Fish Farms

Aquatic science biologist Shawn Stenhouse releases an Atlantic salmon back into its tank during a Department of Fisheries and Oceans fish health audit at the Okisollo fish farm near Campbell River, B.C. Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS /Jonathan Hayward

B.C. fish farm licences outside Discovery Islands renewed until at least spring 2023

Atlantic salmon facilities around Discovery Islands not being renewed, final decision in January

 

Vessels circle around a sign that reads ‘Fish Farms Out!’ during the May 7 Flotilla for Wild Salmon in the Tofino Harbour. (Nora O’Malley photo)

West Coast flotilla pounds drums against fish farm licence renewals

A flotilla for wild salmon called on the federal government to not renew fish farm licenses for 2022

 

Mowi Canada West salmon farm in B.C. waters. (Photo supplied by Mowi Canada)

Judge quashes Fisheries Minister’s decision to phase out Discovery Islands fish farms

Decision was made in breach of industry’s rights to procedural fairness, Federal Court judge rules

 

Jeremy Mathieu of Clayoquot Action captured this photograph of sea lions inside Cermaq Canada’s Rant Point salmon farm. (Jeremy Mathieu photo)

Sea lions trapped in fish farm near Tofino expected to move on after pens emptied

Industry watchdog Clayoquot Action criticizes pinniped raid as another reason to eliminate open pens

Jeremy Mathieu of Clayoquot Action captured this photograph of sea lions inside Cermaq Canada’s Rant Point salmon farm. (Jeremy Mathieu photo)
Nineteen salmon farms in the Discovery Islands were given 18 months to vacate, causing shock and uncertainty in the industry. (Photo courtesy Grieg Seafood BC)

DFO reconfirms Canada’s commitment to transitioning from open-net pen salmon farming

Government responds after B.C. First Nations announce intent to assert control over fisheries

Nineteen salmon farms in the Discovery Islands were given 18 months to vacate, causing shock and uncertainty in the industry. (Photo courtesy Grieg Seafood BC)
Several sea lions were spotted feasting on salmon inside Cermaq Canada’s Rant Point fish farm site in Clayoquot Sound. (Skookum John photo)

VIDEO: Locals alarmed as sea lions feast on B.C. fish farm

Ahousaht First Nation officer Skookum John says farmed fish are likely getting out of the pens

Several sea lions were spotted feasting on salmon inside Cermaq Canada’s Rant Point fish farm site in Clayoquot Sound. (Skookum John photo)
President of Sto:lo Tribal Council Tyrone McNeil (left) and Grand Chief Stewart Phillip at a news conference Tuesday, April 5, 2022, in Vancouver, B.C. (Jane Skrypnek/Black Press Media)

Alliance against open-net fish farms calls for feds to follow through on phasing out commitment

First Nations and fishing organizations renew call for feds to move away from current fish farm structure

President of Sto:lo Tribal Council Tyrone McNeil (left) and Grand Chief Stewart Phillip at a news conference Tuesday, April 5, 2022, in Vancouver, B.C. (Jane Skrypnek/Black Press Media)
An open-net pen salmon farm on the B.C. waters coast (Black Press file photo)

Horgan to Trudeau: protect B.C. communities in any fish farm licensing decision

B.C. premier makes plea as many expect feds to eliminate many, if not all, salmon farming licences

An open-net pen salmon farm on the B.C. waters coast (Black Press file photo)
A B.C. aquaculture facility. Black Press file photo

Industry report: not renewing B.C. salmon farm licenses comes with $1.2 billion cost

Economic analysis says 4,700 jobs depend on 79 licenses set to expire at the end of June

A B.C. aquaculture facility. Black Press file photo
A diagram of the semi-closed containment system Grieg Seafood BC Ltd. has trialed, showing tarp barriers extended (cropped for web). Figure courtesy Grieg.

