Minister Wilkinson launches International Year of the Salmon with announcements to protect Pacific wild salmon
The International Year of the Salmon aims to raise awareness, and inspire action to protect salmon populations around the world.
VANCOUVER, Oct. 11, 2018 /CNW/ - Wild salmon are an iconic species that hold significant cultural value to Canadians. The International Year of the Salmon aims to raise awareness, and inspire action to protect salmon populations around the world.
Today, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans, and the Canadian Coast Guard launched Canada's celebration of the International Year of the Salmon in Vancouver, where he delivered an address to an audience of national and international partners, First Nations and non-government organizations.
As part of the launch of the International Year of the Salmon, Minister Wilkinson introduced the Government of Canada's Wild Salmon Policy 2018-2022 Implementation Plan. This five-year plan outlines concrete actions the Department of Fisheries and Oceans will take to help rebuild Pacific wild salmon populations and their habitats. The Minister also announced that Fisheries and Oceans Canada has acted on all of the recommendations of the Cohen Commission of Inquiry into the Decline of Sockeye Salmon in the Fraser River. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans released its third and final Cohen Status, which details actions taken to address each recommendation.
Throughout 2019 and beyond, our government will continue to take action to support salmon conservation on the Pacific coast.
Quote
"Our government will continue to protect this species, which has such cultural, social and economic significance for Canadians. Today, as we launch the International Year of the Salmon, I invite all Canadians to work together to help us protect the health and biological diversity of salmon populations in Canada, beginning here in B.C. The actions taken to address all the recommendations of the Cohen Commission are a significant step toward protecting Fraser River sockeye salmon. We, along with the Province of British Columbia and our partners, will build on this work to conserve all Pacific salmon species through the Wild Salmon Policy 2018-2022 Implementation Plan. Together, we can help rebuild these stocks for the benefit of our entire ecosystem, and for generations to come."
The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard
Quick Facts
- The Wild Salmon Policy 2018-2022 Implementation Plan is a result of extensive input gathered over two years through 45 consultations sessions across British Columbia and the Yukon, hundreds of online submissions and further work with external partners.
- The Government of Canada has acted on all 75 recommendations of the Cohen Commission.
- The five species of Pacific salmon are Chinook, Chum, Coho, Pink, and Sockeye.
- The International Year of the Salmon is an outreach and research initiative organized by the North Pacific Anadromous Fish Commission and the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization.
Associated Links
Stay Connected
- Follow the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.
- Follow the Canadian Coast Guard on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.
- Subscribe to receive our news releases and more via RSS feeds. For more information or to subscribe, visit http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/media/rss-eng.htm
SOURCE Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) Canada
