Stan Proboszcz
Over the last several years, the federal government has been developing Canada’s first ever aquaculture act: a piece of legislation to govern open-net fish farms and other activities. We know factory fish farm lobbyists have worked hard to try and influence the direction of this piece of legislation.
Recently, myself and other NGO colleagues from across Canada had a call with the federal government team working on the new legislation. We were shocked to learn the new aquaculture act may exempt factory fish farms from important environmental laws like the Fisheries Act. We’re worried it may allow factory farms more latitude to pollute our coastal waters and more freedom to spread viruses to wild fish.
Public consultations are open until February 14, 2021. Can you send an email now and let them know we need an aquaculture act that will protect coastal waters and our wild fish?
Last December’s incredible federal announcement to remove factory fish farms from the Discovery Islands proves that collectively we have the power to influence our federal government. If everyone steps up and takes action, they can’t ignore us.
Getting a strong aquaculture act will put even more pressure on the remaining factory fish farms and will be yet another step towards clearing this coast for good. We’re certainly not opposed to all forms of aquaculture, but all open-net factory fish farms have got to go.
Whatever the ultimate disposition of the fish farms we should avoid past mistakes by requiring the cleanup of the bottom after decommissioning. Our small harbours are littered with debris from decommissioned fish farms fouling them for other uses forever. This is ignorant and incompetent stewardship of our coastal waters.
Gerald has hit the nail on the head. It should be written in the first part of the agreement. In fact it should be made law.
I agree with the statement above, fish farms required to clean up the bottom of the sea that was below their fish pens after being decommissioned.
Part of the letter I sent to Minister Jordon
Please explain
a) Why the BC Salmon Farms cannot move to Upland, Closed containment, RASystem facilities. AtlanticSapphire.com – has them on 156 acres in Homestead Florida. China and USA are in a race to be the leaders in Upland RAS facilities.
b) In the likely event of full closure of all open net pen systems, within waters of British Columbia, what assurances can you provide the public that all 130 farm sites will be cleaned up from discarded nets, floats, pipes, pumps, feed sheds, office and accommodation facilities.
It astounds me that industry on Pacific waters might possibly be allowed outside the Fisheries Act. On what grounds could that be allowed except with the absolute knowledge that industry has advised that they cannot operate within the Act without negatively affecting the ocean environment. The logic of removing the factory fish farms from Pacific waters is unassailable. Please do your job.
Here on the East Coast we are facing the same problem. But we’re in even tougher straits – secret MOU’s between the feds and the provinces assigned open-net regulatory authority to the provinces, which have completely swallowed the industry kool aid. (We had to FOIOP those MOU’s! What’s that all about?) We applaud your success – 19 Discovery Island leases not renewed, but we are all in the same boat. To fight this ill-advised policy, we need unanimity coast to coast to coast. Please note: DFO Minister Jordan is OUR MP! In her mandate letter, in the Aqua Act process, and in the government’s new Blue Economy Strategy, the focus is on BC. East Coast waters apparently are ripe for lowest form of finfish aquaculture. In our opinion, the feds have abdicated their responsibility for our oceans and the life within them. WWSS, good on ya. You are inspiration!