The future of fish farms in British Columbia is uncertain. On June 7, Judge Paul Favel supported the Ministry of Fisheries decision to not renew the licenses of 15 fish farms in the Discovery Islands, and denied a joint application by industry and the Laich-kwil-tach Nation for a judicial review. At the end of this month the licenses of the remaining 66 fish farms still operating in this province will expire.
Continue reading The Uncertain future of Salmon Farms in British Columbia
Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
An international aquaculture giant is suing two former Canadian fisheries ministers for alleged damages from a federal decision to close fish farms in B.C.’s Discovery Islands region.
Mowi Canada West, a subsidiary of the Norwegian seafood company, filed a civil suit in the Supreme Court of British Columbia in March against the Canadian government that personally names former fisheries ministers Bernadette Jordan and Joyce Murray.
Continue reading Fish farm giant Mowi suing fisheries ministers, taxpayers for Discovery Islands closures
Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Open net-pen fish farming on the Pacific coast took a one-two punch after operations closures were announced in both B.C. and Washington state this week.
The shíshálh Nation said Wednesday that aquaculture giant Grieg Seafood is removing salmon farms from the nation’s waters along B.C.’s Sunshine Coast by February 2023. Meanwhile, on Monday, Washington state’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR) said it’s not renewing Atlantic Canada’s Cooke Seafood’s last two open-net pen leases in Puget Sound and farm operations will end by Dec. 14.
Continue reading ‘Writing on the wall’ for West Coast fish farms, conservationists say
(Part 2 of 2, click here for Part 1)
The fish farm industry does not want to leave British Columbia’s coastal waters in 2025.
In a recent press release Andreas Kvame, CEO of Grieg Seafood, said, “Our industry is in continuous development with new technologies and innovations, and in Grieg Seafood we are committed to improvements that strengthen biological control and reduce interactions with wild salmon.”
David Kemiele, Managing Director of Cermaq emailed Cortes Currents, “Our new protocol extends to the end of 2025 and we are using that time to refine what our operations will look like moving forward beyond 2025 and definitely innovation plays a critical role in that plan.”
Continue reading What role will semi closed containment system fish farms have after 2025?
The Strathcona Regional District Board (SRD) expressed its frustrations with the Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) consultation process at the Aug 17 SRD Board meeting.
Although they were among the parties invited to a series of meetings about the transition of open net pen fish farms out of the ocean, there have been last minute scheduling changes.
Continue reading Fish Farms: SRD frustrations with DFO consultation process
