By Rebecca Dyok, Williams Lake Tribune, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Six B.C. First Nations are calling for an immediate meeting with Canada’s Minister of Fisheries and Oceans as chinook stocks in the Fraser River near the brink of collapse.
Continue reading Tsilhqot’in Nation demands meeting on declining Fraser River chinook stocksCanada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
A First Nations leadership alliance is calling for the immediate end to salmon farming using open-net pens in B.C. waters, citing the threat of sea lice to wild fish stocks.
Continue reading Stop Using Open-Net Pens For Salmon FarmingCanada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Editor’s note: According to the BC Shellfish Growers Association: “the most prolific areas for shellfish farming have been Baynes Sound, Cortes Island and Okeover Inlet.” The Shellfish industry is one of Cortes Island’s largest employers. Twenty-two people were working at Island Seafarms when the COVID crises began and a skeleton crew is preparing for next year. There are also a number of independent contractors in the Bee Islet Growers Corporation, in Gorge Harbour, and other lease holders around the island.
A Vancouver Island researcher is developing an early warning system to prevent the contamination of farmed oysters along B.C.’s west coast, which can cost the industry millions.
Continue reading Early Warning System For farmed OystersNorth Island Gazette, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The results of a new wild salmon study are skin crawling: 94 per cent of wild salmon fry in the Discovery Islands — to the east of Campbell River — had sea lice attached. The infected fry hosted an average of seven of the parasitic lice.
Continue reading Sea Lice Outbreak Prompts First Nations Call For salmon Farm ClosuresNorth Island Gazette, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Kuterra Salmon, started by the ‘Namgis First Nation in 2013 to demonstrate that on-land fish farming was possible, has been leased to American investor Emergent Holdings for 15 years.
Continue reading Kuterra leased to US investment firm
