December 1, 2021

Environmental groups oppose site expansion of open-net salmon farming in British Columbia, Canada

Four environmental groups in Canada have issued a news release late last month, objecting to 12 site expansions of open-net salmon farms,  including "one entirely new 4,400-metric tonne open-net salmon farm" in British Columbia.

The new site is slated to be developed between Discovery Islands and the Broughton Archipelago, where open-net salmon farming is being phased out.

"All proposed factory farm expansions should be denied by the (Canadian) government given their harm to wild salmon, the extremely poor returns of wild salmon and the federal government's commitment to remove them by 2025," Watershed Watch Salmon Society's Stan Proboszcz said in the news release.

Canada’s federal government oversees changes to licences. The provincial government plays a role when there are applications to create or expand farm

sites.

"Increasing the number of farmed fish held in any of these areas just increases the risk of uncontrollable sea lice outbreaks and amplifies disease pathogens, putting wild salmon at greater risk," said Karen Wristen of the Living Oceans Society.

- Straight