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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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.
OTTAWA — Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Thursday the federal government will convene a judicial inquiry to investigate the disappearance of millions of sockeye salmon from B.C.'s Fraser River fishery.
South Delta Leader, 10th December 2009
Fish farms, climate eyed in salmon collapse
By Jeff Nagel - BC Local News
The Times Colonist, 11th November 2009
Where have all the Fraser sockeye gone? Judge will hear evidence
By D.C. Reid
You may recall the DFO estimated the Fraser River sockeye run at 10.6 million fish and that it collapsed to 1.37 million this past summer.
Ottawa to probe collapse of salmon stocks
VANCOUVER/CKNW AM 980
Jill Bennett | Email news tips to Jill
11/5/2009
http://www.cknw.com/Channels/Reg/NewsLocal/Story.aspx?ID=1162167Good news for commercial fishermen in BC.
The Prime Minister has announced there will be a full judicial review into the collapse of salmon stocks on the west coast.
Stephen Harper made the announcement in Ottawa today.
More details on the inquiry are to be released tomorrow.
The federal Fisheries Department estimated more than 10 million sockeye would return to the Fraser River this year.
The Globe & Mail, 10th December 2009
Scientists call for more cautious salmon harvest
Government needs to conduct more research to uncover cause of declining Fraser returns, think tank says
Oil sands pipeline to West Coast gains backing
Enbridge expects ‘solid shipping commitments' for Gateway
Globe and Mail Update
Nathan VanderKlippe
Commercial support is building for a new pipeline to carry oil sands crude on its way to Asia, as Canada 's energy industry seeks diversification from the U.S. market and an escape valve from potentially punitive climate-change regulations.
IN THE NEWS ~ NDP CALLS FOR AN INDEPENDENT JUDICIAL INQUIRY ON SALMON CRISIS
Fri 23 Oct 2009The federal New Democrats are calling for an immediate independent judicial inquiry into the catastrophic collapse of the Fraser River sockeye run to ensure that west coast salmon don’t go the way of Atlantic cod.
NDP Western Fisheries Critic Peter Julian and Fin Donnelly, NDP candidate in the New Westminster-Coquitlam by-election, say the inquiry is urgently needed to ensure the long-term viability of west coast salmon.
The Tyee, 19th February 2010
Salmon inquiry calls for participants
By Colleen Kimmett
The Dawn of a New Era in Fisheries Management in Canada - Lets Make it Happen
http://alexandramorton.typepad.com/Sign letter to Canadian Minister of Fisheries asking for the laws of Canada to be Applied to fish farming (http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?hl=en&formkey=cEkxX3p3MGFBbWNVVG.....)
On November 5, 2009 Prime Minister Harper stood in the House of Commons and announced there would be a Judicial Inquiry into the disappearance of 10 million Fraser sockeye. At that moment all of us became responsible for the future of wild fish in Canadian waters.
