VICTORIA, B.C. – Adam Olsen, B.C. Green Party spokesperson for agriculture, welcomes the B.C. government’s creation of a Wild Salmon Advisory Council and Wild Salmon Secretariat.
Olsen publicly released his Standing up for Wild Salmon report on May 16th after months of consultation and legislative work. The report outlined the challenges facing B.C.’s wild salmon populations and highlighted a proposed path forward, calling for the creation of a Wild Salmon Commissioner and a Wild SalmonSecretariat.
“Managing by council is not ideal. I believe bold leadership is needed, and I hope we’ll get there yet. That said, I am thrilled to see progress on the wild salmon file,” said Olsen. “The Wild Salmon Advisory Council needs to act decisively to give government clear advice. We cannot continue to manage salmon runs to zero. The most important thing this government can do to restore wild salmon is to urgently move from consultation to action on fish farms and habitat restoration. I look forward to my role on this council.”
The threats to fish stocks are many - habitat and ecosystem degradation, poor management, fish farms, climate change - and the majority of B.C.’s salmon runs are in decline. DFO’s 2018 salmon outlook for BC states that of 91 different groupings of salmon, only 28 are expected to be at or above the amount necessary for a healthy population.
“We are facing a crisis. I will continue to speak broadly for wild salmon in the legislature and ensure the protection and restoration of wild stocks stay at the top of government’s agenda,” said Olsen.
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