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Press
Cohen Inquiry recommendations lay groundwork for salmon recovery
Report condemns gov't policy inaction, highlights risks from salmon farms
October 31, 2012 VANCOUVER BC – The recommendations of the Cohen Inquiry into the Decline of Fraser River Sockeye released today make clear that though there was no ‘smoking gun’, there are multiple threats that need to be addressed to ensure the long-term health of the Fraser River sockeye. In 75 broad ranging and specific recommendations, Commissioner Cohen gave the…
Read more »DFO approves new open net-pen salmon farm in Clayoquot Sound despite ongoing concerns about disease and pathogens
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | October 12, 2012 Vancouver, B.C.— The Coastal Alliance for Aquaculture Reform (CAAR) is appalled to learn that on October 10, DFO quietly issued a new aquaculture licence to Mainstream Canada for another open net-pen salmon farm in Clayoquot Sound. The new site is located in Fortune Channel near Plover Point on Meares Island. “DFO calls this new…
Read more »New Canadian ‘Organic’ Aquaculture Standard Fails to Meet True Organic Principles
May 9, 2012 VANCOUVER, BC – East and West Coast conservation organisations today expressed united concern over the undermining of the Canadian ‘organic’ label by a new organic standard that would allow net-pen aquaculture products to be certified. By including open-net pen finfish in to the organic aquaculture standard, the standard fails miserably at one of its claimed principles, to…
Read more »Salmon certification standards too weak to protect wild salmon
June 14, 2012 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE The salmon farm performance standards that form the basis of the WWF initiated Aquaculture Stewardship Council certification process announced yesterday do not adequately protect wild salmon and the environment, according to the Coastal Alliance for Aquaculture Reform (CAAR). After seven years of hard work by numerous stakeholders CAAR has concluded that closed containment salmon…
Read more »CAAR opposes planned open net cage salmon production increases
April 17, 2012 VANCOUVER – The Coastal Alliance for Aquaculture Reform (CAAR) is vehemently opposing plans by Marine Harvest to increase production on salmon farms directly in the path of out-migrating juvenile salmon. In an April 17, 2012 letter to DFO’s Regional Director General, CAAR demanded that any amendments to aquaculture licenses to increase production levels of farmed salmon in…
Read more »Naval Gazing: Military must address activities in killer whale critical habitat
March 21, 2012 VANCOUVER – Eight conservation organizations working to protect marine wildlife on Canada’s Pacific coast are urging the Canadian Navy to exclude military training exercises from the critical habitat of southern resident killer whales. This population of killer whales is listed as endangered under Canada’s Species at Risk Act (SARA) and the legal obligation to protect their critical…
Read more »Georgia Strait Alliance says salmon farmers agreement no reprieve for wild salmon
March 9, 2012 Nanaimo, BC – The recent announcement by BC Salmon Farmers Association of an agreement between the three largest salmon farming companies to coordinate production of their operations through the northern portion of the Wild Salmon Narrows falls far short of solving the problems created by open net cage farming. Georgia Strait Alliance has been calling for the…
Read more »Fish Pathogen and Pest Treatment Regulations – Discussion Document
The proposed regulatory framework for Fish Pathogen and Pest Treatment states its intent is to ensure that all drugs and pest control products satisfy an environmental risk assessment prior to deposit in water frequented by fish. While the discussion paper covers broad objectives and the streamlining of related regulations, it fails to address the requirements of toxicity testing necessitated by…
Read more »Final Salmon Aquaculture Dialogue standards won’t solve threat to wild salmon
CAAR sees advances but urges closed containment February 7, 2012VANCOUVER—Although the final draft Salmon Aquaculture Dialogue (SAD) standard pushes improved performance in the net cage industry, it does not adequately protect wild salmon and the environment, according to the Coastal Alliance for Aquaculture Reform (CAAR). After seven years of hard work by numerous stakeholders, including the international salmon aquaculture industry,…
Read more »Appeal court decision affirms protection for killer whales
Environmental groups celebrate victory after federal government ordered to pay costs of failed appeal Feb. 9, 2012 VANCOUVER – The federal Court of Appeal has upheld a precedent-setting ruling that confirmed the federal government is legally bound to protect killer whale habitat, according to a judgment released today. In its judgment, the Court of Appeal unanimously dismissed nearly all aspects…
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