Fraser River salmon collapse, Justice Bruce Cohen inquiry
November 7, 2009 · By Charles Anthony
With a final report expected to be released in nearly two years, let me guess what this exercise in futility will yield:
1) a huge tax bill
2) useless recommendations
3) blaming climate change
4) hysterical demands to combat climate change
5) nebulous strategies to combat climate change which either make fanatical environmentalists happy or greedy parasitic money-grubbing opportunists happy or both
6) in passing, maybe a brief mention that over-fishing is the problem
The reason for the decline remains a mystery, although poor marine survival rates among juvenile salmon migrating into the ocean for the first time appear to be the principal culprit.
No! the decline is not a mystery. The decline is an inevitable result of the public management of resources and the lack of defined property rights. There simply is no incentive for anybody raping the land to preserve it for the future. What a shame.
A judicial inquiry! How silly.
Perhaps we should deregulate everything like they did with US banking laws? Oh, yes, a complete lack of public oversight will solve everything as usual.
And then, if that doesn’t work, we can bail out the private interests that screwed everything up. Yes, another great solution.
I agree that the fishery’s been mismanaged. Overfishing has definitely been a problem. Climate change also likely plays a role (changing ocean chemistry. Read up on it). Sea lice from fish farms are also suspected to play a role in the decline of the salmon.
The destructive fishing methods we use around the world have also contributed to the decline of fish stocks around the planet. This isn’t a new thing. Our factory mentality needs to change.
Private ownership doesn’t solve everything, and obviously public ownership doesn’t either. Anyone espousing one over the other is obviously naive.
There’s a whole nation built on the ideal of private over public ownership just to the south, Allan. It has the most potent economic engine in the world, built on free market capitalism, which is predicated on private ownership. As with the fisheries of Canada’s East and West coasts, things began to crumble only after the Feds got involved. [Long story.]
You are correct, however, that neither private nor public ownership can solve all problems. The problem is figuring out where to draw the line. History has repeatedly shown that the more powers/management are centralized, the less flexible, sustainable, healthy and profitable are the resources it controls. Federally managed resources are often exhausted before additional controls (== more government) are applied in futile attempts to restore what has been destroyed.
Charles’ sentiment to change federal jurisdiction over local/regional resources, such as the salmon fishery, is a step in the right direction. We need MORE decentralization. And defined property rights?! Man, that’s a huge nugget to unpack, but — YES, quicker please.
Charles,
The first sentence really stuck out for me:
Shucks, apparently I messed up the
I believe there is a simple answer to “where the salmon went?”
I witnessed the record level of of sport fishing in the mouth of the Columbia River this last summer/fall and have to believe that this is where they went. And after all…there is probably something in the water that indicates the Canadian origins (as per the Fraser) of this river as it enters the sea and attracts the salmon.
Salmon are intolerant to Fluoride,municipalities are adding it to drinking water its in the toothpaste and mouthwash.Stop fluoridating it affects all aquatic life .
As a Commercial fisherman for over 35 years, 2nd generation, I have seen many changes in the Salmon industry. There are many views on why the salmon are missing and they all have an impact. The Federal Government , whether Liberal or Conservative can change back and forth but it is the people in DFO WHICH RUN THE MANAGEMENT. They have the responsibility to #1 protect and manage this resource. THEY HAVE FAILED, LIED,AND COVERED UP FOR YEARS. This is a time to change that POLICY AND SAVE THIS RESOURCE. QUIT TURNING A BLIND EYE TO THE PROBLEMS AT HAND WHILE YOU STILL HAVE A CHANCE.
GARY SONNENBERG