Submitter: James Costello

Community: Ucluelet

Date Submitted: October 14, 2023

Summary:

The opposition to salmon farming is attempting to mislead the public and harm the reputation of the salmon farming community. It is essential to remember that fluctuations in run sizes and concerns over declining stocks were present before the advent of aquaculture and were a key factor in its development. The Cohen Commission should consider all the factors affecting wild salmon and resist calls to focus on salmon farming as the culprit in the decline of some wild salmon populations.

Submission:

As an avid fisherman, I feel the future of BC’s salmon stocks are of top priority.

As an aquaculture worker I also feel the same way.

It seems to me that the organised opposition to salmon farming has hijacked this forum in an attempt to mislead the public and harm the reputation of the salmon farming community.

When questioning the impacts on salmon stocks it is essential to remember that fluctuations in run sizes and concerns over declining stocks have been around long before the advent of aquaculture and in part played a key role in the development of the industry.

To focus on salmon farming as the key culprit in the decline of some of the coasts wild salmon populations is not only foolhardy, it is dangerous.

Promoting the consumption of wild stocks over sustainably farmed salmon is a surefire way to speed the decline of all wild fish.

I hope that the Cohen Commission will take into consideration all the factors affecting wild salmon and not bow to well funded, demarketing campaigns focused on the destruction of one of BC’s most environmentally, socially and economically successful and sustainable industries.

We should be proud of what aquaculture is doing for our communities and support it in it’s evolution, as it will play an incredibly important role in the future of food production for the world.