Nervous investors in Canada
The Provincial Government in British Columbia has received 2 recent reports on aquaculture and wild salmon management in B.C. Both reports came from advisory bodies established by the Premier of B.C. Gordon Campbell, who will now decide on the faith of aquaculture in B.C.
The first report came from the Special Legislative Committee on Sustainable Aquaculture, which was made up of Members of the Provincial Government- the Legislative Assembly. The Premier gave the majority of seats on this committee to the opposition party- the NDP (New Democratic Party), which historically has been critical of salmon farming as practiced in B.C. The second report came from the Pacific Salmon Forum- also appointed by Premier Campbell.
The recommendations from the Special Committee calls for an outright transistion of the entire finfish industry to some form of Ocean-based closed containment technology- yet to be developed, and no more farms in the northern half of the Province. The Pacific Salmon Forum recommends no increase in farmed salmon production in the Broughton Archipelago, where the Forum has spent most of its efforts and research dollars dealing with the issue of sea lice.
Both reports called for an increased involvement in the industry by coastal First Nations- the aboriginal community which traditionally made their livelihood from commercial and sustenance fishing activities that are no longer there. If Premier Campbell accepts these reports as submitted, it will mean the end of investments in salmon farming in B.C. by Norwegian and other companies. If he doesn't, he will be criticized for setting up these committees in the first place.
One solution coming to light is a happy medium provided by the 4-year old Aboriginal Aquaculture Association. It calls for the establishment of an Aboriginal Certification of Environmental Sustainability in aquaculture program (ACES), where a recognized certifying body established by First Nations would ensure that aquaculture operations are carried out in a manner that complies with all existing regulations, and a set of siteand area-specific criteria established by First Nations.
Since most salmon farmers in B.C. have already established some form of a Protocol Agreement with their First Nation neighbours, this is not viewed as an onerous task. Among the general population of the West Coast of North America, First Nations are viewed as the ultimate stewards of the environment. By stating the support for the implementation of the ACES program, the Premier and the rest of the Provincial Government could hang their hats on a response to the two reports that would give them the least amount of headaches and backlash from the public.
