B4 - The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, February 2, 2005 ‘MARGARET SPEIRS TERRACE STANDARD im SKEENA ANGLER | -ROB BROWN Exotic Toxicity = y the turn of the century the Alaskan government had been worrying about fish -farms for decades. The first fish farming misadventures in Washington State were far away but the Alaskans remained uneasy. _ Alaska is blessed with the same kind of fish rich, . coast as B.C.. Wild salmon are abundant and a key component — some would say the central compo- nent — in their marine ecosystems, just as they are in ours. The Alaskans recognized that the great runs of salmon played a vital role in their state’s economy and in the shaping of the state’s unique culture. ~ When fish farming was in its infancy the Alas- kans considered allowing the fish farm biz in its - coastal waters, but after pondering the information available at the time, they concluded that doing so posed a grave threat to the wild salmon runs, in par- ticular those in the southern range, where numbers were depressed as a result of- urbanization, defores- - tation and dams. ; une * — _By.the late 1980s more farnis began appearing in’. more northerly: locations. The aquaculture industry began the importation of Atlantic salmon from Eu- rope and Eastern Canada. Immediately recognizing. — the danger posed by an exotic species, the Alaskan — * politicians charged . their ‘Department: of Fish and Game with the task of monitoring the industry and , Fecording any: salmon escapees found in Alaskan eswalers, The Alaskans had studied .the problem. The in- formation, was. easily. obtained from Norway and |_ other fish farming locales, and it suggested that tens ‘ofsthousands: ‘of éxotie-fish at all stages of growth ‘ _would escape, or be released into the wild. By the ‘mid nineties Atlantic salmon began showing up in BC streams. After scrutinizing the scientific evidence, the Alaskans predicted that the escapees would spawn in the wild and that their progeny would compete with juvenile native fish to their detriment. When industry mouthpieces cited the failed at- tempts to stock Atlantic salmon by well-meaning ‘ British expatriates in the first decades of the 20th century as proof that Atlantic escapees wouldn’t survive in the wild, the Alaskan Fisheries scientists — pointed out that those first attempts were fry stock- ing experiments, ° “Once released into a foreign ‘environment, the juvenile exotics had to compete with abundant na- tive fish. These exotics, the Alaskans argued, were adult fish already genetically selected to grow _ quickly and. they were entering ecosystems where salmon runs were shadows of their former selves. To the contention that the escaped exotics were conditioned to only eat pellets and would, therefore, be incapable of feeding in the wild, the Alaskans ‘pointed out that Atlantic salmon, like steelhead, are genetically programmed to survive long enough to afford them ample time to spawn, The Alaskans :were proven correct when tests proved that Atlantic salmon juveniles caught in the Tsitika River on Vancouver Island were the prog- eny of escapees. The Alaskans were helped to their conclusion: that Atlantic salmon were “biological pollution” by research, like that of Dr. Daniel Simberloff, whose inventory showed that of the 632 endangered spe- cies listed by the EPA, 100 were being preyed upon by exotic species. Other statistics showed that of the more than 1,000 known: freshwater fish in the US, Canada and Mexico, 3 per cent had vanished in the fast 100 years. In 68 per cent of those species the deleterious - effect of introduced species, or exotics, had played a significant role. . In 2001, with Atlantic salmon turning up even - in far flung streams in the northern part of ‘their state, the Alaskan Department of Fish and Game published a “White Paper” that warned BC of the. perils discussed above as well as the Alaskans” fear that infectious salmon anemia (ISA), the mad cow disease of the salmon industry, could be imported to this coast with salmon shipped from the Mari- times. The White Paper urged BC to adopt a zero risk management policy that required the most stringent .measures including a cleanup of existing facilities, an end to government subsidies. a move toward land-based opérations and an end to the northern growth of fish farms. At the same time highly respected Scandinavian research scientist. Jens Christian Holst had just