Fish Farms

Mowi Canada West salmon farm in B.C. waters. (Photo supplied by Mowi Canada)

Judge quashes Fisheries Minister’s decision to phase out Discovery Islands fish farms

Decision was made in breach of industry’s rights to procedural fairness, Federal Court judge rules

Mowi Canada West salmon farm in B.C. waters. (Photo supplied by Mowi Canada)
Nineteen salmon farms in the Discovery Islands were given 18 months to vacate, causing shock and uncertainty in the industry. (Photo courtesy Grieg Seafood BC)

DFO reconfirms Canada’s commitment to transitioning from open-net pen salmon farming

Government responds after B.C. First Nations announce intent to assert control over fisheries

Nineteen salmon farms in the Discovery Islands were given 18 months to vacate, causing shock and uncertainty in the industry. (Photo courtesy Grieg Seafood BC)
Several sea lions were spotted feasting on salmon inside Cermaq Canada’s Rant Point fish farm site in Clayoquot Sound. (Skookum John photo)

VIDEO: Locals alarmed as sea lions feast on B.C. fish farm

Ahousaht First Nation officer Skookum John says farmed fish are likely getting out of the pens

Several sea lions were spotted feasting on salmon inside Cermaq Canada’s Rant Point fish farm site in Clayoquot Sound. (Skookum John photo)
President of Sto:lo Tribal Council Tyrone McNeil (left) and Grand Chief Stewart Phillip at a news conference Tuesday, April 5, 2022, in Vancouver, B.C. (Jane Skrypnek/Black Press Media)

Alliance against open-net fish farms calls for feds to follow through on phasing out commitment

First Nations and fishing organizations renew call for feds to move away from current fish farm structure

President of Sto:lo Tribal Council Tyrone McNeil (left) and Grand Chief Stewart Phillip at a news conference Tuesday, April 5, 2022, in Vancouver, B.C. (Jane Skrypnek/Black Press Media)
An open-net pen salmon farm on the B.C. waters coast (Black Press file photo)

Horgan to Trudeau: protect B.C. communities in any fish farm licensing decision

B.C. premier makes plea as many expect feds to eliminate many, if not all, salmon farming licences

An open-net pen salmon farm on the B.C. waters coast (Black Press file photo)
A B.C. aquaculture facility. Black Press file photo

Industry report: not renewing B.C. salmon farm licenses comes with $1.2 billion cost

Economic analysis says 4,700 jobs depend on 79 licenses set to expire at the end of June

A B.C. aquaculture facility. Black Press file photo
Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard Joyce Murray rises during Question Period, Friday, December 3, 2021 in Ottawa. Mowi Canada West, one of the largest farmed salmon producers operating in B.C. says it’s permanently closing it’s processing plant in Surrey, B.C., because of a federal decision to phase out some fish farms. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Federal decision on fish farms prompts closure of B.C. processing plant: company

Plant employed 80 people and was operational for four years

Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard Joyce Murray rises during Question Period, Friday, December 3, 2021 in Ottawa. Mowi Canada West, one of the largest farmed salmon producers operating in B.C. says it’s permanently closing it’s processing plant in Surrey, B.C., because of a federal decision to phase out some fish farms. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard Joyce Murray rises during Question Period, Friday, December 3, 2021 in Ottawa. Mowi Canada West, one of the largest farmed salmon producers operating in B.C. says it’s permanently closing it’s processing plant in Surrey, B.C., because of a federal decision to phase out some fish farms. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Federal decision on fish farms prompts closure of B.C. processing plant: company

Plant employed 80 people and was operational for four years

Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard Joyce Murray rises during Question Period, Friday, December 3, 2021 in Ottawa. Mowi Canada West, one of the largest farmed salmon producers operating in B.C. says it’s permanently closing it’s processing plant in Surrey, B.C., because of a federal decision to phase out some fish farms. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
The islands and channels of the Discovery Islands/Vancouver Island area are surrounded by peaks and mountains. Photo by Alistair Taylor/Campbell River Mirror

Injunction seeking to restock two Discovery Island fish farms fails in federal court

Cermaq Canada says it is disappointed by the decision

The islands and channels of the Discovery Islands/Vancouver Island area are surrounded by peaks and mountains. Photo by Alistair Taylor/Campbell River Mirror
Cermaq Canada is taking DFO to court over the decision to deny licence extension applications (Cermaq Canada)

Cermaq takes legal action against DFO to challenge licence denials

Company ‘disappointed and perplexed’ about decision

Cermaq Canada is taking DFO to court over the decision to deny licence extension applications (Cermaq Canada)
Mowi has applied to the court to be allowed to transfer fish into two of their Discovery Islands pens to let the salmon grow to marketable size. (Photo supplied)

Fish farmers in court today arguing for Discovery Islands injunction

DFO, conservationists will argue tomorrow against putting more fish in the pens slated for closure

