Cermaq clarifies farm site furore

Cermaq Canada has a protocol agreement with Ahousaht First Nation which has been in place since 2002, and which influences all the company’s salmon farming activities in Ahousaht territory. The protocol is updated every five years, and in 2010 was updated to make provision for a new salmon farm at the Yaakswiis site in Millar Channel.

In early September, after receiving all government approvals for the new site, Cermaq Canada began assembling the new farm at Yaakswiis. However, some Ahousaht members took issue with the new farm and began a public protest, occupying the partially-completed cage system. Professional activists from outside Ahousaht joined the protest, but Cermaq Canada is only interested in communicating and working with Ahousaht.

To help Ahousaht to de-escalate the situation, and with the expectation to continue discussions and maintain the mutually beneficial relationship that has been established between Ahousaht and Cermaq for so many years, Cermaq Canada committed to move the cage system from the new site. Cermaq stated that the cage system would be removed once protesters left the site.

Ahousaht leadership, including Ahousaht members who initiated the request to remove the site, signed a letter asking protesters to vacate the site.

In the very near future Cermaq Canada will meet with the Ahousaht Ha’wiih (hereditary chiefs) and the elected Chief and Council to discuss how they, working together, can meet the community’s expectations regarding the Yaakswiis site.