Protesters with signs, banners and cardboard salmon in hand demonstrated outside of Premier John HorganB次元官网网址檚 office in Langford Friday.

Fish Farms Out Now, an ad hoc civil society group led by indigenous elders and leaders, was joined by supporters in a peaceful protest against fish farms in B.C. waters.

B次元官网网址淔irst Nations people have been protesting against these floating mortuaries that are spewing their pathogens into the marine environment and after 30 years are destroying, are decimating, are wiping out the indigenous salmon stock, which are the food supply of indigenous communities on this coast,B次元官网网址� said Victoria resident Bobby Arbess. B次元官网网址淚t is time that we all stand up and demand from this new government that action be taken immediately.B次元官网网址�

In a statement the group noted demonstrations were being B次元官网网址渉eld in solidarity with the occupations of Marine HarvestB次元官网网址檚 fish farms on Swanson and Midsummer islands within the traditional territories of the Musgamagw (including DzawadaB次元官网网址檈nuxw, KwikwasutB次元官网网址檌nuxw HaxwaB次元官网网址檓is and Gwawaenuk), B次元官网网址楴amgis and Mamalilkala First Nations, where First Nations leaders have peacefully occupied open-net salmon farms for the last 50 days.B次元官网网址�

Their demands include no restocking of existing empty pens or sites, no use of hydrogen peroxide to be used to treat sea lice infestations, no renewal of licenses and/or tenures, and for the industry to remove all open-net cage fish farm sites from the collective territorial waters.

Fish Farms Out Now is calling for the provincial government B次元官网网址渢o honour its election promise to remove open-net fish farms B次元官网网址� a request which First Nations in the area have repeatedly asked of government for the past 30 years.B次元官网网址�

While in opposition, and led a committee that recommended B.C.B次元官网网址檚 North Coast be kept off limits to them.

Roughly 20 protesters gathered outside of HorganB次元官网网址檚 office on Jacklin Road to kickoff FridayB次元官网网址檚 protest.

B次元官网网址淭he salmon is sacred,B次元官网网址� said Alert Bay resident Dawna Ambers. B次元官网网址淚f we lose the salmon we lose a big part of our culture B次元官网网址� I look in my freezer and thereB次元官网网址檚 no salmon there anymore, itB次元官网网址檚 just an empty freezer.B次元官网网址�

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Ambers, whose given name is Tsastilqualus, added B次元官网网址渋tB次元官网网址檚 so, so bad for our people B次元官网网址� Stop the permits now and get the cesspool out of our waters.B次元官网网址�

Protesters referenced where Horgan met with First Nations in Alert Bay who are protesting open-pen fish farms, stating Horgan failed to release a significant statement against fish farms after that event.

Horgan was also accompanied by Indigenous Relations Minister Scott Fraser, Agriculture Minister Lana Popham and Transportation Minister Claire Trevena, the MLA for North Island. Rachel Blaney, MP for North Island-Powell River also attended the event, which was held on Oct. 10.

While Horgan did not commit to removing the fish farms in Alert Bay, he instead announced Popham would be meeting with the federal Minister for the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, B次元官网网址渢o tell Mr. Leblanc what she has heard here today and what the commitment is of our government, which is first and foremost to protect wild salmon.B次元官网网址�

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Horgan also said he was B次元官网网址減repared to meet again in Victoria with a delegation of your choosing so we can talk about next steps.B次元官网网址�

No one appeared to be in the Langford office Friday during the protest B次元官网网址� a note taped to the door indicated the office was closed while staff were out for meetings and would reopen later in the afternoon.

The Premier could not be reached for comment but in a statement, Popham said B次元官网网址渢he B.C. government respects the right of people to engage in peaceful protests. As always, we ask people to remain respectful of one another and encourage the resolution of issues through discussion wherever possible.B次元官网网址�

She reiterated that she was at the event on Oct. 10 to listen and appreciated the invitation. B次元官网网址淚 hear and understand the concerns being raised by First Nations and members of the public and I have been proactive in meeting with my federal counterparts regarding the importance and urgency of this issue. At the same time, it is important to recognize that the industry now generates nearly $800 million in annual value, while supporting numerous jobs in rural and coastal areas.B次元官网网址�

Popham added, B次元官网网址淚 am committed to continuing to work with First Nations, the aquaculture industry, and Fisheries and Oceans Canada to ensure B.C.B次元官网网址檚 aquaculture sector is environmentally sustainable and respects First NationsB次元官网网址� rights while continuing to provide good jobs for British Columbians.B次元官网网址�

With files from Hanna Petersen/Black Press

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