“The jury is still out on that,” Shea responded after Squamish Streamkeeper co-ordinator Jack Cooley pointed to a study that reports 50 per cent of the millions of sockeye salmon that failed to return this year were likely killed by sea lice from fish farms.

“I don’t think we can say unequivocally that sea lice kills salmon. We can say, sure, it’s a factor, but it’s safe to say we have to do more research.”

Shea’s visit came shortly after Prime Minister Stephen Harper called for an 18-month judicial inquiry into the collapse of Fraser River sockeye.

Travelling with West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky MP John Weston, Shea toured the Tenderfoot Hatchery and North Vancouver Outdoor School before spending about 40 minutes with more than a dozen concerned people from around the Lower Mainland.

Those present expressed appreciation for Shea’s visit, which was arranged by Whistlerite Dave Brown, Squamish Lillooet Sportfish Advisory Committee vice-chair.