This summer, the Fraser River experienced an unexpected 10+ MILLION decrease in sockeye returns. While this situation developed, Fisheries Minister Gail Shae was on a taxpayer-paid junket to Norway, promoting fish farms.
This summer saw an unexpected decline in the returns of sockeye salmon to the river, limited commercial openings, and increases in sports-pressure on coho and chinook. Given the continual, long-term cutbacks to DFO stock assessment resources, what do you think should happen? What about Local Area Management (LAM), such as with the The West Coast Vancouver Island Aquatic Management Board?
Check-out: http://www.westcoastaquatic.ca/Aquatic_Mgmt_Board.htm
Fish in the Northwest
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The Globe & Mail, 6th November 2009
B.C. judge to head salmon inquiry
British Columbia Supreme Court Justice Bruce Cohen will investigate 'the causes for the decline of Fraser River sockeye salmon'
Mark Hume and Bill Curry
http://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2009/11/02/NDPSockeyeInquiry/
The Tyee
November 2/09NDP Is Right to Call for Sockeye Inquiry
The catastrophe doesn't seem to concern Tories, Grits. In fact, they don't want to know.By Rafe Mair, Today, TheTyee.ca
The NDP tread where the Conservatives and Liberals fear to go as NDP Fisheries Critic Peter Julian and MP hopeful Fin Donnelly call for an independent judicial inquiry into the collapse of the Fraser River sockeye.
It should happen. It must happen. And it won't happen.
The Vancouver Sun/National Post, 9th December 2009
Problems in Strait of Georgia likely cause of salmon collapse
Scott Simpson, Canwest News Service
FIRST NATIONS FISHERIES COUNCIL
SUPPORTING STEWARDSHIP OF FISHERIES RESOURCES
FOR CURRENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS
News Release
“Canadians cannot depend on a Judicial Inquiry to bring back B.C. salmon” the First Nations Fisheries Council of British Columbia tells Ottawa
For Immediate Release
November 13, 2009
The Tyee, 21st September 2009
DFO named in aquaculture class action suit
By Colleen Kimmett
The Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) has been drawn into what could be a precedent-setting case for aboriginal rights in British Columbia.
From: Cullen, Nathan - Riding 1
Sent: December 17, 2009 12:31 PM
To:
Subject: Cullen seeks commitment for action after Shea's Rupert visitFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DECEMBER 17, 2009Terms of Reference for the Commission of Inquiry into Decline of Sockeye Salmon in the Fraser River
6 November 2009
Ottawa, OntarioWhereas the decline in sockeye salmon stocks in the Fraser River in British Columbia has necessitated the closure of the fishery for a third consecutive year, despite favourable pre-season estimates of the number of sockeye salmon expected to return to the Fraser River;
40,000 fish escape farm
Gillnetters near Sointula report catching Atlantic salmon
By Judith Lavoie, Times ColonistOctober 24, 2009A recovery vessel working for a fish-farming company recovered about 1,100 escaped Atlantic salmon yesterday, and will continue working over the weekend to catch more of the estimated 40,000 escaped fish.
The salmon got out late Wednesday evening after crews, using a pump system and pipe, removed dead fish from the two pens at Port Elizabeth on Gilford Island, said Clare Backman, director of environmental relations for Marine Harvest Canada.
Burnaby Now, 18th November 2009
Plenty of questions to answer in fish inquiry
Finally a Canadian prime minister is doing what none of his predecessors had the guts to do: Ask why Fraser River sockeye are going the way of the Atlantic cod.
