Cohen report not an indictment of fish farms
By Clare Backman, Times Colonist November 4, 2012
Re: "B.C. report calls for freeze on fish farms," Nov. 1.
On Oct. 31, with considerable fanfare, Justice Bruce Cohen released his long-awaited report into the causes of the poor 2009 Fraser River sockeye salmon return.
At nearly 1,200 pages and with 75 recommendations to government, the report covers a wide range of issues.
Principal among them are the negative impacts of warming oceans and the non-implementation of DFO's wild-salmon policy.
Cohen was clear in stating that there was no single cause and no "smoking gun" to explain the 2009 run. It is an oversimplification of this complex issue to assume the report zeroed in on any one factor.
In contrast to Cohen's cautious but clear message are the responses from those opposed to aquaculture, who spin the report as an indictment of salmon farming. In fact, the report commends B.C. salmon farmers for collecting and providing an impressive 10-year fish-health database that allowed commission-appointed experts to conclude that there was no correlation between the health of farmed salmon and the decline of the sockeye. In fairness, the reviewers called for even more data so that with more information; a firmer conclusion of "unlikely effect" can be applied to this issue.
Salmon farmers expected to be asked to voluntarily provide fish-health data and we embrace this recommendation, as well as those describing the Discovery Islands research project. The public wants to be assured that salmon farming does not put sockeye salmon at risk and we intend to meet that request.
Clare Backman, director
British Columbia Salmon Farmers Association Campbell River
Salmon farmers support Cohen Commission report
BCSFA, Thursday, November 1, 2012
The final report of the Cohen Commission into the Decline of Fraser River Sockeye lays solid ground for protecting the future of the iconic salmon run, said BC’s salmon farmers today.
Among the 1200 pages and 75 recommendations detailed in the final report, items regarding aquaculture noted that: Farming is allowed to continue in all areas of British Columbia – including the Discovery Islands.
- New farms are allowed in appropriately sited and planned areas.
- The quality and quantity of our farmers’ information and data collection is impressive.
- More research on farmed/wild interactions in the Discovery Islands area should be undertaken and production levels be capped in this area at current levels during this period.
- The wild salmon policy apply to our farm practices – which our operations already exceed the standards of.
These are all things that we as farmers are supportive of.
“These recommendations are all about protecting wild salmon, which is central to the work that we do each day on our farms,” said Clare Backman, Board Member of the BCSFA. “We’re confident that our farms are not a risk to wild salmon and support more research to confirm that.”
Commissioner Cohen emphasizes in his report that there was no single cause for the poor 2009 return of Fraser River Sockeye, but he draws attention to topics that are either at issue or that need further information to understand any potential impact. Warming water temperatures was called the “elephant in the room,” while the risk of enhancement hatchery fish was also highlighted as serious risk.
“As farmers and British Columbians, it’s imperative to us that the marine environment be protected,” Stewart Hawthorn, Board Member of the BCSFA. “Commissioner Cohen highlighted the data we already collect to monitor our environmental impacts as impressive and we expect that information will continue to be helpful as we move forward.”
The BCSFA represents salmon farm companies and those who provide services and supplies to the industry. Salmon-farming provides for 6,000 direct and indirect jobs while contributing $800-million to the provincial economy each year.
BC's salmon farmers support continued research in fish health
BCSFA, Wednesday, October 31, 2012
With confidence in the health of our fish and the quality of our farm information, BC’s salmon farmers support a request by Commissioner Bruce Cohen for more research in the Discovery Islands area.
“We know that the fish on our farms are healthy – and Justice Cohen has acknowledged the impressive data we made available,” said Stewart Hawthorn, Board Member of the BCSFA. ”We are committed to protecting the marine environment and our iconic wild salmon – and we support the call for further research in this small farming area.”
The final report from the Cohen Commission of Inquiry into the Decline of the Fraser River Sockeye was released today, which included around 75 recommendations on different areas of fisheries management. Climate change and fish enhancement facilities were among the issues discussed that may have affected the 2009 return of the Fraser River Sockeye.
Justice Cohen commended the information that was collected by our salmon farmers and provided to the commission. He has recommended that salmon farm production stay the same in the Discovery Islands area of BC while more research is done. This area represents only a small part of BC’s farmed salmon production, currently there are nine farms in the area.
Salmon farmers have shown repeatedly in the past a willingness to work with regulators, stakeholders and NGOs to collect, evaluate and react to new information with respect to potential impacts to wild salmon.
“Our members are committed to farming responsibly - and that commitment will continue as we move forward in light of these recommendations,” said Clare Backman, Board Member of the BCSFA. “It’s important that we continue with the important social and economic role we play in the coastal communities of BC while protecting our natural environment.”
The BCSFA represents salmon farm companies and those who provide services and supplies to the industry. Salmon-farming provides for 6,000 direct and indirect jobs while contributing $800-million to the provincial economy each year.
Cohen Commission’s final report says Fraser River sockeye salmon face an uncertain future
(Vancouver) The Hon. Bruce Cohen today presented to the public the final report of his Commission of Inquiry into the Decline of Sockeye Salmon in the Fraser River, titled “The Uncertain Future of Fraser River Sockeye.”
http://www.cohencommission.ca/en/NewsReleases/FinalReportReleased.php
Final Report
http://www.cohencommission.ca/en/FinalReport/
