The Cohen Commission on the Decline of Fraser River Sockeye Salmon has announced that evidentiary hearings will be reopened on December 15 and 16, 2011 to address recent laboratory test results showing the possible presence of the Infectious Salmon Anemia (ISA) virus in samples of Pacific salmon from two distinct areas of British Columbia’s waters. Current tests have indicated that the European strain of this virus has been found in the Pacific salmon that tested positive for the virus, and it has been alleged that the virus may pose a threat to herring as well as salmon stocks. In order to give time for further test results, the Commission will now convene a two-day hearing in mid-December to deal with this recent evidence of ISA virus in BC salmon to ensure that this issue can be canvassed prior to the Commission’s completion. The Cohen Commission’s full media release can be found here.
Lisa C. Fong, Benjamin Ralston, and Ming Song represent Heiltsuk Tribal Council (“HTC”) in the Cohen Commission. HTC’s oral and written closing submissions are available at the Commission website here.