The Coastal Alliance for Aquaculture Reform issued the media release Draft global salmon farming standards out for comment announcing a 60-day public comment period for the first draft of global standards intended to measure and identify environmentally and socially responsible salmon farming.  See the media release for more information on how you can get involved and provide comment on the draft standards.

Watershed Watch Salmon Society, SkeenaWild Conservation Trust and the David Suzuki Foundation have voiced their concern over the recent certification of Fraser River sockeye by the Marine Stewardship Council.  See the following media releases and associated backgrounders for more information:

• Conservation groups warn consumers to avoid eco-certified Fraser River sockeye salmon, Watershed Watch and SkeenaWild, July 30, 2010
• Contentious BC salmon fishery set to receive eco-certification, Watershed Watch, David Suzuki Foundation and SkeenaWild, July 13, 2010
• Canadian Salmon Fisheries Granted Eco-Certification: Conservation Groups Wary, Watershed Watch and SkeenaWild, July 6, 2010

The Home Depot Canada Foundation and Evergreen are pleased to offer the Rebuilding Nature Grant Program to support environmental stewardship projects in communities across Canada.

The Rebuilding Nature Grant Program will provide community groups with grants of $1,000, $3,000 or $12,000 – plus $2,000 in The Home Depot gift cards – to cover the costs of tools and equipment, native plants and trees, and other expenses.

The Rebuilding Nature Grant Program is available to Canadian community groups whose project site is located in a community where The Home Depot has a retail presence.

Applications must be received in our office by May 21, 2010. Please see the Application Guide for more details.

Download the Application and Guide

Watershed Watch Salmon Society and the Centre for Coastal Studies at Simon Fraser University are pleased to announce that the conveners' report from the Speaking for the Salmon workshop Reconciling the conservation of wild salmon and the production of enhanced salmon under Canada's Wild Pacific Salmon Policy is now available.

The following email was received from John Slater, MLA Boundary-Similkameen Parliamentary Secretary for Water Supply and Allocation:

The Water Act Modernization Discussion Paper is now available for your review and comment.

The Discussion Paper outlines opportunities for using, sustaining and managing water resources in a changing environment and has been developed to encourage discussion on ways to modernize the Water Act.  The Discussion Paper proposes principles to underpin a modernized Water Act and presents goals, supporting objectives and possible solutions.

The paper does not present any preferred option or position. It is designed to help you prepare a response or submission and includes links and references to other information sources.

The way we manage water is everyone’s business and we invite you to share your views on the ideas and possible solutions presented in the Discussion Paper.  Submissions may be completed online, emailed to livingwatersmart@gov.bc.ca or sent to:

Water Act Modernization
Water Stewardship Division
Ministry of Environment
PO Box 9362 Stn Prov Govt
Victoria, BC, V8W 9M2

The closing date for submissions is April 30, 2010.

Over the coming months we encourage you to review our website, join the discussion about possible solutions on our blog or participate in one of our regional multi-stakeholder workshops or First Nations sessions.