I do appreciate SSHI's work to date as well as the publication of the results of that researsch. I also thank Justice Bruce Cohen for his recommendations that I believe led to the research. There is still much work to do before Sept. 30, 2020.
http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/cohen/report-rapport-eng.htm#r1
Recommendation 18 - If at any time between now and September 30, 2020, the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans determines that net-pen salmon farms in the Discovery Islands (fish health sub-zone 3-2) pose more than a minimal risk of serious harm to the health of migrating Fraser River sockeye salmon, he or she should promptly order that those salmon farms cease operations.
This recommendation has been implemented. Scientific research is being conducted and a disease risk assessment process is underway and will be completed by 2020. If scientific research indicates that net-pen salmon farms in the Discovery Islands pose more than a minimal risk of serious harm to the health of migrating Fraser River sockeye salmon, salmon farms in the Discovery Islands will be required to cease operations.
The results of the risk assessment may indicate that further research is required to support Ministerial decisions. Additional funding may be required depending on what further research is needed.
Recommendation 19 - On September 30, 2020, the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans should prohibit net-pen salmon farming in the Discovery Islands (fish health sub-zone 3-2) unless he or she is satisfied that such farms pose at most a minimal risk of serious harm to the health of migrating Fraser River sockeye salmon. The Minister’s decision should summarize the information relied on and include detailed reasons. The decision should be published on the Department of Fisheries and Oceans’ website.
This recommendation has not been implemented as the timeline on this recommendation is September 2020; however, scientific research is being conducted to address the question raised. See also response to Recommendation 18.
Recommendation 20 – To inform the decision under Recommendation 19, the Minister and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans should take the following steps:
- conduct the research and analyses recommended in Recommendation 68 and publish the results of this research;
- assess any relationships between salmon farming variables compiled in the fish health database and Fraser River sockeye health or productivity.
This recommendation has been implemented and new science funding has been provided to augment work in this area. DFO has ongoing research programs that are examining interactions of wild salmon (primarily sockeye, coho and chinook) with salmon farms in the Discovery Island Area. Migration routes, residency time, and the condition and health of juvenile salmon are being assessed. This work is being done in collaboration with external groups such as the Pacific Salmon Foundation and British Columbia Salmon Farmers Association. DFO will continue to develop a more formal assessment of disease risks, particularly novel and endemic diseases working with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and domestic and international experts.
Results from this work have been presented at public and scientific meetings, and data reports from the first two years have been published. Formal peer-reviewed publications are planned. Samples from research programs have also been provided to the Strategic Salmon Health Initiative.
Results from these programs will continue to inform management of industry, as well as provide critical information to support Fisheries and Oceans Canada formal fish disease risk assessment.
Recommendation 68 – The Department of Fisheries and Oceans should undertake or commission research into the health of Fraser River sockeye salmon, including the following issues:
- determining, in conjunction with the research proposed in Recommendations 64 and 65, what pathogens are encountered by Fraser River sockeye salmon along their entire migratory route, and the cumulative effects of these pathogens on Fraser River sockeye salmon;
- the hypothesis that diseases are transmitted from farmed salmon to wild sockeye;
- the hypothesis that diseases are transmitted from salmonid enhancement facility salmon to wild sockeye; and
- the thresholds of sea lice infection and resilience in sockeye and the patterns of sea lice distribution and infection on juvenile sockeye.
While some work has been done that aligns with this recommendation and additional science funding has been provided to further work in this area, it is viewed as not implemented because additional resources would be required to continue and expand this work to fully address the recommendation.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada is engaged in a number of initiatives that are assisting to determine what pathogens are encountered by Fraser River sockeye salmon along their entire migratory route, and the cumulative effects of these pathogens on Fraser River sockeye salmon.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada is funding or co-funding several projects that are examining the health status of Fraser River sockeye salmon. DFO provides co-funding and other support for the Strategic Salmon Health Initiative which is examining sockeye salmon collected along their migratory route for the presence of 45 microbes. The Program for Aquaculture Regulatory Research (PARR) and Aquaculture Collaborative Research Development Program are supporting sockeye health assessments as part of ongoing studies into juvenile sockeye migratory behavior and interactions with salmon farms. DFO provided funding under the Genomic Research and Development Initiative (GRDI) and PARR programs to support research that has examined the impact of co-infections on the ability of sockeye salmon to respond to subsequent infection with pathogens. The Strategic Salmon Health Initiative plans to combine microbe data with microarray studies from the Genome BC funded FishManOmics project, and biomarkers identified in the GRDI-funded Genomic Research and Development Initiative Fit Chips project to determine the linkages between microbe detection and genes associated with specific stressors. The effects of pathogens on predation rates of sockeye salmon by Auklets is also being examined by the Strategic Salmon Health Initiative.
As well, a DFO Science Task Team is specifically evaluating the risk to Fraser River sockeye from pathogens transferred from Atlantic salmon fish farms. Ongoing research is being conducted in wild/farmed fish health interactions, particularly in the BC context.
The clock is ticking.