National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Fish farm opponents on the West Coast are jubilant after Ottawa’s announcement Thursday that operations in the Discovery Islands are being phased out over the next 18 months.
Continue reading Celebrating Discovery Islands fish farms decisionThe licenses for 19 salmon farms in the Discovery lslands expired today. Bernadette Jordan, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) is reissuing licenses for 18 months, during which time “no new fish of any size may be introduced into Discovery Islands.” “Fish at the sites can complete their growth-cycle and be harvested,” but “all farms be free of fish by June 30th, 2022.”
The Minister added, “The federal government will continue working collaboratively with partners on the responsible transition from open-net pen salmon farming in coastal British Columbia waters by 2025.”
Continue reading Closing down the Discovery Islands Salmon FarmsNational Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Opponents of open-net salmon farms are disputing this week’s finding by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) that farms in Discovery Island waters pose little risk to wild salmon.
Continue reading Disputing DFO’s finding that Salmon farms pose little riskThere has been a lot of talk about sea lice infestation of fish farms lately. According to a recent article from the North Island Gazette, there were more than the ‘acceptable’ number of parasites on fourteen sites this Spring. The President of Cermaq Canada just sent an industry perspective of this issue to the Strathcona Regional District Board. I decided to take a closer look at the sea lice on 15 salmon farms.
Continue reading A closer look at Sea Lice on 15 Salmon FarmsNorth Island Gazette, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Data from fish farms around Vancouver Island show sea lice numbers exceeding Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s requirements of three per salmon at the start of this year’s juvenile salmon migration.
Continue reading Sea Lice Exceeds Threshold On 14 Salmon Farms
