Feds delay closure of B.C.'s open-net salmon farms until 2029

The federal government announced Wednesday that it would delay the closure of open net salmon farms off British Columbia's coast until 2029 to facilitate a transition to closed containment systems.

The announcement was met withpraise and scorn from stakeholders inB.C.'s salmon industry.

The government had promised to phase out the farms by next year, but Fisheries Minister Diane Lebouthillierinstead outlined a transition to closed-containment salmon farm operations shesaid would allow aquaculture farms to renew their licences ina "responsible, realistic and achievable" way.

It was met with skepticism fromthe industry.

"The objective is unreasonable because there is no scientific basis to this decision," saidCanadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance president andCEO Tim Kennedy in a statement.

WATCH | Open-net salmon farms to be closed in five years:

Feds delay closure of B.C.s open-net salmon farms until 2029

2 months ago

Duration 2:20

It was a 2019 Liberal election campaign promise: transition all Pacific open-net salmon farms to closed containment systems as wild salmon populations face existential threats. As CBC's Rafferty Baker reports, while the feds have announced a ban it is coming with a significant delay.

"The objective is irresponsible because it threatens 5,000 highly paid and skilled jobs incoastal British Columbia (500 of thesejobs held by Indigenous people) during a time of economic stagnation."

The alliance says over 95 per cent of Canada's salmon production comes from salmon farms inocean pens in British Columbia.

The B.C. Salmon Farmers Associationhas said an analysis showed the province could lose up to $1.2 billion in economic activity annually if the licences are not renewed.

Open-net fish farms off B.C.'s coast have long been the subject of debate, with environmental groups and some Indigenous nations saying they are linked to the transfer of disease to wild salmon.

Amarine conservation specialist with the David Suzuki Foundation praised the federal government's commitmentto ending open-net systems and said they were pleased to see a concrete deadline set.

However, Kilian Stehfestargued in a written statement that the five-yeartimeline failed to meetthe "urgency of the moment given the dire state of many wild salmon runs."

"We look forward to a strong transition plan that enshrines an end to open-net pens in law or regulation and supports workers and communities," the statement said.

A group that services B.C.'ssalmon farming industry says Ottawa needs to revisit its decision and work toward improvingthe current net pen sector whiledeveloping new technologies.

"The success of introducing innovative technologies in British Columbia relies on this investment and supply ecosystem being strong, stable and predictable," saidRyan Brush, general manager ofAquatrans Distributors.

"The absence of certainty and clarity has already weakened capital investment," he said.

B.C.'s minister of water, land and resource stewardship says it's up to Ottawato help fund the transition away from open-net salmon farming.

"The federal government needs to work directly with impacted communities and workers on next steps, and they must make sure First Nations have a direct role in determining what the transition looks like in their territories," said Nathan Cullen.

Indigenous leaders from British Columbia have called on the federal governmentto stand by plans to transition away from open-net salmon farms in an effort to help threatened wild salmon stocks.

The plan to remove open net-pen salmon farms fromB.C. coastal waters is supported by most First Nations in the province, said Bob Chamberlin, who represents more than 100B.C. nations inthe First Nations Wild Salmon Alliance.

"It benefits all British Columbians and so this is a very important day for wild salmon, but I think it's a big day for reconciliation across the province," he said at a news conference.

WATCH | Actorsface criticism for ad campaign:

William Shatner, Ryan Reynolds criticized for tone deaf salmon farming campaign

2 months ago

Duration 1:55

A coalition of B.C. First Nations are demanding an apology from Canadian actors William Shatner and Ryan Reynolds for their roles in a controversial campaign calling for an end to net pen salmon farming.

Meanwhile,theWatershed Watch Salmon Society says that while it's pleased with Wednesday's announcement, the planned five-year phase-out period is too long.

"That's five more years of bombarding wild salmon with parasites and viruses from factory fish farms,"said Aaron Hill, the society's executive director.

Lebouthillier has been consulting with several groups about the transition plan involving 79 salmon farms after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau pledged during the 2019 election that his government would phase out ocean-pen farming.