What exactly does the future hold for the salmon farming industry in British Columbia?

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) is getting ready for consultations that will run until early 2023, before presenting its final plan to transition 79 open-net pen farms next spring.

B次元官网网址淚n order to advance innovation and support the ecological sustainability of the aquaculture sector in British Columbia, Fisheries and Oceans Canada is taking the next step to transition from open-net pen aquaculture in British Columbia coastal waters,B次元官网网址� wrote DFOB次元官网网址檚 Director for the Aquaculture Management Program, Brenda McCorquodale in a recent letter to Port Hardy council.

B次元官网网址淭he transition will require a strong plan that outlines how to proceed, in a way that greatly minimizes or eliminates risk to wild salmon, while also taking into account social, cultural and economic factors.B次元官网网址�

McCorquodale said Fisheries Minister Joyce Murray has released a discussion framework which outlines a proposed vision for open-net pen transition in British Columbia and launched the next round of First Nations and stakeholder engagement.

B次元官网网址淭his will build on previous engagement undertaken by the department in 2020 and 2021 and takes into account the evolution of aquaculture management in response to emerging science and research,B次元官网网址� her letter states.

According to McCorquodaleB次元官网网址檚 letter, the proposed framework and engagement approach will B次元官网网址渉elp guide the engagement with the province, First Nations, industry, conservation organizations, and British Columbians, and take into account diverse views on aquaculture.B次元官网网址�

Port Hardy Mayor Dennis Dugas confirmed First Nation and stakeholder meetings in that area will be starting this month.

B次元官网网址淭he meetings will basically be about the transition and how itB次元官网网址檚 going to work,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a big concern to us how this process is going to be handled, and they still havenB次元官网网址檛 told us what exactly the transition plan is going to be.B次元官网网址�

Dugas said council is waiting for all of the information to be released so it can B次元官网网址渇igure out how to move forward.B次元官网网址�

Back on March 25, The GwaB次元官网网址檚ala-B次元官网网址楴akwaxdaB次元官网网址檟w First Nation (GNN) announced in a live-streamed public event in Port Hardy that they would be taking over fisheries and aquaculture licensing in their traditional territory.

GNN added their aim has been to create a new standard for aquaculture industry operations that exceeds the current federal regulation.

editor@northislandgazette.com
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