkowski has joined the chorus of Alaskans and Canadians pressuring Canada to delay black cod farming in British Columbia.

Considered one of the most lucrative fish by weight in Alaska, black cod, or sablefish, is being prepared for ocean net pens off the British Columbia coastline.

Murkowski sent a letter to British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell on Monday asking Campbell to prevent black cod farming until the Canadian government assesses its economic, social or environmental impacts.

The Canadian government has not published studies on the impact of black cod farming. However, the province recently issued 47 licenses allowing fish farmers to add black cod to their existing saltwater net pens, until now used only to raise Atlantic salmon.

Alaskan and Canadian commercial fishermen worry that their successful fisheries will be decimated by the introduction of farmed black cod, and are demanding evidence that they will not escape into or pollute the natural environment.

The governor stated in his letter that native stocks may be harmed by disease and predation from farmed black cod. Black cod migrate between British Columbia and Alaskan waters.

"It's a an important fish, especially in Southeast," said Murkowski spokesman Mike Chambers on Thursday.

Longline fisherman said they are glad the governor has raised his concerns. "I think the state has some weight and needs to use it," said Dan Falvey, a Sitka black cod fisherman.

"We're concerned about sablefish because there's a limited supply. Most of the world's supply of sablefish is off Alaska, and there's some off Canada and a little off Russia. The price is vulnerable, and we're also worried about the quality of farm-raised sablefish," Falvey said.

In his letter, Murkowski invoked his partnership with Campbell on energy and transportation issues, including the natural gas pipeline and potential railway extension to Canada.

"Given the high stakes involved for both the state of Alaska and British Columbia, I would ask that you pursue a careful science-based look at the potential impacts before allowing sablefish farming," Murkowski said in the letter.

According to Murkowski spokesman Mike Chambers, the governor has met twice with Campbell in the past two years. They traveled by rail together in May 2003 and met at the Pacific Northwest Economic Region summit in Victoria, British Columbia, this July.

Recently, Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and her Senate race opponent, former Alaska Gov. Tony Knowles, asked Canadians to delay their black cod farming plans until they publish more research.

"They (Canadians) aren't showing any signs so far of doing that," said Linda Behnken, Sitka-based director of the Alaska Longline Fishermen's Association.