Whole in the Water
Well-Known Member
Link below is the Wild First website that has a prepared letter you can send to the DFO minister to tell them to honour their commitment to the Cohen COmmission and remove the net pen salmon farms from the Discovery Islands. Click on the link fill in your name and send the letter off to show your support for improving conditions for the wild salmon on our coast!
https://www.wildfirst.ca/take-action/
In 2012, The Cohen Commission report laid out 75 recommendations for the Government of Canada. The report was meant to serve as a roadmap to restoring Pacific salmon populations and re-establishing sustainable communities and economies that depend on salmon, but sadly many of the recommendations are still outstanding, including Recommendation #19, which said that “On September 30, 2020, the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans should prohibit net-pen salmon farming in the Discovery Islands (fish health sub-zone 3-2) unless he or she is satisfied that such farms pose at most a minimal risk of serious harm to the health of migrating Fraser River sockeye salmon”.
Eight years later, the government has failed to do this despite more than 100 First Nations in support of transition. Instead, on September 28, 2020 it issued a statement punting the decision three more months down the road, and just now launched a very limited and rushed “consultation” with only seven First Nations. The Department of Fisheries & Oceans (DFO) also presided over a limited and improperly reviewed assessment of scientific work to inform its view of potential harm to wild stocks.
With 18 fish farms currently operating in the Discovery Islands, the federal government has only until December 18th to take action on removing these farms before their aquaculture licenses are up for renewal.
The government has only until December 18 to take action so please act on this now!
https://www.wildfirst.ca/take-action/
In 2012, The Cohen Commission report laid out 75 recommendations for the Government of Canada. The report was meant to serve as a roadmap to restoring Pacific salmon populations and re-establishing sustainable communities and economies that depend on salmon, but sadly many of the recommendations are still outstanding, including Recommendation #19, which said that “On September 30, 2020, the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans should prohibit net-pen salmon farming in the Discovery Islands (fish health sub-zone 3-2) unless he or she is satisfied that such farms pose at most a minimal risk of serious harm to the health of migrating Fraser River sockeye salmon”.
Eight years later, the government has failed to do this despite more than 100 First Nations in support of transition. Instead, on September 28, 2020 it issued a statement punting the decision three more months down the road, and just now launched a very limited and rushed “consultation” with only seven First Nations. The Department of Fisheries & Oceans (DFO) also presided over a limited and improperly reviewed assessment of scientific work to inform its view of potential harm to wild stocks.
With 18 fish farms currently operating in the Discovery Islands, the federal government has only until December 18th to take action on removing these farms before their aquaculture licenses are up for renewal.
