Re: Environmental committee wants Cohen implemented, Leona Adams, Mirror Jan. 16, 2013
Ms. Adams and the Campbell River Environmental Committee should be pleased to know that many of the recommendations made by Justice Cohen regarding aquaculture are already well underway to being implemented – and were so before the final report was even released.
Specifically referring to the recommendations highlighted in her letter: Ten years of primary fish health data has been released to the public and can be found on the BC Salmon Farmers website and DFO already has full access to our farms and samples of fresh “silvers” any time they need them.
We note though that Ms. Adams only speaks to recommendations about salmon aquaculture- which are only, of course, a small part of the final report.
As coastal residents who are concerned about protecting our marine environment, we feel there are many other suggestions in that report which need to be considered – and which are far further from implementation than any of those regarding our business.
For example, the implementation of fish health management programs for enhancement programs, increasing the amount of stock assessment conducted annually for wild fisheries and giving focus to improving compliance levels to the Riparian Areas Regulation are all important recommendations from Justice Cohen.
Issues like climate change and the resulting warmer water temperatures are problems with no clear solution and frankly, groups addressing these issues will have a hard time keeping up to the work already being done by salmon farmers.
David Minato,
Member and Community Relations Co-ordinator, BC Salmon Farmers Association