Iron sulfate dumped off B.C. coast in controversial project

Environmental | 549 hits | Oct 16 7:54 am | Posted by: Hyack

An experimental project in which 100 tonnes of iron sulfate were dumped into the ocean off B.C.'s north coast is sparking controversy.

Comments

by Robair
Tue Oct 16, 2012 4:53 pm
Cool!
by Regina
Tue Oct 16, 2012 5:28 pm
by 2Cdo
Tue Oct 16, 2012 5:32 pm
I can't help fearing that this will just screw things up even more.

I do hope I'm wrong though.
by Zipperfish
Tue Oct 16, 2012 5:33 pm
My thoughts too. I'm sure the natiuves are workgin on their back-up plan to blame whitey if it goes south.
by andyt
Tue Oct 16, 2012 5:35 pm
We are a private partnership empowered and funded by the Old Massett Village Council of the Haida First Nation (the majority stockholder). Old Massett is a province and village on the northern end of the islands forming half of the sovereign Nation of Haida Gwaii.

It's within their nation's economic exclusion zone, so they can do what they want. They might ask us for foreign aid if it doesn't work out.
by DrCaleb
Tue Oct 16, 2012 6:17 pm
"2Cdo" said
I can't help fearing that this will just screw things up even more.

I do hope I'm wrong though.

Nothing good will come of a 10,000 square km plankton bloom. It will suck all the oxygen out of the surrounding water.

http://aptn.ca/pages/news/2012/10/16/en ... aii-coast/
by raydan
Tue Oct 16, 2012 6:17 pm
Does anybody have a good example of humans messing with Mother Nature in the past and it working out in a good way?
by DrCaleb
Tue Oct 16, 2012 6:32 pm
"raydan" said
Does anybody have a good example of humans messing with Mother Nature in the past and it working out in a good way?

Not since Franklin, a kite and a key joined forces. Although, I hear holding a 2 iron over your head while on a golf course in a thunder storm works well, because not even God can hit a 2 iron.
by RUEZ
Tue Oct 16, 2012 6:42 pm
According to this article it isn't so cool. It's a violation of some treaties.
World's biggest geoengineering experiment 'violates' UN rules

Looks like they did a little fibbing to the natives as well.
The dump took place from a fishing boat in an eddy 200 nautical miles west of the islands of Haida Gwaii, one of the world's most celebrated, diverse ecosystems, where George convinced the local council of an indigenous village to establish the Haida Salmon Restoration Corporation to channel more than $1m of its own funds into the project.

The president of the Haida nation, Guujaaw, said the village was told the dump would environmentally benefit the ocean, which is crucial to their livelihood and culture.

"The village people voted to support what they were told was a 'salmon enhancement project' and would not have agreed if they had been told of any potential negative effects or that it was in breach of an international convention," Guujaaw said.
by andyt
Tue Oct 16, 2012 6:44 pm
"RUEZ" said
According to this article it isn't so cool. It's a violation of some treaties.
World's biggest geoengineering experiment 'violates' UN rules

Looks like they did a little fibbing to the natives as well.
The dump took place from a fishing boat in an eddy 200 nautical miles west of the islands of Haida Gwaii, one of the world's most celebrated, diverse ecosystems, where George convinced the local council of an indigenous village to establish the Haida Salmon Restoration Corporation to channel more than $1m of its own funds into the project.

The president of the Haida nation, Guujaaw, said the village was told the dump would environmentally benefit the ocean, which is crucial to their livelihood and culture.

"The village people voted to support what they were told was a 'salmon enhancement project' and would not have agreed if they had been told of any potential negative effects or that it was in breach of an international convention," Guujaaw said.

They didn't know? The village is the majority shareholder of the company:
We are a private partnership empowered and funded by the Old Massett Village Council of the Haida First Nation (the majority stockholder). Old Massett is a province and village on the northern end of the islands forming half of the sovereign Nation of Haida Gwaii.
Those poor natives, duped again.
by Zipperfish
Tue Oct 16, 2012 6:57 pm
As stated, looks like they've already got the blame whitey back-up ready ot play.
by Freakinoldguy
Tue Oct 16, 2012 7:14 pm
As goofy as it sounds. Anything run by guy named Disney has a good chance of becomming a Mickey Mouse operation.

But on the plus side if this bizzare adventure works Haida Gwaii just may replace Disneyland as "The Happiest place On Earth".

Not.
by Zipperfish
Tue Oct 16, 2012 7:17 pm
"raydan" said
Does anybody have a good example of humans messing with Mother Nature in the past and it working out in a good way?

It's good for plankton. Introducing the cane toad to Australia worked out awesome for cane toads. Ebola epidemics are fantastic if you're an ebola virus. Global warming--great if you're a pine beetle!

You just have to look on the bright side, Raydan.
by Robair
Tue Oct 16, 2012 8:02 pm
Yea but, this isn't a new or totally unproven idea.

I rember reading that volcano story and thinking "So, why can't we supplement the salmon run with some strategically dumped plankton food?"

Now they're trying it. I think that's cool.