More details on government delegation to B.C.
Opinion
As previously reported by FishfarmingXpert, the Canadian government- through a Senate Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans- is conducting a tour of aquaculture facilities in British Columbia, and according to a Senate web site, during its “study on the regulation of aquaculture, current challenges and future prospects for the industry”, this is what the committee will be doing: “As part of its ongoing study on the regulation of aquaculture in Canada , the Standing Senate Committee on Fisheries and Oceans will be holding public hearings in Nanaimo on March 26, 2014. During the special study on aquaculture, the Committee will hear from a wide range of individuals and groups representing various perspectives on matters related to the current challenges and future prospects for sustainable aquaculture in British Columbia. The views of presenting individuals and groups will provide the committee with the evidence that speaks to the current strengths, challenges and opportunities of aquaculture in the province, and help identify options for recommendations to the federal government. “
It makes one wonder how much good this exercise will do as far as the province’s salmon farming industry is concerned. There are two main concerns associated with this initiative;
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The Senate Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans has 12 members;
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Eight from the East Coast of Canada (five participating in the B.C. public hearing)
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Three from the Province of Ontario (one participating)
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One from British Columbia- more specifically the inland area of Thomson-Okanagan-Kootenay (participating)
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Only four of the 21 individuals scheduled to speak during the March 26, 2014 meeting in Nanaimo are representatives of the salmon farming industry in British Columbia- one of them a newly appointed Executive Director of the B.C. Salmon Farmers Association, with little or no experience from the industry. (There are five individuals giving statements apparently from the shellfish aquaculture industry and two advocates for the use of land-based, closed containment technology as well as two individuals who have carried out extensive campaigns against the salmon farming industry in B.C.- one of them a First Nation activist)
According to the Senate web site, “The committee began its study on the regulation of aquaculture, current challenges and future prospects for the industry in Canada on January 28, 2014. As the aquaculture sector drives economic activity in coastal communities in British Columbia, the committee hopes to hear from participants in the aquaculture industry in the province, including industry associations, First Nations and researchers, as well as other individuals or groups representing a variety of views on aquaculture . Their perspectives will provide the committee with evidence that speaks to the current strengths, challenges and opportunities of aquaculture, and help identify options for recommendations to the federal government.”
The committee was apparently conducting tours of aquaculture facilities in the pouring rain today. Only time will tell what will be the outcome of these activities will be, but once again- one can only hope that saner minds will prevail.
