Colorado Residents Embark on Kayaking Trip to Save Salmon

Apryle Craig and Phil Magistro will be embarking on a sea kayaking expedition along the British Columbia coast to examine and document the effects of salmon farming on the environment and coastal communities.The “Go Wild” Expedition, named such in support of wild salmon, will follow the historical Inside Passage route, starting in Gig Harbor, Washington, continuing north along the British Columbia coast, and concluding in the glacial waters of Alaska. Their four-month-long journey will begin May 5, 2009 and cover over 1,280 miles using only human-power.Throughout the trip, they will be examining the issues that are thought by the scientific community to be contributing to the localized extinction of pink and chum salmon, specifically open-net farming of non-native Atlantic salmon. Craig and Magistro will report their findings to Living Ocean Society (LOS) as a part of "The Eyes and Ears of the Coast" project. This project encourages the coastal community to observe the conduct of fish farming in the area and report any suspected unethical or illegal behavior to LOS.As part of their investigation, Craig and Magistro are making plans to:• Document the salmon farms and surrounding environment through photography, videography, and written reports.
• Attend a salmon farm tour.
• Interview First Nations and Canadian residents from various industries along the route regarding their knowledge about and stance on salmon farming.
• Actively participate in salmon research.
• Promote sustainable seafood choices and encourage people to “Go Wild,” by supporting sustainable fishing and ocean-use practices.
• Build awareness for “The Eyes and Ears of the Coast” program and encourage the coastal community to participate.
• Educate the community about the threatened state of pink and chum salmon.
• Raise donations for Living Oceans Society with funds going towards the preservation of the magnificent coastal environment.The “Go Wild” Expedition is scheduling media interviews prior-to, during, and after the trip, as well as post-expedition slideshows and presentations for fall 2009. For more information, contact Apryle Craig at 970.586.9147 or PhilandApryle@ElevatedAttitude.com, or visit the “Go Wild” Expedition online at www.ElevatedAttitude.com.