(Part 1 of 2, click here for Part 2)
Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) is in the midst of consultations about the immediate future of fish farms in the Discovery Islands and transitioning the open net pen industry out of coastal British Columbian waters by 2025. But DFO approved the expansion of Cermaq Canada’s farms at Bawden Point, Millar Channel and Dixon Bay in Clayoquot Sound.
Continue reading DFO approves three fish farm expansions in Clayoquot SoundNational Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The federal fisheries minister has denied an international aquaculture company the right to stock contentious fish farms in the Discovery Islands for a second time.
The Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) has rejected two recent applications by Cermaq Canada to transfer 1.5 million fish to the company’s Venture Point and Brent Island sites following a decision by Ottawa last year to phase out salmon farms in the region by July 2022.
Minister Bernadette Jordan also denied Cermaq’s request to extend its current licences to operate the sites to February 2023 — beyond the deadline set by DFO last December.
Continue reading Ottawa says “no” to restocking fish farmsTwo well known Quadra Island environmentalists are speaking out in favour of the DFO’s decision to phase out salmon farms in the Discovery Islands.
After reading the text of the BC Salmon Farmers Association’s presentation to the March 10th Strathcona Regional District (SRD) Board Meeting, well known local author and Sierra Quadra Director Ray Grigg said, “They are offering nothing except for another delay, that’s all they want.”
Continue reading Two local environmentalists speak out in favour of DFO’s decisionIn what at least one First Nation leader describes as a challenge to Aboriginal rights, Mowi Canada West and Cermaq Canada are seeking a judicial review to overturn the DFO’s decision to phase out fish farms in the Discovery Islands.
Continue reading Seeking Judicial review for aquaculture on unceded territoryTwo months have passed since Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s (DFO) announced that “nine peer-reviewed, scientific risk assessments” find that salmon farms pose a ‘minimal risk’ to salmon migrating through the Discovery Islands. This finding is important because the Canadian Government has until December 18th to decide whether to renew the licenses of the 18 salmon farms operating in that region.
Continue reading The Canadian Government has until December 18th to decide: 18 salmon farms
