B.C. Indigenous coalition opposes Ottawa’s decision to shut down 15 salmon farms | 24CA News
A B.C. Indigenous group has expressed “extreme disappointment” with the federal choice to not renew licences for 15 open-net Atlantic salmon farms round Discovery Islands.
The Coalition of First Nations for Finfish Stewardship stated the choice to not renew the licences for the salmon farms just isn’t “respecting the sovereign authority of the Laich-kwil-tach First Nations (the Wei Wai Kum and We Wai Kai) to decide if, when and how they want to operate aquaculture in their traditional waters.”
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“(The) decision, unfortunately, feels beyond procedural unfairness after many months of meetings with the minister, her department, and DFO staff,” stated Dallas Smith, a spokesperson for the coalition.
“The Wei Wai Kum and We Wai Kai First Nations sent a thoughtful proposal to DFO in November to re-issue some licences in their core territories. They put forward a cautionary approach to explore how and if finfish farming could be part of their Nations’ overall vision to manage their marine space. This decision to deny all licences in their territories has sent the Nations back to the drawing board in that regard.”
According to the coalition, the proposal described a “careful and staggered plan for the possible re-introduction of some fish farms” within the conventional waters to be led and overseen by the First Nations and their stewardship applications.”
The group is adamant the that these farms would function a crucial piece to assist the communities advance their holistic marine administration plans.
“First Nations from the coast are trying to find their feet when it comes to reclaiming what was taken away from them by the federal government. Whether it’s creating marine protected areas or deciding whether they want to host fish farms, coastal Nations are trying to take back their inherent rights to manage their traditional waters,” Smith stated.
“This was not about protecting the sector or the companies operating in it. This was about the sovereignty of the Laich-kwil-tach Nations and their right to decide for themselves whether salmon farming, or any other resource, is the right fit for their marine plans.
“Unfortunately, the decision was once again taken away from them by a government located 5,000 kilometres away.”
The B.C. authorities made an announcement saying it’s upset that the announcement didn’t embody a help plan for First Nations communities.
“We are disappointed that (Friday’s) announcement does not outline a federal support plan for First Nations, communities and workers that rely on salmon aquaculture for their livelihoods,” stated BC Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship Nathan Cullen.
On Friday, Ottawa’s Fisheries Minister Joyce Murray introduced the federal authorities won’t renew licences for 15 open-net Atlantic salmon farms round B.C.’s Discovery Islands.
Murray stated the Discovery Islands space is a key migration route for wild salmon the place slender passages carry migrating juvenile salmon into shut contact with the farms.
She stated latest science signifies uncertainty over the dangers posed by the farms to wild salmon, and the federal government is dedicated to growing a accountable plan to transition away from open-net farming in coastal waters.
Open-net fish farms off B.C.’s coast have been a significant flashpoint, with environmental teams and a few Indigenous nations saying the farms are linked to the switch of illness to wild salmon, whereas the trade and a few native politicians say hundreds of jobs are threatened if operations are phased out.
Previously, former B.C. premier John Horgan despatched a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau final March saying there’s widespread concern the federal authorities is poised to decide that might threaten a whole lot of jobs and the economies of coastal communities.
Horgan urged the prime minister to guarantee the salmon farming sector that an applicable transition program might be applied and should embody First Nations and communities that depend on fish farms economically.
Murray stated the choice got here after intensive consultations with First Nations, the trade and others, and the division is taking a “highly precautionary” method to managing salmon farming within the space.
She referred to as First Nations and trade representatives Friday earlier than asserting what she stated was a troublesome however obligatory choice to guard wild salmon from the potential dangers posed by farmed fish.
In the news launch, she says there are a number of stressors on wild salmon, together with local weather change, habitat degradation and each regulated and unlawful fishing.
The B.C. Salmon Farmers Association has stated an financial evaluation concluded the province might lose greater than 4,700 jobs and as much as $1.2 billion in financial exercise yearly if salmon farm licences aren’t renewed.
But B.C.’s First Nations Wild Salmon Alliance says greater than 100 First Nations help the federal authorities’s plan to transition away from open-net salmon farms.
Alliance spokesman Bob Chamberlin stated earlier wild salmon runs are struggling and selections should be made to assist shares rebound.
— With recordsdata from Canadian Press
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