The former Canadian Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, Bernadette Jordan, announced on December 17, 2022, her “intention” to phase out existing salmon farming facilities in the Discovery Islands, with the upcoming 18-month period being the last time this area would be licensed. During the period between license renewal and June 30, 2022, no hatchery smolts would be introduced. The decision directly affected local salmon hatcheries that decided to close hatcheries and cull juvenile salmon.
Four salmon farmers, Mowi Canada West Inc., Cermaq Canada Ltd., Grieg Seafood B.C. Ltd., and 622335 British Columbia Ltd., applied for a judicial review and the Canadian Federal Court has now said that the decision of the Minister will be set aside.
The BC Salmon Farmers Association said that it “is encouraged that the Federal Court has set aside the decision of the Minister to remove salmon farming in the Discovery Islands and has upheld the earlier injunction granted on April 5, 2021. This is a positive development for the coastal indigenous and non-indigenous communities in which we operate, and the thousands of family-supporting jobs our sector sustains. We will be reaching out to First Nations in whose territories we operate to review this decision and will have more to say in the following days and weeks ahead.”
Photo source: Mowi Canada West.
