Controversial Federal Salmon Farm Data Ordered to be Released: Information Commissioner of Canada
January 30, 2025
“What are they trying to hide?”
Port Coquitlam, B.C.—After 2 years of requesting salmon farm data used in a controversial Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) science report, Watershed Watch Salmon Society received a concluding investigative report from Caroline Maynard, the Information Commissioner of Canada, stating:
“I order the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans to fully disclose the records.”
The data, not yet released, were analyzed by DFO to inform a 2023 Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat report, which concluded that there was no significant link between parasitic lice infestations at B.C. salmon farms and infestations in wild salmon exposed to these farms. The report faced widespread criticism due to the substantial body of independent scientific research that contradicts its findings. Numerous studies have concluded that salmon farms amplify parasitic lice and spread them to wild juvenile salmon migrating by.
Sixteen academic scientists wrote an open letter to Fisheries and Oceans Canada Minister, Joyce Murray, expressing their “professional dismay” over significant scientific shortcomings in the report.
Since the release of the controversial report in January 2023, Watershed Watch Salmon Society has pursued multiple avenues to access the data used in the report, including:
- Access to Information and Privacy (ATIP) request
- Environmental Petition to the Auditor General of Canada
When these efforts produced only heavily redacted and unusable data files, Watershed Watch Salmon Society submitted a complaint to the Information Commissioner, who determined the investigation had merit and initiated a review.
“Canadians deserve transparency—it should not be this difficult to access information about an industry operating in public waters.” said Stan Proboszcz, Senior Science and Policy Analyst, Watershed Watch Salmon Society. “This two-year struggle for the truth begs the question, ‘what are they trying to hide about the harmful impacts fish farms have on B.C. wild salmon?’”
“DFO is charged with safeguarding wild salmon populations, so it’s confusing in cases like this when the Department prioritizes industry and secrecy over evidence-based science and transparency.” said Dr. Sean Godwin, Assistant Professor, UC Davis.
“First Nations I have worked within the B.C. Aquaculture Transition Planning process, made formal requests for this data two years ago and never received it or other similar information.” said Bob Chamberlin, Chair First Nations Wild Salmon Alliance (FNWSA). “Key DFO staff defend this industry at the expense of the honour of the Crown and the FNWSA has presented this exact situation with the ISED Task Force who are now taking the lead to complete the transition planning process.”
Contacts:
Stan Proboszcz, Senior Science and Policy Analyst, Watershed Watch Salmon Society proboszcz@watershedwatch.ca
Sean Godwin, Assistant Professor, UC Davis sean.godwin@gmail.com
Bob Chamberlin, Chair First Nations Wild Salmon Alliance bob@galagame.ca
Controversial Federal Salmon Farm Data Ordered to be Released: Information Commissioner of Canada
January 30, 2025
“What are they trying to hide?”
Port Coquitlam, B.C.—After 2 years of requesting salmon farm data used in a controversial Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) science report, Watershed Watch Salmon Society received a concluding investigative report from Caroline Maynard, the Information Commissioner of Canada, stating:
“I order the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans to fully disclose the records.”
The data, not yet released, were analyzed by DFO to inform a 2023 Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat report, which concluded that there was no significant link between parasitic lice infestations at B.C. salmon farms and infestations in wild salmon exposed to these farms. The report faced widespread criticism due to the substantial body of independent scientific research that contradicts its findings. Numerous studies have concluded that salmon farms amplify parasitic lice and spread them to wild juvenile salmon migrating by.
Sixteen academic scientists wrote an open letter to Fisheries and Oceans Canada Minister, Joyce Murray, expressing their “professional dismay” over significant scientific shortcomings in the report.
Since the release of the controversial report in January 2023, Watershed Watch Salmon Society has pursued multiple avenues to access the data used in the report, including:
- Access to Information and Privacy (ATIP) request
- Environmental Petition to the Auditor General of Canada
When these efforts produced only heavily redacted and unusable data files, Watershed Watch Salmon Society submitted a complaint to the Information Commissioner, who determined the investigation had merit and initiated a review.
“Canadians deserve transparency—it should not be this difficult to access information about an industry operating in public waters.” said Stan Proboszcz, Senior Science and Policy Analyst, Watershed Watch Salmon Society. “This two-year struggle for the truth begs the question, ‘what are they trying to hide about the harmful impacts fish farms have on B.C. wild salmon?’”
“DFO is charged with safeguarding wild salmon populations, so it’s confusing in cases like this when the Department prioritizes industry and secrecy over evidence-based science and transparency.” said Dr. Sean Godwin, Assistant Professor, UC Davis.
“First Nations I have worked within the B.C. Aquaculture Transition Planning process, made formal requests for this data two years ago and never received it or other similar information.” said Bob Chamberlin, Chair First Nations Wild Salmon Alliance (FNWSA). “Key DFO staff defend this industry at the expense of the honour of the Crown and the FNWSA has presented this exact situation with the ISED Task Force who are now taking the lead to complete the transition planning process.”
Contacts:
Stan Proboszcz, Senior Science and Policy Analyst, Watershed Watch Salmon Society proboszcz@watershedwatch.ca
Sean Godwin, Assistant Professor, UC Davis sean.godwin@gmail.com
Bob Chamberlin, Chair First Nations Wild Salmon Alliance bob@galagame.ca