To Editor,
Re: Farms decimate wild salmon, Letters, Nov. 6.
It’s a shame that some have chosen to misrepresent the recommendations of the Cohen Report – a $26 million study looking at the recent decline of Fraser River sockeye.
Jim Erkiletian is wrong to suggest the study states that “salmon farms decimate wild salmon populations.”
Judge Bruce Cohen actually states he found no evidence that salmon farms have a negative impact on Fraser River sockeye, but suggests that research continue to prove minimal risk. B.C. salmon farmers support this recommendation.
The three-year study does clearly state that there is ‘no smoking gun’ and that a myriad of issues including rising water temperatures, habitat loss, implementation of the wild salmon policy and salmon enhancement require attention.
Salmon aquaculture takes fishing pressure off wild salmon – an important part of salmon conservation. It’s therefore important that people, such as Erkiletian, don’t misrepresent the findings of a study that can help us focus on what is important to the long term sustainability of wild salmon.
Ian Roberts
Marine Harvest
Campbell River