An environmentalist has discovered that posting potentially libellous comments about salmon farming online can result in a defamation lawsuit.
Campbell River-based Mainstream Canada has launched a defamation lawsuit in the B.C. Supreme Court against Don Staniford and his organization the Global Alliance Against Industrial Aquaculture (GAAIA) for statements on the GAAIA website.
“There’s a time when you have to draw a line in the sand,” Mainstream spokeswoman Laurie Jensen told Business in Vancouver March 24.
Her company, which is owned by the Norwegian government, is the second largest salmon-farming company in B.C.
“Staniford and friends have been spreading untruths about salmon farming for a long time,” Jensen said.
English-born Staniford told BIV March 24 that British Columbians have to decide if they want wild Pacific salmon or farmed Atlantic salmon.
He added: “This is a clear abuse of the Canadian court system by the Norwegian government to ride roughshod over free speech and public fair comment.”
Tofino-based salmon farming company Creative Salmon successfully sued Staniford for defamation in 2007. He appealed the judgment and in 2009 was awarded a new trial.
“I look forward to a day in court, and I look forward to winning,” Staniford said.