Re: “Scientists’ findings belong to employer,” letter, Feb. 23.

I want to thank the letter-writer for pointing out that Fisheries and Oceans scientists, like scientists working for private industry, must report nothing that might conflict with the goals of the employer.

Silly me, and I had thought “public servants” worked for the “public.” Now that I have been enlightened, so many other things make sense, such as why no federal scientist has offered an explanation for the loss of the Gorge herring fishery or explained the impact of farmed salmon sea lice on wild salmon stock.

A scientific explanation might not be in the interest of the current federal government, but it would be in the interest of the public who pay for it all.

Publicly funded research findings about public resources should be available to the public.

Bruce Pendergast

Victoria

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