Little Hawk
Active Member
Many thanks to Rafe for forwarding me this.
JOHN CUMMINS, M.P.
Delta - Richmond East
News Release
June 17, 2010
This is Not a Science Seminar
The real issue before the Cohen Inquiry is DFO's failure to manage the
Fraser River fishery.
Instead of focusing on DFO's management of the fishery to the point of
collapse, the Inquiry has allowed itself to be diverted into looking at
fisheries science issues in isolation. The first act of Justice Cohen was to
hire a group of lawyers. Next he hired DFO insiders to give him scientific
advice.
Perhaps the most prominent member of Cohen's panel of scientific advisors is
Brian Riddell, DFO's former head of science in the Pacific Region. Since
becoming a member of the scientific advisory panel, Riddell has publically
stated that he does not believe there is need for a judicial inquiry into
DFO's management of the Fraser fishery as the problem is a "science issue."
Not surprisingly he stated that if the Inquiry highlights the need for more
research "then it could be worthwhile."
According to the Inquiry's senior legal counsel, the scientific advisory
panel has identified 13 areas requiring further research and advised Cohen
on who should undertake the research.
The Cohen Inquiry is not a science seminar nor was it ever intended to be.
The term "science" is not found even once in the Inquiry's terms of
reference. The phrase "the Department's scientific advice" is used only
once as part of a list of matters to be considered in the investigation of
the policies and practices of the Department. The direction to the Inquiry
states:
"To consider the policies and practices of the Department of Fisheries and
Oceans with respect to the sockeye salmon fishery in the Fraser River -
including the Department's scientific advice, its fisheries policies and
programs, its risk management strategies, its allocation of Departmental
resources and its fisheries management practices and procedures, including
monitoring, counting of stocks, forecasting and enforcement."
The most basic question before the Inquiry is how the Department's policies
and procedures contributed to the collapse of the fishery. Simply put:
" Why were the policies and procedures of the International Pacific
Salmon Fisheries Commission so effective in increasing the size of sockeye
runs when the management of the fishery was under their control and why have
stocks collapsed since DFO took over management in 1986?
" Did the Department's policy of weak stock management, which resulted
in over spawning throughout much of the Fraser system contribute to the
disastrous decline of the Fraser River fishery?
" Did something happen to the natural environment in the waters of the
Fraser where sockeye spawn and spend the early years of their life?
" Did monitoring change?
" Did enforcement change?
" Did science forecasting and data collecting change?
" Did something fundamentally change in the management culture of the
Department?
" Did the weight given by DFO to the recommendations of the Pacific
Salmon Commission change?
" Did DFO management address the potential impact of fish farms in our
coastal waters?
The Inquiry will be receiving hundreds of thousands of internal documents
from DFO. No funds have been allocated to organizations representing
fishermen and environmentalists like Alexandra Morton to unlock the secrets
contained this treasure trove of DFO documents, but funds have been
allocated to science projects on the direction of former DFO scientists.
The Inquiry has been given an urgent task; identify the problems at DFO to
prevent a collapse of Fraser fishery comparable to what happened on the cod
fishery on the east coast. The Inquiry has been given a tight deadline
under which to work. So far it has squandered valuable time at the behest
of old DFO insiders who are perhaps more intent on promoting their favorite
projects than disrobing their failures.
If the Cohen Inquiry is to regain even a modicum of credibility, the first
order of the day must be the replacement of the existing scientific advisory
panel with outsiders untainted by any association with DFO and the return of
the Inquiry to its original purpose: that of evaluating the policies and
practices at DFO that have lead Fraser River stocks to the brink of
collapse.
Contact: John Cummins, M.P.
(613) 992-2957, (cell) (604) 970-0937, (604) 940-8040 or www.johncummins.ca
"Some could care less if there's any fish left for our kids!"
JOHN CUMMINS, M.P.
Delta - Richmond East
News Release
June 17, 2010
This is Not a Science Seminar
The real issue before the Cohen Inquiry is DFO's failure to manage the
Fraser River fishery.
Instead of focusing on DFO's management of the fishery to the point of
collapse, the Inquiry has allowed itself to be diverted into looking at
fisheries science issues in isolation. The first act of Justice Cohen was to
hire a group of lawyers. Next he hired DFO insiders to give him scientific
advice.
Perhaps the most prominent member of Cohen's panel of scientific advisors is
Brian Riddell, DFO's former head of science in the Pacific Region. Since
becoming a member of the scientific advisory panel, Riddell has publically
stated that he does not believe there is need for a judicial inquiry into
DFO's management of the Fraser fishery as the problem is a "science issue."
Not surprisingly he stated that if the Inquiry highlights the need for more
research "then it could be worthwhile."
According to the Inquiry's senior legal counsel, the scientific advisory
panel has identified 13 areas requiring further research and advised Cohen
on who should undertake the research.
The Cohen Inquiry is not a science seminar nor was it ever intended to be.
The term "science" is not found even once in the Inquiry's terms of
reference. The phrase "the Department's scientific advice" is used only
once as part of a list of matters to be considered in the investigation of
the policies and practices of the Department. The direction to the Inquiry
states:
"To consider the policies and practices of the Department of Fisheries and
Oceans with respect to the sockeye salmon fishery in the Fraser River -
including the Department's scientific advice, its fisheries policies and
programs, its risk management strategies, its allocation of Departmental
resources and its fisheries management practices and procedures, including
monitoring, counting of stocks, forecasting and enforcement."
The most basic question before the Inquiry is how the Department's policies
and procedures contributed to the collapse of the fishery. Simply put:
" Why were the policies and procedures of the International Pacific
Salmon Fisheries Commission so effective in increasing the size of sockeye
runs when the management of the fishery was under their control and why have
stocks collapsed since DFO took over management in 1986?
" Did the Department's policy of weak stock management, which resulted
in over spawning throughout much of the Fraser system contribute to the
disastrous decline of the Fraser River fishery?
" Did something happen to the natural environment in the waters of the
Fraser where sockeye spawn and spend the early years of their life?
" Did monitoring change?
" Did enforcement change?
" Did science forecasting and data collecting change?
" Did something fundamentally change in the management culture of the
Department?
" Did the weight given by DFO to the recommendations of the Pacific
Salmon Commission change?
" Did DFO management address the potential impact of fish farms in our
coastal waters?
The Inquiry will be receiving hundreds of thousands of internal documents
from DFO. No funds have been allocated to organizations representing
fishermen and environmentalists like Alexandra Morton to unlock the secrets
contained this treasure trove of DFO documents, but funds have been
allocated to science projects on the direction of former DFO scientists.
The Inquiry has been given an urgent task; identify the problems at DFO to
prevent a collapse of Fraser fishery comparable to what happened on the cod
fishery on the east coast. The Inquiry has been given a tight deadline
under which to work. So far it has squandered valuable time at the behest
of old DFO insiders who are perhaps more intent on promoting their favorite
projects than disrobing their failures.
If the Cohen Inquiry is to regain even a modicum of credibility, the first
order of the day must be the replacement of the existing scientific advisory
panel with outsiders untainted by any association with DFO and the return of
the Inquiry to its original purpose: that of evaluating the policies and
practices at DFO that have lead Fraser River stocks to the brink of
collapse.
Contact: John Cummins, M.P.
(613) 992-2957, (cell) (604) 970-0937, (604) 940-8040 or www.johncummins.ca
"Some could care less if there's any fish left for our kids!"
