Cohen report ascribed no damage to farms
Vancouver Sun, Rob Kyle, November 20, 2012
Re: Salmon farming comes ashore, Nov. 17
The article alleges that the Cohen Commission “found that net pen salmon farms can and do hurt the health of B.C.’s wild sockeye salmon stocks.”
Justice Cohen concluded that “I am satisfied that sea lice acting alone did not cause the decline of Fraser River sockeye.”
Justice Cohen stated that sea lice acting in combination with other factors “may” have contributed to the decline in Fraser River sockeye. He further stated that “wastes and chemicals discharged at salmon farms, and escapes from salmon farms, are unlikely to have any population level effects on Fraser River sockeye.”
Overall, the Cohen Commission concluded that “the incidence of diseases in farmed salmon that would be classified as high risk to sockeye salmon is very low and do not pose a significant risk.”
Rob Kyle
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