| Kennedy dumps on Alberta fish |
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| Tuesday, 19 January 2010 02:57 |
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Environmentalist claims Alberta fish are inedible Calgary Herald CALGARY – Alberta environment officials are striking back after a famed environmentalist claimed that 90 per cent of the province’s fish are inedible. Robert F. Kennedy, son of the slain U.S. senator, made the comment in a speech to 620 people at a Saturday night fundraising event at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel for his Waterkeeper Alliance. “I was quite alarmed to hear that statistic,” Banff Mayor John Stutz said Sunday. “We don’t have any indicators or information that our fish aren’t completely safe here.” Stutz, who attended the posh gala and heard the speech, said fishing is a popular activity in Banff National Park, and worries that tourism could be affected by Kennedy’s claims. “The one thing we want to do is make sure that the people who want to come visit Banff understand the activity of fishing is a safe one, and that includes the consumption of fish in Banff National Park.” Keith Rae, an Edmonton-based fishing outfitter who leads the Alberta Sport Fishing Marketing Consortium, agreed with Stutz. “I’d say (Kennedy’s claims) are hugely irresponsible,” he said. But officials with Kennedy’s organization stood behind his claims Sunday. Mark Mattson, president and waterkeeper for Lake Ontario and secretary for Waterkeeper Alliance, said eating any freshwater fish is risky because of a variety of contaminants, particularly mercury. “It’s a major concern right across North America,” he said. “Alberta is no different.” Health Canada has set fish consumption guidelines based on the concentration of mercury in fish tissue, and on the human body’s ability to eliminate mercury at a slow rate. Alberta boasts an estimated 300,000 active recreational anglers, along with an additional 800 commercial fishing operations. Recreational fishing contributed more than $350 million to Alberta’s economy in 2000, while commercial fishing is a $5 million-per-year industry, according to Alberta Sustainable Resource Development Ministry. |