Media Advisory
August 16, 2011

From August 22nd to September 8th, evidence related to diseases and aquaculture will be presented to the Cohen Commission of Inquiry into the Decline of Sockeye Salmon in the Fraser River.

Watershed Watch Salmon Society’s Executive Director, Dr. Craig Orr, and Fisheries Biologist, Stan Proboszcz, will be present throughout these evidentiary hearings and are available to assist with understanding the large volume of evidence related to:

• Impacts of salmon farms on wild salmon
• The regulation of salmon farms
• Impacts of disease and sea lice

 

They are also able to provide immediate access to documents that have entered the public record as evidence.

See below for the schedule of the evidentiary hearings related to diseases and aquaculture.

To arrange an interview please contact Dr. Craig Orr at 604-809-2799 and/or Stan Proboszcz at 604-314-2713.

For a daily summary of the testimony presented and a bundling of news items related to that testimony, see the Cohen Aquaculture Daily at www.watershed-watch.org/cohen-aquaculture-daily/ (made available through the Watershed Watch Salmon Society and the SOS Marine Conservation Foundation).

B-Roll available.

Schedule of evidentiary hearings – Diseases and Aquaculture:

August 22 and 23 – Diseases

• Dr. Stewart Johnson – Head, Aquatic Animal Health, DFO
• Dr. Michael Kent – Professor, Microbiology & Biomedical Sciences, Oregon State University
• Dr. Christine MacWilliams – Fish Health Veterinarian – Salmonid Enhancement Program, DFO
• Dr. Craig Stephen – Director, Centre for Coastal Health & Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary

 

August 24 – Diseases

• Dr. Kyle Garver – Research Scientist, DFO
• Dr. Kristi Miller – Head, Molecular Genetics, DFO

 

August 25, 26 and 29 – Aquaculture

• Dr. Brendan Connors – School of Resource and Environmental Management, Simon Fraser University
• Dr. Larry Dill – Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University
• Dr. Josh Korman – Ecometric Research Inc.
• Dr. Don Noakes – Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Thompson Rivers University

 

August 30 – Aquaculture

• Dr. Ian Fleming – Professor, Ocean Sciences Centre, Memorial University of Newfoundland
• Gavin Last – formerly Assistant Director, Aquaculture Branch, Ministry of Agriculture and Lands
• Trevor Swerdfager – formerly Director General, Aquaculture Management Directorate, DFO (NHQ)
• Andrew Thomson – Director, Aquaculture Management Directorate, DFO (Pacific Region)

 

August 31 – Aquaculture

• Dr. Gary Marty – Fish Pathologist, Animal Health Centre, Ministry of Agriculture
• Dr. Peter McKenzie – Veterinarian and Fish Health Manager, Mainstream Canada
• Dr. Mark Sheppard – Lead Veterinarian, Aquaculture Environmental Operations, DFO
• Trevor Swerdfager – formerly Director General, Aquaculture Management Directorate, DFO (NHQ)

 

September 1 – Aquaculture

• Brian Atagi – Area Chief Aquaculture, Conservation & Protection, DFO
• Kerra Hoyseth – Senior Aquaculture Biologist, Aquaculture Environmental Operations, DFO
• Andrew Thomson – Director, Aquaculture Management Directorate, DFO (Pacific Region)

 

September 6 – Aquaculture

• Dr. Simon Jones – Research Scientist, DFO
• Dr. Craig Orr – Executive Director, Watershed Watch Salmon Society
• Mike Price – Biologist, Raincoast Conservation Foundation
• Dr. Sonja Saksida – Executive Director, Centre for Aquatic Health Sciences

 

September 7 and 8 – Aquaculture

• Clare Backman – Director of Environmental Compliance and Community Relations, Marine Harvest Canada
• Alexandra Morton – Executive Director, Raincoast Research Society
• Mia Parker – formerly Manager, Regulatory Affairs, Grieg Seafood BC Ltd.
• Catherine Stewart – Salmon Farming Campaign Manager, Living Oceans Society

 

Watershed Watch Salmon Society has been watching out for BC’s wild salmon since 1998. Our focus is to elevate the dialogue surrounding wild salmon and to improve our chances of saving them. Watershed Watch believes that real changes in attitude and behaviour are based on understanding, and that significant understanding requires a broad and deep appreciation of a wide range of habitat, harvest, and management issues. www.watershed-watch.org