A report commissioned by the BC Salmon Farmers Association says the proposed federal ban on marine net-pens in British Columbia would cost taxpayers billions and have B次元官网网址渟evere consequencesB次元官网网址� for CanadaB次元官网网址檚 economy, Indigenous communities, and food security.

The report by economics firm RIAS Inc. says ban would result in $9 billion of B次元官网网址渦nnecessary costsB次元官网网址� to taxpayers to close the sector and subsidize companies with B次元官网网址渦nproven closed containment technology.B次元官网网址�

It says such losses include $133.6 million per year to First Nations, the loss of more than 4,500 jobs and the elimination of 50,000 tonnes of farm-raised salmon.

In June, the federal government announced that it would delay the closure of open net farms until 2029 to facilitate a transition to closed containment systems.

Open-net fish farms off B.C.B次元官网网址檚 coast have been a major flashpoint, with environmental groups and some First Nations saying the farms are linked to the transfer of disease to wild salmon, while supporters say the farmsB次元官网网址� risks are unproven or overblown and cite economic costs if operations are phased out.

The farmers association says in a news release that federal and independent scientists have concluded the farms pose little risk and that removing the farms would not affect the population of wild Pacific salmon.

It says the association and Coalition of First Nations for Finfish Stewardship are now urging Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to B次元官网网址渃onsider a more realistic, no-cost-to-taxpayers alternative to transition that would achieve the same outcome as a ban without imposing devastating impacts on the sector, on First NationsB次元官网网址� rights, and on coastal communities in B.C.B次元官网网址�

It says B.C.B次元官网网址檚 salmon farmers have also B次元官网网址渂een committed to continuous innovation.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淢andating the sector to transition to unproven technologies in a short time frame ignores the willingness of B.C. salmon farmers to administer alternative innovations that can achieve the same outcome,B次元官网网址� a news release from the association says.

B次元官网网址淚nnovative solutions need to be tailored to unique coastal characteristics and aligned with the goals of the rightsholder First Nations who host salmon farms in their territories.B次元官网网址