Two-year licence renewal for some fish farms as Ottawa reveals transition plan for B.C.

Dozens of fish farms outdoors the Discovery Islands may have their licences renewed for an additional two years as Ottawa reveals its transition plan away from open-net pen salmon farming in B.C.

A draft framework of the plan can be shared within the coming weeks, launching a brand new section of public session that may final till early subsequent yr, Fisheries and Oceans Canada Minister Joyce Murray stated Wednesday.

The federal division hopes to have a last plan in place by spring of 2023. Murray’s ministerial mandate letter duties her with transitioning fish farming out of B.C. waters by 2025.

“Wild Pacific salmon are an iconic keystone species in British Columbia which are dealing with historic threats,” stated Murray in a information launch.

“We acknowledge the pressing want for ecologically sustainable aquaculture know-how, and we’re ready to work with all companions in a means that’s clear and gives stability on this transition.”

In the meantime, renewed fish farm licences can be subjected to stricter guidelines, stated DFO, together with new standardized reporting necessities, sea lice administration plans, in addition to wild salmon monitoring.

The trade will function throughout the present regulatory framework whereas the plan is finalized.

In a launch, the Canadian Aquaculture Trade Alliance and BC Salmon Farmers Affiliation known as the announcement a “validation” of the significance of the salmon farming trade, however one which wants higher certainty.

“Whereas we’re inspired that licences have been renewed, we genuinely wanted a six-year license time period that mirrored our manufacturing cycle,” stated Timothy Kennedy, president of the Trade Alliance.

“Longer licence phrases would have offered the boldness to additional put money into innovation and know-how, resulting in continued operational and sustainable enhancements, job creation for coastal communities, and higher meals safety.”

Open-net pen salmon farming is a contentious problem in B.C., the place many wild Pacific salmon returns are generally low and shares are more and more in danger.

Opponents of the apply are involved concerning the unfold of a doubtlessly lethal illness — piscine orthoreovirus, or PRV — from penned Atlantic salmon to their wild neighbours. Current research have recommended PRV is probably not as dangerous to Atlantic salmon as some imagine, however there are nonetheless gaps in information about how the virus and illness have an effect on wild shares.

Final yr, a examine printed within the peer-reviewed journal Science Advances stated proof suggests the virus is repeatedly unfold between farmed and wild Pacific salmon as they migrate previous the farms.

PRV, which devastated salmon farms in Norway, is a illness linked to coronary heart and skeletal muscle irritation in farmed salmon, and kidney and liver injury in wild B.C. salmon.

Galagame Bob Chamberlin, chair of the First Nation Wild Salmon Alliance, stated Wednesday’s information provides him and different Indigenous leaders and stewards a “little little bit of hope.” The coalition has lengthy opposed open-net pen salmon farms within the province.

“In fact many people imagine this could have occurred a very long time in the past, however a one-year transition planning course of is welcome so as to guarantee this can be a defendable end result when it comes to courtroom motion or potential courtroom motion,” Chamberlain instructed World Information.

He additionally lauded a twin announcement of resourcing for First Nations to take part within the transition plan and associated consultations. Many countries haven’t but had a chance to have interaction DFO on the subject, he added.

Chamberlin stated Wednesday’s information is the start of journey for wild salmon. After fish farms are phased, he added, the doubling down on the safety and remediation of salmon habitat can start.

In a information launch, the B.C. authorities stated it respects federal jurisdiction over wild salmon and can proceed to work as companion with Ottawa and First Nations to guard the useful resource, and to develop a “complete federal assist plan” for these affected by the upcoming transition.

In 2018, the B.C. authorities reached a serious settlement with First Nations on Vancouver Island, saying the transition of almost a dozen Broughton Archipelago-area fish farms by the top of 2022. A part of that settlement included new guidelines for fish farm operators, slated to take impact this month.

Starting in June, operators require clearance from DFO that they don’t seem to be adversely affecting wild salmon populations, and can solely obtain provincial permits or renewals if agreements have been reached with the First Nations on whose territory they function.

The phasing out of Discovery Island fish farms, nonetheless, has been delayed by a federal courtroom choice to overturn a 2020 order from former fisheries minister Bernadette Jordan. In 2021, Federal Courtroom Choose Elizabeth Heneghan determined the order breached the precise to procedural equity owed to the 19 fish farms that have been anticipated to close down by the top of June.

Whereas open-net pen salmon farms proceed to function, Chamberlin expressed grave concern with the effectiveness of present rules in defend wild shares. He stated he seemed ahead to reviewing the brand new “stricter rules” promised by Ottawa within the interim.

In line with the BC Salmon Farmers Affiliation, 97 per cent of salmon produced in Canada is farm-raised. The trade employs 14,500 Canadians and generates greater than $4 billion in financial exercise yearly.

With information from World Information’ Sean Boynton and The Canadian Press