Individuals and parties who want to participate in the Cohen Commission, an inquiry into the collapse of the Fraser River sockeye salmon, have until March 3rd to apply for standing status.
Standing status allows for formal participation in the hearings. Justice Bruce Cohen, who is heading the inquiry, made the announcement earlier this week, and posted relevant documents on the Cohen Commission website.
But lawyer Andrew Gage, of West Coast Environmental Law (WCEL), said in an email he is concerned that the rules for who can get standing status "have the potential to shut out environmental groups and other groups that are advocating for their view of the public interest."
According to the terms of reference that the federal government put in place when it created the commission, those eligible for standing status must have "substantial and direct interest" in the subject of the inquiry.
". . . there is no doubt that any recommendations that Commissioner Cohen makes concerning the regulation of fish farms will have a very real and direct commercial impact on those fish farms. Presumably the Commission will grant some level of participation rights to one or more representatives of that industry," reads a recent blog post on the WCEL website.
"Any new regulations for fish farms resulting from the inquiry may have a substantial and direct benefit for the Sockeye salmon, and will ultimately benefit the public at large would benefit from healthy salmon runs. But can, for example, the Coastal Alliance for Aquaculture Reform -- a coalition of environmental groups "working to ensure salmon farming in British Columbia is safe for wild salmon, marine ecosystems, coastal communities and human health" -- be said to have a "substantial and direct interest" beyond the interests of the rest of the public? That's a lot less clear."
The WCEL has written a letter to Justice Cohen asking for clarification on this point.
The WCEL notes that "Commissioner Cohen has NOT indicated that his interpretation of "substantial and direct interest" will exclude public interest advocates. We are concerned because of how this term has been interpreted in other contexts."
Colleen Kimmett reports for The Tyee
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crankypants
1 year ago
As I see it
Those that are involved with the Atlantic salmon fish farms should be barred from this enquiry. They have no interest in survival of any wild salmon, as these wild salmon are in direct competition with what they market.
Whether the results of this enquiry impact the fish farms future existence is irrelevant as they are the ones encroaching on the sockeye salmon's natural habitat, as well as other species of marine life.
We'll know soon enough if the fix is in or not by who is allowed to be heard.
Illahie
1 year ago
The inquiry is about Sockeye
The inquiry is about Sockeye, not fish farms, unless fish farms have some involvement in the 2009 Sockeye run collapse.
But that has not been determined yet, since the inquiry has not yet started.
A judicial inquiry should not be a podium for environmental protesters and fish farm nutbars.
Dan the socialist
1 year ago
. there is no doubt that any
. there is no doubt that any recommendations that Commissioner Cohen makes concerning the regulation of fish farms will have a very real and direct commercial impact on those fish farms. Presumably the Commission will grant some level of participation rights to one or more representatives of that industry," reads a recent blog post on the WCEL website.
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Well then this is a farce already if Fish Farmers get to speak.
By the time the federal and provincial corporate governments gets around to anything it will be to late and their fish farm cohorts will be able to expand as they please as there won't be many if any pacific salmon around.
I am just so sick and bloody tired of this country being run and dictated to by corporate interests,whether fish farming or oil or whatever. But the sheepple in Canada let it go on and on and on...
Salmon Ghost
1 year ago
Illahie/[EDITED. -MODERATOR.]
[EDITED. -MODERATOR.]
Drop the con.
You are no biologist,stop calling people who can read hundreds of legitimate studies on how Alien Fish Farms are a disaster all over the world "Nutbars"
[EDITED. -MODERATOR.]
dloewen
1 year ago
losing the point?
the point of the article may be being lost somewhat...
The news release from the "Cohen Commission" website suggests:
"The Cohen Commission is committed to facilitating public discussion and input on the issues..."
This could be a good thing...
However, there seems to be some contradictions - or at least points of confusion - in the Commission news release regarding how people can participate in the Commission:
"Standing is necessary to participate in the commission’s hearings, and represents one of the various opportunities that will be available for involvement in the commission’s work"
Firstly, the sentence suggests "standing" is needed to participate - then it states "various opportunities that will be available for involvement" - yet there is no explanation of these opportunities on the website other than to sit and watch the proceedings.
Secondly, if one is even approved "standing" then one needs a lawyer. This seems accessible...and "facilitating public input"...
Thirdly, who in British Columbia does not have a "substantial and direct interest" in healthy sockeye runs in the Fraser River?
Fourthly, why isn't there more of an explanation on the Commission website explaining what "standing" means, how a judicial inquiry operates, and how average BC folks may participate?
It's not an easy job by any means - however if this is going to be another $20 million Commission/inquiry/investigation/audit etc. into salmon. Let's hope things are clear from the beginning - and this means equal opportunities for all sides to make their points.
there already seems to be some jumping around on dates - first it was March 3 deadline for "standing" applications. Now it's March 10th.
Salmon is a huge hotspot in BC politics and discussion. So hopefully this time round something good comes of another several million dollars investigating the issues.
related post at: www.salmonguy.org
crankypants
1 year ago
Illahie
What is a "fish farm nutbar", a new confectionary item? Maybe adding some sugar to the pseudo-fish they grow will actually make it palatable. Unfortunately, the nutritional value will still leave a lot to be desired.
svenseggs.blogspot
1 year ago
where is the FraserriverKeeper?
If anyone should get standing I would hope the FRK is on the list. Having spent years on the river, prosecuting Governments for sewage and toxic discharges, one would hope this valuable source of information is utilized.
Fraser RiverKeeper -Salmon Forever!
Fiat lux
1 year ago
From: Alexandra Morton To:
From: Alexandra Morton
To: "fishermenlist@lists.onenw.org"
Subject: [fishermenlist] Update
Hello
For the past month people have been telling me that Grieg Seafood is emptying salmon farms, due to a lice epidemic that cannot be controlled with drugs. The public is increasingly coming to me, not government with their concerns.
In this case, the federal government seems immobilized and the provincial government seems unconcerned, assuring me there is “no evidence of drug resistance”, even though their own graphs indicate otherwise.
An remarkable group of local people decided to ground-truth the reports and we have been to Nootka and followed these farm fish as they are taken for processing. They dove down 90’ to the plant outfall pipe, took a sample and sent it to me. The province insists these lice are not drug-resistant, are not surviving in the trucks carrying them across Vancouver Island and are not able to escape into Discovery Pass. We found otherwise and this is a threat to the Fraser sockeye.
If these lice are indeed drug-resistant it is too late to stop their spreading, but we will continue to track them.
The film of our investigation to date is on my blog http://alexandramorton.typepad.com/
Like every fish farm problem that arises in BC, drug-resistant sea lice are already a serious problem in Norway. Just last week the ex-Attorney General of Norway issued a warning to Canada about this, and strongly suggests we get Norwegian salmon farms off our wild salmon migration routes before it is too late. See my blog for this.
I will be speaking at the Ladner Community Center on Tuesday Feb 23 at 7 pm
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