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Head of Clearwater Seafoods John Risely Floundering in An Ocean of Denial |
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Written by D.L. McCracken
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Friday, 17 November 2006 |
Just when I started to ponder the possibility that finally after 137 false starts I have heard it all, the Daily News publishes an article in Thursday's edition that compels me yet again to accept the probability that I will never ever ascend to that higher level of consciousness commonly referred to as Zen. And what, you ask has contributed to this most recent despair?
The explanation is twofold - first, the founder and chairman of a "major Canadian seafood company" has decided to go public with his views on the effects of high seas bottom trawling by stating magisterially that bottom trawling does not damage "the bottom enviornment whatsoever". And second, the Daily News not only published this drivel but gave it a big bold headline and a colour picture of this self-proclaimed environmental expert.
I speak of course of John Risley who founded and is now one of the big wheels at Clearwater Seafoods. Now I wonder why the owner of a seafood distributing company would say such a thing...hmmm let's think about this for a minute. Actually we don't need a whole minute, do we. Seafood is his livelihood, his bread and butter. Who better to challenge the global scientific community, a majority of the world's progressive fishery countries and the United Nations, than a fishmonger?
Now don't get me wrong. I applaud Mr. Risely's business acuity which is necessary in order to build any successful business endeavour. Clearwater Seafoods has offices in China, United States, Ontario, and England. They boast eight plants in Atlantic Canada and Quebec, as well as a fleet of 30 offshore fishing vessels.
Thirty. Offshore. Fishing vessels.
Risely explains that at least some of his fishing fleet have trawled the waters "for decades" in search of bottom-dwelling delectables destined for the dining delights of seafood lovers around the world. He insists that his bottom trawlers have never caused any damage to the sea beds. No doubt Mr. Risely will claim that no coral were harmed in the operation of his business.
John Risely, a person who makes his living from seafood, should be considered extremely biased in his opinion on bottom trawling practices. He and his company are directly contributing not only to the irreparable harm imposed on our sea beds and the life that abides within, but also our environment in general.
A company that displays almost a ridiculous compassion toward captured lobsters by erecting private "condos" in order to achieve crustaceous stress nirvana, Risely's stand on bottom trawling is mind-boggling.
Or maybe it's just denial. But I suspect that Risely's position is based entirely on good economic business practice. Way to save the world.. D.L. McCracken loves a good feed of lobster and looks forward to indulging way beyond 2048.
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