More than three years after the worst returns in British Columbia in decades, review that took more than two years to complete has determined the future of Fraser River sockeye salmon is 'uncertain.'
Commissioner Bruce Cohen was hired in November of 2009, to investigate stock declines and suggest changes to ensure the fishery survives.
While he failed to indentify a 'smoking gun' or single cause for two decades worth of losses, Cohen has made 75 recommendations.
Several indicate more research is needed, but he's already determined climate change, salmon farming and the federal government's complacency are cause for concern.
He also identifies a conflict of interest, saying the Department of Fisheries and Oceans should not be promoting salmon farms, considering it is also responsible for policing them.
A key recommendation is to freeze net-pen production in the Discovery Islands until September 30th, 2020.
While he's careful not to blame front-line staff, cohen is critical of the Conservative government for prematurely implementing changes to the fisheries act in June, which could harm this already fragile eco-system.
Depending on who you ask, Cohen is a visionary, or a failure.
Former Conservative MP, now BC Conservative Party leader John Cummins says he was part of the government when this report was commissioned and Cohen has not fulfilled the mandate set out for him.
"Instead of being remembered as a man who set the direction for the department for the next 50 years is going to be remembered, if he is remembered at all, as a complete failure."
But Gwen Barlee with the Wilderness Committee says cohen is finally shedding light on the federal government's failure to protect the environment.
"They radically weakened the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, so now you have 492 environmental assessments in BC that the federal government was screening six months ago and those are gone. Poof!"
Meanwhile, Stewart Hawthorn of the BC Salmon Farmers Association is downplaying concerns raised by cohen about the impact of that industry on wild salmon.
"What Justice Cohen actually said was that he's very impressed by the quality and the quantity of information around the health of our stock and he's also said that he thinks more research needs to be done and we're very supportive of that."
Hawthorn claims the freeze recommended by Cohen simply points out the need for farmers to be responsible.
