Petronas LNG terminal set in salmon's 'Grand Central Station'

A new study appears to supportarguments byB.C. First Nations that the Petronas LNG project on the Skeena River could hurt salmon stocks.

SimonFraserUniversity Professor JonathanMoore's study looked at the genetics of juvenile salmon from Flora Bank, the area where the new LNG terminal is planned along theSkeenaRiver.

Among its findings:The salmon originate from 40 different populations, spanning more First Nations territories than those consulted.

SFU researchers say 100 million to 1billion juvenile salmon migrate through the estuary every year.

A series of pipelines are proposed through the area, with off-loading terminals in the estuary, including the Pacific NorthWest LNG project, by Petronas.

"It poses huge risks to people and salmon,"Moore told CBC Friday."I'm not a decision maker. I can't say if those risks are acceptable, but those risks are huge."

Moore says given time salmon can adapt to change, but a project this big, built this fast, would be impossible for them to adapt to.

"It's not a great place to build a plant like that," said Moore

"The Flora Bank region of the Skeena estuary is like Grand Central Station for salmon." saidAllen Gottesfeld of theSkeena Fisheries Commission.

The Skeena supportsCanada's second-largest salmon run and lies at the crossroads between oil reserves in Alberta and ocean access to overseas markets.

The Chiefs of the fourSkeena River-area First Nations have long fought thesiting of the proposed facility and maintainfailure to seek First Nations' approval has putthe $11 billion project at risk.

Petronas, Malaysia's state-owned oil company is planning to supercool natural gas to its liquid state for export to Asian markets.

B.C. Ministry of Environment and the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceanswerecontacted, but havenot commented yet.