Fish Farms

FILE - Recirculating Aquaculture Systems, which involve moving the fish farm to land as opposed to an open net fish farm, is one possible future for the aquaculture industry in British Columbia. This photo, of a boat and crane situated next to a collapsed “net pen” by Cooke Seafood off the coast of Cypress Island in Washington State in 2017, came when a net failure allowed tens of thousands of nonnative fish to escape. The incident resulted in a nearly $600,000 settlement to the Lummi Indian tribe over the net collapse and damage done to the native salmon population, and prompted the state government to end the practice of fish farming nonnative fish. regarding File Photo David Bergvall Washington State Dept. of Natural Resources via AP

B.C. aquaculture fishing for new answers as it faces its murky future in 2023

All eyes are focused on the DFO’s next move as industry looks at new systems

 

Bear and Tiger being rescued from Minstrel Island. (Dalynn St Pierre Facebook photo)

Fish farm workers rescue 2 dogs found hungry and alone on remote B.C. island

MOWI employees gain trust of 2 emaciated dogs from remote Minstrel Island, get them to care

 

Aquatic science biologist Howie Manchester picks a salmon to collect samples from 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

Sea lice numbers not necessarily influenced by salmon farms: industry studies

New data suggests sea lice levels trend up or down; Activists are skeptical

 

Mowi Canada West salmon farm. (Mowi photo)

Union of BC Indian Chiefs want more federal action on fish farm closure

Nanaimo-Ladysmith MP criticize federal plan UBCIC calls nothing but ‘another bait and switch’

  • Nov 24, 2022
Mowi Canada West salmon farm. (Mowi photo)
FILE - In this photo provided by the Washington State Department of Natural Resources, a crane and boats are anchored next to a collapsed “net pen” used by Cooke Aquaculture Pacific to farm Atlantic Salmon near Cypress Island in Washington state on Aug. 28, 2017, after a failure of the nets allowed tens of thousands of the nonnative fish to escape. A Washington state jury on Wednesday, June 22, 2022, awarded the Lummi Indian tribe $595,000 over the 2017 collapse of the net pen where Atlantic salmon were being raised, an event that elicited fears of damage to wild salmon runs and prompted the Legislature to ban the farming of the nonnative fish. (David Bergvall/Washington State Department of Natural Resources via AP, File)

Washington bans fish-farming net pens, citing salmon threat

California, Oregon and Alaska have already outlawed net-pen aquaculture

FILE - In this photo provided by the Washington State Department of Natural Resources, a crane and boats are anchored next to a collapsed “net pen” used by Cooke Aquaculture Pacific to farm Atlantic Salmon near Cypress Island in Washington state on Aug. 28, 2017, after a failure of the nets allowed tens of thousands of the nonnative fish to escape. A Washington state jury on Wednesday, June 22, 2022, awarded the Lummi Indian tribe $595,000 over the 2017 collapse of the net pen where Atlantic salmon were being raised, an event that elicited fears of damage to wild salmon runs and prompted the Legislature to ban the farming of the nonnative fish. (David Bergvall/Washington State Department of Natural Resources via AP, File)
Aquatic science biologist Howie Manchester picks a salmon to collect samples from 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

Writing on the wall for West Coast fish farms, conservationists say after closures

Washington joins ranks with Alaska, California and Oregon in not having industrial fish farms.

Aquatic science biologist Howie Manchester picks a salmon to collect samples from 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
FILE – An Atlantic salmon is seen during a Department of Fisheries and Oceans fish health audit near Campbell River, B.C. Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS /Jonathan Hayward

Vancouver Island salmon farmers call shutdown timeline ‘rushed’ as consultations continue

Federal Minister Joyce Murray met with various fishing companies and other members last week

FILE – An Atlantic salmon is seen during a Department of Fisheries and Oceans fish health audit near Campbell River, B.C. Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS /Jonathan Hayward
An Atlantic salmon is seen 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 executive director of British Columbia’s salmon farmers association says a formalized consultation process for the future of the industry is welcome after several years of “ad hoc” discussions stemming from the Liberal government’s pledge in 2019 to end open-net pen salmon aquaculture off B.C.’s coast.��THE CANADIAN PRESS /Jonathan Hayward

Vancouver Island First Nations worry feds flip-flopping on B.C. fish farms transition

BC Salmon Farmers Association ‘heartened’ after its round of meetings with Fisheries minister

An Atlantic salmon is seen 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 executive director of British Columbia’s salmon farmers association says a formalized consultation process for the future of the industry is welcome after several years of “ad hoc” discussions stemming from the Liberal government’s pledge in 2019 to end open-net pen salmon aquaculture off B.C.’s coast.��THE CANADIAN PRESS /Jonathan Hayward
The idea that ‘Wild Salmon’ be free forever was indeed at the heart of demonstrations Wednesday, in lieu of the federal government’s consultation regarding open net fish farms. Photo by Edward Hitchins/Campbell River Mirror

Protests greet federal fish farm consultations in Campbell River

Minister remains ‘committed’ to the removal of open net fish farms in Discovery Islands

The idea that ‘Wild Salmon’ be free forever was indeed at the heart of demonstrations Wednesday, in lieu of the federal government’s consultation regarding open net fish farms. Photo by Edward Hitchins/Campbell River Mirror
Bonny Glambeck and Dan Lewis of Clayoquot Action collect fish farm samples. (Photo credit: Jérémy Mathieu / Clayoquot Action)

Ottawa is scaling back its promise to phase out open net-pen salmon farms, critics say

3 expansions approved since phase-out promise made

  • Sep 19, 2022
Bonny Glambeck and Dan Lewis of Clayoquot Action collect fish farm samples. (Photo credit: Jérémy Mathieu / Clayoquot Action)
An Atlantic salmon is seen 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

DFO set begin public consultation on B.C. fish farming transition plan

First Nations and other stakeholder meetings scheduled to begin this month for North Island

An Atlantic salmon is seen 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
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

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
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

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)
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

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