Trial of an Iconic Species

The mighty Fraser River sockeye populations are in trouble. In the early 1990s, millions of fish started to disappear, and fisheries scientists and managers were stumped as to why. Was it because of climate change? Poaching on the high seas? A fluke of nature? In a desperate effort to solve the mystery - or at least appease the public - the Canadian Government commissioned an inquiry, which later became known as the Cohen Commission or Cohen Inquiry, and put the decline of the Fraser River sockeye on trial. Dozens of lawyers representing multiple stakeholders appeared at the Inquiry to present their theories, their views, and the results of numerous scientific studies.

The Inquiry was recorded on camera by an independent filmmaker - perhaps a first in the history of Canadian federal inquiries. That filmmaker was often the only outside witness during the Inquiry's most riveting and revealing testimony. This book peels back the testimony of scientists and bureaucrats who revealed previously undisclosed information, much of it shocking - and all of it enlightening.

The Inquiry was criticized for not finding the smoking gun. But the terms of reference set by the Government insisted that no blame should fall on anyone. This requirement itself suggests that politics may play a larger role than anything else in the demise of the iconic Fraser River sockeye.