completed a comprehensive study of the effects of sea lice on wild salmon. His words were unequivocal: “There will be _ good years for for sea lice and bad years, (depend- ing on salinity and temperature) but in the end you will not have wild salmon.” Knowing all this, the BC Liberals, with their short term vision and “open for business mental- ity.” lifted the moratorium on fish farming. “TWO JUVENILE curling ‘and lead Rebecca Kucharyshen. Coach Joan Kucharyshen - has. - she said. ~ that’s very important,’ By MARGARET SPEIRS - teams from Terrace are competing in the Northern B.C. Winter Games in Dawson Creek Feb. 3 to 6. The mixed and girls teams quali- ficd fast month in zones ‘playoffs ‘against Kitimat. _Mixed team members’ include skip Nash Park, third Jody Kucha- ryshen, second Scott Rosentreter.. Jody Kucharyshen — skips the girls team consisting of third Emily . Wright, second Stephanie Haddad confidence in the mixed team. “As long as they stay focused: ; on their own game, they"ll do well,” Skip Park needs to be his usual loud self right away and nol be shy, she said. “They'll be nervous of course, the greatest players are nervous, The main thing is to have fun,” she said. Park played last year’s games in” Kitimat and Jody made it to the pre- _ vious B.C. Winter Games. Kucharyshen believes the team will win a medal. It may not be gold but they’ II strive for silver, she said. The games schedule hadn’t been set as of last week, ‘so she ‘couldn't say what or how "many teams her eed players will compete against. Practices sessions were the’ same as for zones: “It’s good not to. change normal . game play,” she said. “It throws: you off if you do something different.” Sweeping, , communication and the draw game are the team’s strengths. “Phey’re always talking and * she said. Skip Park was hopeful his team could win a medal. “[ think we have a pretty good chance,” he said. — lead: Stacey Sheasby and. Hard TERRACE" S JUVENILE mixed team qualified for the Northern BC Winter Games after beating Kitimat in.a close zones final last year at the Terrace Arena. Ready to sweep away their competition in Dawson Creek are, from left clockwise, Scott Rosentreter, Stacey Sheasby, Nash Park and Jody Kucharyshen. “It’s fun. It takes some skill. some concentration and strategy,” the. 14-year-old said of his -love-for the sport. Lead Stacey Sheasby, who’ Wasn't “nervous, said she was feeling pretty confident andethe team * “possibly” has:a chance to win a medal . The 15- year-old lead said she en- joys the sport becduse “I have fun being with other people.” Second Scott Rosentreter thought they could medal. He's spent about five years curling, which he keeps doing because . “I just like the sport.” * Third Jody believes in the four- some, “We just need a little bit more practice and we'll do fairly well,” she said. in two meets at home TERRACE BLUEBACKS took first second with Tori C. Gross of the Masset Ea- or second in almost every category and. gles in the 1 1-12-year-old female division. smashed a record at home over the J an. I4 Dakota Algor splashed her way, to 42 weekend. In the Scotiabank Regional Dav elopment Swim Meet, the team scored first with 91 per cent best times over the Bulkley Otters* 90 per cent, Kitimat Marlins* 85 per cent and Masset Eagles’ 73 per cent. At the finish of the Scotiabank Northwest Terrace finished third with 409 points behind first place Kitimat's 658 po and second Prince Rupert's 643. . Individual Bluebacks also topped the Regional Champs, standings. Jone Wolfe swam to 31 points to tie for points over second place Hayley Schmic- del’s 35 points in the 13-14-year-old female category. Valley With 43 points. Allison Knoedler nar- rowly took first place over second Laura The 14- year-old said she enjoys the sport for the thinking required. “You need a lot of strategies like you-have to think about how the oth- er team will do and where their rock, will end up.” she'said. “She plays third for the mixed team and skips the girls team, two * positions that are quite similar. She -believes the. mixed’ team could win a medal, although she _Wasn “t sure about the girls team, all of whom are first timers except her. Lead, and younger sister, Re- becca Kucharyshen, 12, the team’s youngest member, was confident in their ability even though travelling to Dawson Creek made her feel a little worried. “We just got to focus really well and 1 think we'll do well,” she