“The continued spread of misinformation by Wild First and other anti-salmon farming organizations emphasizes the need for responsible advocacy based on facts and science,”
Canadian trade body the BC Salmon Farmers Association (BCSFA) has successfully prompted Pattison Media, the country’s largest private western-based radio and television company, to discontinue a radio advertisement by Wild First, an anti-salmon farming organization.
The advertisement, which claimed that wild Pacific salmon are “on the brink of extinction,” was identified as factually incorrect by the BCSFA.
Research and peer-reviewed studies have indicated a record-high abundance of wild Pacific salmon, countering the claims made in the advertisement, according to a release from BCSFA on Thursday.
The trade group, led by Executive Director Brian Kingzett, argued that such misinformation undermines the contributions of the salmon farming industry to the economy, community, and environment.
“The continued spread of misinformation by Wild First and other anti-salmon farming organizations emphasizes the need for responsible advocacy based on facts and science,” says Kingzett. “We commend Pattison Media for their commitment to promoting accurate information and ensuring that false advertising is promptly removed.”
This is not the first instance of Wild First’s advertisements being removed for misinformation. The Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance previously reported the removal of Wild First’s billboards in Ottawa, and CTV News Vancouver retracted a segment containing false information about salmon farming after a complaint from the BCSFA.
The BC Salmon Farmers Association represents a substantial portion of the finfish aquaculture industry in BC, with its members responsible for over 95% of the province’s farm-raised salmon harvest.
The association collaborates with First Nations in the territories where they operate, contributing over $1.2 billion to the provincial economy and supporting thousands of jobs.
