End the silence. Tell the Prime Minister to act on the Cohen recommendations.

As another annual migration of Fraser River sockeye salmon is about to begin, the federal government has done nothing to implement the Cohen recommendations that would help ensure their survival.

Wild sockeye spawining in British Columbia.

The federal government invested $26 million dollars in to the Cohen Commission judicial inquiry into the 2009 collapse of B.C.’s iconic Fraser River sockeye. After hearing from close to 200 witnesses, including scientists renowned as experts in their field, Justice Bruce Cohen made 75 specific recommendations designed to ensure a future for wild salmon. While unable to point to a single ‘smoking gun’ as the sole reason for the stock crash, Cohen concluded that the potential harm posed to wild sockeye by open net-pen salmon farms is “serious or irreversible.” Justice Cohen’s final report was tabled in October, 2012. To date, the federal government has failed to respond publicly to, or commit to act on any of his recommendations.

It’s time for Ottawa to break the silence. It’s time for answers.

You can help wild salmon by sending an e-mail to the Prime Minister telling him enough of the silence – it is time to act on the Cohen recommendations.

Send an e-mail to Prime Minister Stephen Harper

First Name: *

Last Name: *

E-mail: *

Street: *

City: *

Province: *

Postal Code: *

Message - you can add to or edit the messge below to personalize it. Your name and address will be automatically inserted at the bottom: *

Dear Prime Minister Harper,

As another annual migration of Fraser River sockeye salmon is about to begin, I am concerned that the federal government has done nothing to implement the Cohen recommendations that would help ensure their survival.
The Final Report from the Commission of Inquiry into the Decline of Fraser River Sockeye was released in October 31st, 2012. Over four months later, I am concerned with the silence of the Canadian government on the 75 recommendations.

I support all of the recommendations in the Final Report and am writing to you today asking that your government implement them as soon as possible in order to protect and conserve wild salmon. A number of the recommendations can be accepted by government quite readily as they do not require budget appropriations.

Justice Cohen made a number of recommendations for minimizing the risk to wild salmon from salmon farming. Many can be implemented quite easily and inexpensively:

- Continue to require the collection of fish health data directly from salmon farm operators and through DFO audits
- Require, as a condition of licence, that salmon farm operators provide fish samples according to a protocol specified by DFO
- Give non-government scientific researchers access to primary fish health data collected through DFO's existing routine monitoring programs
- Limit the maximum duration of salmon farming licences to one year in Fish Health Sub-zone 3-2 (an area known as the Wild Salmon Narrows) which is an important migratory route for Fraser River sockeye salmon
- Refrain from issuing any new licences in the Wild Salmon Narrows
- Refrain from permitting increases in production at existing net-pen salmon farms in the Wild Salmon Narrows
- Prohibit net-pen salmon farms in the Wild Salmon Narrows unless the Minister of Fisheries is satisfied that such farms pose at most a minimal risk to the health of migrating Fraser River sockeye salmon
- Revise and apply siting criteria for salmon farms
- Remove a conflict of interest within the mandate of DFO.

I am writing to urge you to allow DFO to focus on the important job of protecting wild fish and to implement the Cohen recommendations TODAY.

Sincerely,

End the silence. Tell the Prime Minister to act on the Cohen recommendations.

Sustainable Fisheries and Salmon Farming Campaign Manager