Sea lion attacks surge at B.C. fish farms, prompting requests for rubber bullets
A number of B.C. fish farms have seen a spike in attacks from sea lions, prompting multiple companies to request the use of rubber bullets as a deterrent, internal government communications reveal. Sea lions “have breached the system and are being aggressive to staff,” wrote Krista Sandberg, regional manager of aquaculture environmental operations at Fisheries and Oceans Canada, describing the situation at a fish farm run by the aquaculture company Mowi near Port Hardy. “[They] have requested to [use] rubber bullets to gain control of the situation.” It was the second use of aggressive sea lion deterrents at the facility this season, said Sandberg, whose emails — including the one dated Feb. 5 — were released under federal Access to Information and Privacy Laws. Elsewhere off B.C.’s coast, Sandberg told colleagues this has been the “worst sea lion season to date” at a fish farm in Clayoquot Sound’s Fortune Channel. more, >>CLICK TO READ<< 13:35
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