Mowi has applied to the court to be allowed to transfer fish into two of their Discovery Islands pens to let the salmon grow to marketable size. (Photo supplied)
A Photo from Sept. 2020, when First Nations and wild salmon advocates took to the streets in Campbell River to protest against open-pen fish farms in B.C.’s waters. On Dec. 17, federal fisheries minister Bernadette Jordan announced her decision to phase out 19 fish farms from Discovery Islands. (Marc Kitteringham/Campbell River Mirror)

B.C. chiefs say Discovery Island fish farm process did not get reconciliation right

Wei Wai Kum and We Wai Kai chiefs say feds, province and industry all missed opportunities

A Photo from Sept. 2020, when First Nations and wild salmon advocates took to the streets in Campbell River to protest against open-pen fish farms in B.C.’s waters. On Dec. 17, federal fisheries minister Bernadette Jordan announced her decision to phase out 19 fish farms from Discovery Islands. (Marc Kitteringham/Campbell River Mirror)
(B.C. government)

Horgan chastising feds for Discovery Islands fish farm decision ‘ironic’: First Nation chief

Wei Wai Kum says province ignored request for Broughton-like-process long before federal involvement

(B.C. government)
Fisheries Minister Bernadette Jordan’s office said that Mowi’s intention to cull fish is unfortunate but the government is not directing the company to take this option. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Feds says they are not on the hook for Mowi decision to cull 2.6 million farmed fish

DFO says it has not ordered the cull nor denied transfer to other sites

Fisheries Minister Bernadette Jordan’s office said that Mowi’s intention to cull fish is unfortunate but the government is not directing the company to take this option. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
Mowi Canada West salmon farm. (Mowi photo)

Salmon farming exec says feds left B.C. industry on the hook with no safety net

“Quite possibly the most impactful, careless, reckless, thoughtless, decision that I have ever seen”

Mowi Canada West salmon farm. (Mowi photo)
Mowi lowers estimates to 2.6 million smolt at risk of being culled in their Vancouver Island hatcheries. (Mowi Canada West).

Mowi backtracks on fish cull losses – 8.3 million to 2.6 million

The new estimate reflects the immediate at risk smolt numbers in hatcheries

Mowi lowers estimates to 2.6 million smolt at risk of being culled in their Vancouver Island hatcheries. (Mowi Canada West).
Smolts from three hatcheries on North Vancouver Island which were scheduled for fish farms in Discovery Islands will be culled as there are no other production sites to move them to, said Mowi Canada West. (Photo courtesy, Mowi)

UPDATE: Vancouver Island hatcheries cull 2.6M fish due to federal farm decision

Mowi Canada West estimates huge revenue loss from the culling

Smolts from three hatcheries on North Vancouver Island which were scheduled for fish farms in Discovery Islands will be culled as there are no other production sites to move them to, said Mowi Canada West. (Photo courtesy, Mowi)
An Atlantic salmon is seen during a Department of Fisheries and Oceans fish health audit at the Okisollo fish farm near Campbell River, B.C. on Oct. 31, 2018. Several Vancouver Island mayors and members of British Columbia's salmon farming industry say a federal decision to phase out fish farming has left them feeling "disposable and discarded." In a letter to Fisheries Minister Bernadette Jordan, they say they weren't consulted before she announced a plan to phase out open-net pen fish farming in the Discovery Islands over the next 18 months. THE CANADIAN PRESS /Jonathan Hayward

Vancouver Island mayors say they weren’t consulted on B.C. fish farm phase out plan

Concerns and outrage over federal decision on Discovery Islands’ open-net pen farming continue

An Atlantic salmon is seen during a Department of Fisheries and Oceans fish health audit at the Okisollo fish farm near Campbell River, B.C. on Oct. 31, 2018. Several Vancouver Island mayors and members of British Columbia's salmon farming industry say a federal decision to phase out fish farming has left them feeling "disposable and discarded." In a letter to Fisheries Minister Bernadette Jordan, they say they weren't consulted before she announced a plan to phase out open-net pen fish farming in the Discovery Islands over the next 18 months. THE CANADIAN PRESS /Jonathan Hayward
Nineteen salmon farms in the Discovery Islands have been given 18 months to vacate, causing shock and uncertainty in the industry. (Photo courtesy Grieg Seafood BC)

Canada ‘stole Christmas’ says Vancouver Island’s aquaculture industry

Federal decision to phase out 19 Discovery Island fish farms has sent shivers across northern Vancouver Island

Nineteen salmon farms in the Discovery Islands have been given 18 months to vacate, causing shock and uncertainty in the industry. (Photo courtesy Grieg Seafood BC)
Twenty-three B.C. mayors have asked Premier John Horgan to enshrine five pillars of action that give natural resource development a key role in B.C.’s post-pandemic economic recovery plan. (Williams Lake Tribune file photo)

B.C. mayors want key role for resource development in pandemic recovery

23 leaders pen letter to premier, asking for inclusion in new policy discussions

Twenty-three B.C. mayors have asked Premier John Horgan to enshrine five pillars of action that give natural resource development a key role in B.C.’s post-pandemic economic recovery plan. (Williams Lake Tribune file photo)