Conservationists available to discuss federal salmon farm decision to be announced before June 30, 2022
Conservationists: B.C. wild salmon in limbo with looming federal announcement on salmon farm licence decision
VANCOUVER, B.C. — Watershed Watch Salmon Society, Clayoquot Action and independent biologist, Alexandra Morton are available for comment on the upcoming federal announcement on salmon farm licences that expire on June 30 and the government’s plan to transition open-net salmon farms from British Columbia waters by 2025. The announcement is expected any day now.
Key issues related to this upcoming decision include:
- Many published scientific studies have reported significant harm to wild salmon through infection with parasites, viruses and bacteria from industrial salmon farming. Renewing open-net salmon farm licences would perpetuate this harm at a time when many wild salmon populations are struggling.
- What is the plan for transitioning open-net salmon farms out of B.C. waters by 2025 as per Prime Minister Trudeau’s mandate letter and the federal promise to do so?
- This federal government already announced 19 salmon farms in the Discovery Islands would be removed by June 30, 2022. However, a recent federal court decision set back this decision citing “procedural fairness” issues, related to the government’s lack of proper engagement with the salmon farm industry. These salmon farms are currently empty and it is expected their licences will not be renewed beyond June 30. The government has the authority to make this decision based on its wild fish conservation mandate.
Contact:
Stan Proboszcz, Science Advisor, Watershed Watch Salmon Society, 604-314-2713, proboszcz@watershedwatch.ca
Dan Lewis, Executive Director, Clayoquot Action, 250-726-8136, Dan@clayoquotaction.org
Alexandra Morton, Independent Biologist, 250-974-7086, alexandramorton5@gmail.com
Conservationists available to discuss federal salmon farm decision to be announced before June 30, 2022
Conservationists: B.C. wild salmon in limbo with looming federal announcement on salmon farm licence decision
VANCOUVER, B.C. — Watershed Watch Salmon Society, Clayoquot Action and independent biologist, Alexandra Morton are available for comment on the upcoming federal announcement on salmon farm licences that expire on June 30 and the government’s plan to transition open-net salmon farms from British Columbia waters by 2025. The announcement is expected any day now.
Key issues related to this upcoming decision include:
- Many published scientific studies have reported significant harm to wild salmon through infection with parasites, viruses and bacteria from industrial salmon farming. Renewing open-net salmon farm licences would perpetuate this harm at a time when many wild salmon populations are struggling.
- What is the plan for transitioning open-net salmon farms out of B.C. waters by 2025 as per Prime Minister Trudeau’s mandate letter and the federal promise to do so?
- This federal government already announced 19 salmon farms in the Discovery Islands would be removed by June 30, 2022. However, a recent federal court decision set back this decision citing “procedural fairness” issues, related to the government’s lack of proper engagement with the salmon farm industry. These salmon farms are currently empty and it is expected their licences will not be renewed beyond June 30. The government has the authority to make this decision based on its wild fish conservation mandate.
Contact:
Stan Proboszcz, Science Advisor, Watershed Watch Salmon Society, 604-314-2713, proboszcz@watershedwatch.ca
Dan Lewis, Executive Director, Clayoquot Action, 250-726-8136, Dan@clayoquotaction.org
Alexandra Morton, Independent Biologist, 250-974-7086, alexandramorton5@gmail.com