Thu, 09 Sep 2010 01:50:40 GMT <![CDATA[Marine Conservation Caucus Blog]]> Thu, 09 Sep 2010 01:50:40 GMT When: Thursday, August 19 at 1:00 p.m. PDT

What: A webinar hosted by the Coastal Alliance for Aquaculture Reform.  CAAR has analyzed the draft regulations and is preparing formal comment. CAAR members Catherine Stewart and David Lane, along with lawyer Karen Wristen, will walk through the draft, highlighting CAAR’s concerns and recommendations. To be followed by a Q and A and discussion period where we can learn from each other and share insights, analysis and ideas.

To register for this webinar, please reply to david@salmonsupporters.org and login details will be sent to you.

]]> <![CDATA[CAAR Webinar on DFO's Draft Pacific Regulations for Salmon Farming, August 19, 2010]]> Wed, 18 Aug 2010 10:10:54 GMT 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.

]]> <![CDATA[CAAR media release "Draft global salmon farming standards out for comment"]]> Wed, 04 Aug 2010 11:58:47 GMT The Cohen Commission of Inquiry into the Decline of Sockeye Salmon in the Fraser River is planning a series of public forums in communities along the Fraser River and the sockeye’s migratory route, where members of the public can make brief presentations to the Commissioner. The commission will begin evidentiary hearings on October 25, 2010, and has requested and been granted an extension from the Governor General in Council to submit its interim report, now due by October 29, 2010.

Public Forums

The commission will hold a series of public forums to provide an opportunity for community members to share information with the commission they believe to be relevant to the mandate of the commission. Members of the public wishing to present at a public forum must apply through the commission’s website at www.cohencommission.ca.

Forums are scheduled for:

  • Lillooet (August 18)
  • Campbell River (August 25)
  • Steveston/Richmond (September 13)
  • Victoria (September 16)
  • New Westminster (September 20)
  • Prince George (September 23)
  • Chilliwack (September 29)
  • Kamloops (October 21)

Evidentiary Hearings

Evidentiary hearings will begin Monday, October 25 through mid- December. Hearings may continue in the new year if required. These hearings are open to the public and will be held at the Federal Court at 701 West Georgia Street, 8th floor.

For more information see the Cohen Commission's website www.cohencommission.ca.

 

]]> <![CDATA[Update on Cohen Commission timelines]]> Wed, 04 Aug 2010 11:58:47 GMT 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:

]]> <![CDATA[Fraser River Sockeye Certified by MSC]]> Fri, 30 Jul 2010 04:43:20 GMT Now that the Federal Government has announced a sixty-day public input period for Pacific Aquaculture Regulations, Alexandra Morton is calling on the public to make their voices heard and ensure that regulations are sufficient to protect wild salmon and the habitat they arrive on.

For more information, to send a letter or add your name to a petition see Alexandra Morton's Blog.

The deadline for comments on the aquaculture regulations is September 12, 2010.

]]> <![CDATA[Sixty-day Public Input Period for Federal Pacific Aquaculture Regulations]]> Wed, 28 Jul 2010 04:32:42 GMT The Stewardship Centre for BC is developing a database of stewardship groups and organizations that are working on marine coastal transboundary issues in the Georgia Basin. Using this list, they hope to distribute some funding that is earmarked for transboundary marine issues. 

For more information and the full questionnaire see the SCBC letter or contact Kate Hagmeier at scbcprojects@gmail.com.  Questionnaires are due by the end of June 2010.

 

 

]]> <![CDATA[Stewardship Centre for BC Stewardship Group and Project Database Development]]> Tue, 15 Jun 2010 02:37:23 GMT Following a 30-day period of comment on the Draft Report for the Canada sablefish fishery, the Certification Body, Moody Marine Ltd., has determined that the Canada sablefish fishery should be certified in accordance with the MSC Standard. PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS A DETERMINATION, NOT A FINAL CERTIFICATION RESULT.

The determination announcement, together with the final assessment report is available at:

  • To download the full announcement, please follow this link.
  • To download the full report, please follow this link.

There is now a 15 working day period during which a party may lodge a statement of intent to object to the determinations reached. For further information on the objections process, including the grounds upon which an objection can be made, please email objections@msc.org.

Any intent to file an objection should first be addressed to the email address objections@msc.org, and cc'd to Rupert Howes at rupert.howes@msc.org, by 5pm GMT, 2 July 2010.

Paul Knapman
Email: p.knapman@moodyint.com

]]> <![CDATA[Comment period on determination announcement for Canada sablefish fishery]]> Thu, 10 Jun 2010 12:46:55 GMT The Proposed Management Plan for the Eastern Pacific Grey Whale has been posted on the Species at Risk Public Registry for its 60-day comment period.

Please note that the comment period ends on June 14, 2010.  The proposed management plan and the online comment form can be found here: http://www.sararegistry.gc.ca/document/default_e.cfm?documentID=1948

For more information, contact:

Michelle Li
A/Species at Risk Development Officer
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
200-401 Burrard Street
Vancouver, BC V6C 3S4
T: (604) 666-2792 / F: (604) 666-3341
Michelle.Li@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

]]> <![CDATA[Proposed Grey Whale Management Plan posted on SARA Public Registry]]> Fri, 16 Apr 2010 12:53:23 GMT There is a public engagement process now underway for the modernizing of the BC Water Act. If you would have comments to make the closing date for submissions is April 30, 2010.

There are several methods in which submissions can be made:

  1. Via email at livingwatersmart@gov.bc.ca
  2. On the Living Water Smart website online form submissions which takes you step-by-step through the Water Act Modernization Discussion Paper
  3. Moderated Blog: all comments on the Living Water Smart Blog are being treated as submissions
  4. By telephone at (250) 387-9481 (call Enquiries BC @ 800-663-7867 and ask to be put through to this number)
  5. By mail: Water Act Modernization, Innovation and Planning Team, Ministry of Environment, PO Box 9362 STN Prov Govt, Victoria, BC V8W 9M2

There is more information on the website: www.livingwatersmart.ca.

]]> <![CDATA[Reminder: April 30th Deadline for Submissions on Modernizing BC Water Act]]> Mon, 12 Apr 2010 12:41:49 GMT 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

]]> <![CDATA[Rebuilding Nature Grant Program 2010]]> Sun, 11 Apr 2010 12:51:25 GMT