said. “* Third Emily. Wright, Second Stephanie Haddad, who felt confident and nervous, thought — a medal was.too far away but said her team will curl better than their. “first time last year. | : 14, ex- - pressed the greatest | confi dence in - the’ girls’ team. ““We've been: practicing. a “Tot so I’m hoping we'll” do good,” she said, adding a medal is within reach if the team tries hard. Three years ago, she started curling with Haddad. “We decided to start together: as another sport to try out just for’ fun,” she said. “At first it’s difficult and a chal- lenge and after awhile, it was just fun. I like the people there. Every- one’s nice.” Sport Scope Ne JASON RUCHOTZKE rests after swimming in the final heat of the Boys 13-14- year-old 100m backstroke at the Northwest Regional Champs on Jan. 16. Swimmers make a splash Skeena Mall. Aug. 24 to 27, ° Local athletes compete in Games TERRACE IS sending over 40 people to the Northern BC Winter Games this weekend. Five coaches, two chaperones, one manager will accom- pany the 42 athletes scheduled to take part in several events in Dawson Creck.from tomorrow through Sunday.- Come and join the fun BC SENIORS Games Zone _memberships this Saturday from Il am. to 4 p.m. at the 10 will be taking 2005 This year’s games are being held in 1 Duncan, B. C. on There are sports for everyone: “athletics, badminton, bridge, carpet bowling, cribbage. c bow ling, floor curling, golf, horseshoes, slo-pitch, snooker, cycling, darts, five-pin . swimming. table tennis, tennis and whist. Optional sports include archery, bocce, ice hockey, ice’ curling, lawn bowling, one-act play's and soccer. The 2005 executive for the BC Seniors Games Zone 10 _are president Betty Nordstrom, vice-president Bill Whitty, secretary Bonnie Shaw, treasurer Lynn Apolzer. Christmas raffle winners include A. Smith, who won the first prize afghan and two cushions, Beth Benzer won the Woodman of Prince Rupert, who finished with 42: points. « and older women. provincial championships. Knoedler broke the pool record in the 200 and 400m individual medley for 15-year-old Knoedler, Algor and Caitlin Scales head to Victoria this weekend for the triple-A SNOW VALLEY second prize handcrafted clock, and Diana Braathen took home the third prize basket from Save c-on Foods. - Snow Valley postponed. Nise ee dic- Ski Club announced last week that the Snow Valley Open at Onion Lake na to Feb. 26 due to lack of snow. For more info on this Heart and Stroke Foundation of BC 3 been moved and Yukon fundraiser, contact Liz at 632-6055 Legion holds 50th anniversary bonspiel_ THE Legion's 50th Anniversary Bonspiel aver the Jan. 22 weekend received. positive from participants. “It went really well. I've prises of getting the myste ing out,” Gendron. Thirty-four rinks played. which included 26 from Terrace, five from Kitimat, one fram Daw- son Creek, one from the Nass Valley and one from Smithers. During Friday's an off-duty firefighter heard lots of feed- back that everyone had fun and, enjoyed the sur- ry gifts that I was hand- said bonspiel committee member Lisa s draw, a 54-year-old Terrace player suffered a heart attack during his game. He was attended to by an off-duty paramedic. and a doctor, who were also curling. e feedback . around the sheets. ~ An ambulance was called: and rushed him t lo Milis Memorial Hospital. Due to patient confidentiality, BC Ambulance Services declined to provide the name of the'curl- er, who later passed away. The opening ceremony featured the Terrace pipes and drums Icading the curlers to line up After being welcomed by the Legion, they saiv the first rock thrown by World War II veteran, Terrace pioneer and longtime curler Otto Lind-. strom. while the broom was held by Legion presi- dent Mary Ann Burdette and the rock swept down the ice by Bud Kirkaldy and Steve Kutenics. The closing ceremonies began with a moment of silence and the legion’s condolences for the curler who passed away. The Austin family presented the A-event Aus- Gunther. sen. Kitimat. tin Memorial Trophy to the Terrace rink of Mitch Griffith, Heinz Spenser, Mike Lefavre and Lynn The Barnette family presented the C-event . Memorial Trophy to the Smithers rink of Glen Baker, Ken.Pratt, Don McMillan and Fred Jen- The B-event went to Tony Abriel, Bill Drink- water, Michael Cordick and Michael Schuster of The Terrace team of Kore Melanson, Dwaine Melanson, Andy Simpson and Jeff Nelson clinched the D-event.