First Nations group calls for ’emergency meeting’ to protect wild salmon

A B.C. First Nations group is seeking an “emergency meeting” with Justin Trudeau regarding a transition plan for open-net pen fish farming.

Chiefs of the First Nation Wild Salmon Alliance (FNWSA) say they will be gathering to “expose Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) bureaucrats” at a press conference on Thursday, for “systemically undermining Justin Trudeau’s mandate” on the open-net pen transition planning process.

The federal government has mandated that all open-net pen fish farms will be removed from the Discovery Islands by 2025, and all remaining open-net pen salmon farming in coastal waters will be transitioning to closed containments.

However, in a release, the FNWSA says, “the DFO is failing its fiduciary, constitutional and supreme court directed consultation requirements in the process.”

Stó:lō Tribal Council President Tyhrone McNeil says it is time the prime minister “turn his attention” to what’s happening within the DFO, claiming that the DFO is promoting to “expand open-net pen fish farms at the expense of B.C. wild Pacific salmon.”

“This will eventually lead to making an Aboriginal Right hollow with a substantial financial compensation required,” McNeil adds.

According to Wild First, for over 30 years, open-net pen fish farms have been releasing parasites, pathogens, and pollutants into wild Pacific salmon migration routes which cause “deadly consequences.”

“Where open-net pen salmon farms have been removed, wild Pacific salmon are seeing positive impacts,” according to Wild First.

This is in order to protect wild Pacific salmon and future-proof the aquaculture industry for generations to come.

“These fish farms cannot contain or control the outflow of waste from their facilities — they’re allowed to pollute for free,” said Wild First.

In an interview with CityNews, Bob Chamberlin, Chair of FNWSA says “It’s time that the government take the necessary steps to protect something that has been the financial engine of British Columbia for generations and work towards getting that back restored.”

Chamberlin says, that FNWSA has identified over 120 First Nations in B.C. that support the transition, and many have been a part of the planning process.

According to Chamberlin, they want “the top leadership in this country to understand that it’s time for them to step in and make the correct decision. Err on the side of caution embrace the principles of Canada’s Ocean Act and protect B.C. wild salmon.”

Chamberlin says by supporting the act, the government would be showing a “strong measure of reconciliation province-wide.”

A spokeswoman for the DFO says in a statement to the Canadian Press that “scientific integrity guides and shapes how it generates advice to inform decision making.”

“DFO continues to engage with our partners and stakeholders on the development of a responsible plan to transition from open net-pen salmon farming in coastal British Columbia waters by 2025,” Kathryn Hallett, a media relations officer with the department tells the Canadian Press.

“Consultations are ongoing with First Nations, the province of B.C., industry, ENGOs, and British Columbians.”

She said the goal is to conserve the aquatic ecosystem for the future.

The press conference is set for Thursday, Feb. 29., at 10:00 a.m. at the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs boardroom in Vancouver.

With files from Raynaldo Suarez and The Canadian Press.