Salmon Farming fight continues in B.C.
The never-ending war of words about salmon farming in British Columbia is heating up in anticipation of a response from the government regarding the report released last month from a Special Committee on Sustainable Aquaculture. The report recommended that all finfish farms should be using some form of "ocean-based closed containment system" within 5 years, and that no new farms should be allowed north of Vancouver Island.
The most active anti-salmon farming environmental group in B.C., CAAR (Coastal Alliance for Aquaculture Reform) placed a $ 30,000 advertisement in the New York Times on Sunday, suggesting that farmed salmon comes at a cost to the environment.
Another anti-salmon farming group in B.C. is calling for a celebration of the Special Committee's recommendation for a "fish-farm-free North Coast". The Friends of Wild Salmon will be hosting a feast in Prince Rupert on July 7 in order to formally accept the report from the Committee from its chair, provincial legislature member and Committee chair Robin Austin.
In the meantime, the Aboriginal Aquaculture Association is holding a 2 day workshop in Campbell River next week, calling on the government to respect those First Nations and individuals who want to pursue economic development through aquaculture. Many aboriginals are currently employed in the industry, and future opportunities must be ensured. A foundation for sustainability in aquaculture is proposed by the adoptation of an Aboriginal Cerification of Environmental Sustainability in Aquaculture (ACES) program- to be developed and managed by aboriginals.
It is estimated that over US $ 150 million has been given to environmental groups involved in opposing salmon farming in B.C. by US based charitable foundations since 1999. Many of these foundations work closely with the Alaska "wild" salmon fishing industry.
