06/26/2009: "New BC Salmon Farm Possible"

A new re-zone has been approved in British Columbia that may lead to construction of one of the largest new salmon farms on the west coast. Concern is being expressed that the approval is the opposite action needed to protect endanger wild salmon runs.

“Wild salmon from the Fraser River, southern Vancouver Island and even Washington and Oregon States migrate through this narrow channel,” said Will Soltau of Living Oceans Society. “We are shocked the Regional District would support the delivery of this devastating blow to wild salmon populations.”

As an emergency measure, the Coastal Alliance for Aquaculture Reform (CAAR) is demanding the closure of five fish farms near Quadra Island to create one clear migration route for juvenile salmon migrating north through the Strait of Georgia.

One concern -and there are many - is the negative impacts of the farms given the history of salmon escaping from the pens, disrupting the native runs.

“It’s unbelievable that with all we know about the devastating impacts of these farms on the wild salmon stocks passing through this area as well as the local ecosystem, the Directors [of the Strathcona Regional District ] are willing to add a farm of this magnitude,” said Ruby Berry of the Georgia Strait Alliance,. “We know the vast majority of citizens in the region strongly oppose this decision.”

There have been some constraints put in place as mitigation measures, if the new site receives final approval from the Provincial government; however, BC’s industry has always operated in a shroud of secrecy and there is concern the government will not enforce conditions of operation..

“While we appreciate the Directors’ efforts to attempt to leverage an eventual transition to closed containment technology, this approval does not provide any incentive to the industry to do so.” said Michelle Young of the Georgia Strait Alliance.