Industry groups ignore science and their troubling global record.

A B.C. government document we obtained through freedom-of-information has revealed a coordinated letter (see pages 38-39) from foreign salmon farming corporations to Prime Minister Carney aimed at influencing Canadian policy. This raises a simple question: why should Ottawa take its cues from foreign companies that have such a troubled global track record?

A “sustainable” industry? Let’s look at the record

One of the most striking claims made by foreign salmon farm companies in the letter is that the industry is some sort of model of sustainability. But across the very countries lobbying Canada, the industry is facing serious criticism:

• In Scotland, mass mortality events involving tens of millions of fish have sparked public outcry;
• In Chile, rapid industry expansion has been linked to widespread use of chemicals and antibiotics that pollute coastal waters;
• In Norway, wild Atlantic salmon face an existential threat, with sea lice and other fish farming impacts among the contributing causes; and
• In Tasmania, Australia, millions of farmed salmon have died in large-scale die-offs.

A sickly farmed Atlantic salmon

In fact, a recent study concluded that mass die-offs of factory farm salmon are increasing globally, with Canada experiencing some of the largest and most frequent mortality events. This is the opposite of sustainability, it’s evidence of a failing industry.

Turning a blind eye to a large body of B.C. science

The industry letter to Carney also states, 

“the assertions made regarding impacts to wild salmon are not supported by current science.” 

Yet they fail to acknowledge the extensive body of science showing risks from open-net pen salmon farms, including parasites and disease transfer. 

This is a well-established scientific record that has informed federal policy for years. In addition, our government doesn’t need absolute certainty to act. They have the clear authority to take a precautionary approach and remove salmon farms when evidence points to risk, especially when wild salmon are already in decline. This was recently proven in federal court, when the foreign-owned salmon farm industry challenged the federal government’s decision to remove salmon farms from the Discovery Islands…and lost. 

As a reminder to industry, a transition away from marine factory salmon farms is underway. In recent years, about 40% of their sites have already been removed. It’s time for the federal government to keep their promise and finish the job. 

Juvenile salmon covered in sea lice before fish farms were removed from the Discovery Islands (L; credit Tavish Campbell), and after farms were removed (R).

Did B.C. bureaucrats seek industry input on their position on the salmon farm ban?

Interestingly, the letter to Carney was obtained through provincial government records. These documents show that this international lobbying effort didn’t just target Ottawa. It also flowed into B.C. government channels through Norway-based Grieg Seafood, which also operates in B.C. (see FOI p. 37).

It appears the provincial government may have solicited information from B.C. salmon farming companies, possibly to inform their position or input on the federal salmon farm ban. In an email from Mia Parker of Mowi Canada West to Nathan Nankivell at the B.C. Ministry of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation, she indicates that Nankivell had requested economic information (FOI p. 35): 

“It is taking me a bit longer that [sic.] I had hoped to collate some of the information that you requested, so I am sending some information now and will send the rest as soon as I can. Attached is a backgrounder on Mowi ASA and Mowi Canada West that we have prepared for meetings with federal policy makers. Below are some quick answers to your questions:”

There may be nothing inappropriate about the B.C. government seeking information from an industry affected by policy change (i.e., the salmon farm ban). However, these records raise a question about balance: are officials also seeking analysis on the economic opportunities and benefits associated with phasing out open-net pen salmon farms in B.C.? 

I do recall Premier David Eby saying that the social licence for open-net pen salmon farms “is expired in British Columbia.” If that is the case, it raises a fair question about whose input is shaping government thinking today on salmon farming? 

Canada’s Path Forward on Salmon Farming

At its core, this is about who gets to decide the future of British Columbia’s wild salmon and coastline.

Foreign corporations, many of which have experienced large-scale fish die-offs in their operations, are lobbying to weaken protections in B.C. while ignoring Canadian science. But Canada has both the evidence and the authority to move forward with a precautionary transition away from open-net pen farms. 

With a significant portion of factory farm sites already removed and the transition underway, the path forward is clear.

The real question is whether Canada will follow its own science, or the lobbying of foreign industry giants? Make sure to remind your member of parliament to keep the promise to remove factory salmon farms from B.C. Email them today.