Grieg expanding use of semi-closed salmon farm system off Island’s West Coast

Made-in-BC technology resulted in lower sea lice levels in trial, company says

A diagram of the semi-closed containment system Grieg Seafood BC Ltd. has trialed, showing tarp barriers extended (cropped for web). Figure courtesy Grieg.
Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard Joyce Murray rises during Question Period, Friday, December 3, 2021 in Ottawa. Mowi Canada West, one of the largest farmed salmon producers operating in B.C. says it’s permanently closing it’s processing plant in Surrey, B.C., because of a federal decision to phase out some fish farms. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Federal decision on fish farms prompts closure of B.C. processing plant: company

Plant employed 80 people and was operational for four years

Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard Joyce Murray rises during Question Period, Friday, December 3, 2021 in Ottawa. Mowi Canada West, one of the largest farmed salmon producers operating in B.C. says it’s permanently closing it’s processing plant in Surrey, B.C., because of a federal decision to phase out some fish farms. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard Joyce Murray rises during Question Period, Friday, December 3, 2021 in Ottawa. Mowi Canada West, one of the largest farmed salmon producers operating in B.C. says it’s permanently closing it’s processing plant in Surrey, B.C., because of a federal decision to phase out some fish farms. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Federal decision on fish farms prompts closure of B.C. processing plant: company

Plant employed 80 people and was operational for four years

Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard Joyce Murray rises during Question Period, Friday, December 3, 2021 in Ottawa. Mowi Canada West, one of the largest farmed salmon producers operating in B.C. says it’s permanently closing it’s processing plant in Surrey, B.C., because of a federal decision to phase out some fish farms. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
Coastal Server, a vessel with a mechanical sea lice removal system. Photo courtesy Grieg Seafood BC.

Grieg launching new vessel to tackle sea lice at its Vancouver Island fish farms

Mechanical system reduces need for medicinal or chemical treatment, company says

Coastal Server, a vessel with a mechanical sea lice removal system. Photo courtesy Grieg Seafood BC.
Cermaq Canada has been fined $500,000 for spilling approximately 522 litres of marine diesel into the ocean near Campbell River sometime overnight between March 4 and 5, 2017. Google maps

Cermaq fined $500,000 for 2017 diesel spill at fish farm off northern Vancouver Island

Now-decommissioned farm spilled approximately 522 litres of fuel

Cermaq Canada has been fined $500,000 for spilling approximately 522 litres of marine diesel into the ocean near Campbell River sometime overnight between March 4 and 5, 2017. Google maps
A merger between Nanaimo-based Taste of B.C. Aquafarms and Blue Star Foods of Miami, Fla., will scale up land-based fish farm steelhead production on the mid Island. (Photo submitted)

Nanaimo fish farm plans to scale up production 15 times thanks to US deal

Taste of B.C. Aquafarms was acquired by Miami, Fla.’s Blue Star Foods Corp. earlier this year

A merger between Nanaimo-based Taste of B.C. Aquafarms and Blue Star Foods of Miami, Fla., will scale up land-based fish farm steelhead production on the mid Island. (Photo submitted)
Indoor raceways at an existing land-based aquaculture facility, similar to those planned for the proposed Gold River Aquafarms facility. Photo courtesy Robert Walker.

Land-based Gold River Aquafarms project could provide up to 100 jobs

Steelhead aquaculture facility at former sawmill site just waiting for regulatory approval

Indoor raceways at an existing land-based aquaculture facility, similar to those planned for the proposed Gold River Aquafarms facility. Photo courtesy Robert Walker.
Sablefish is a fish species that lives in sea beds of the Pacific Northwest that is also farmed commercially. Public domain photo.

Vancouver Island First Nation testing the waters of sablefish fish farming

Campbell River area We Wai Kai to conduct habitat surveys with provincial and federal funding

Sablefish is a fish species that lives in sea beds of the Pacific Northwest that is also farmed commercially. Public domain photo.
The islands and channels of the Discovery Islands/Vancouver Island area are surrounded by peaks and mountains. Photo by Alistair Taylor/Campbell River Mirror

Injunction seeking to restock two Discovery Island fish farms fails in federal court

Cermaq Canada says it is disappointed by the decision

The islands and channels of the Discovery Islands/Vancouver Island area are surrounded by peaks and mountains. Photo by Alistair Taylor/Campbell River Mirror
Spot prawn fishing is a multimillion dollar industry in B.C. (pixabay)

Island MPs slam DFO for not consulting fishery workers

Decision-making process needs some work, they say

Spot prawn fishing is a multimillion dollar industry in B.C. (pixabay)
Cermaq Canada is taking DFO to court over the decision to deny licence extension applications (Cermaq Canada)

Cermaq takes legal action against DFO to challenge licence denials

Company ‘disappointed and perplexed’ about decision

Cermaq Canada is taking DFO to court over the decision to deny licence extension applications (Cermaq Canada)