Dallas Smith: "BC coastal First Nations are calling on the Carney government to immediately reverse the 2029 Trudeau net pen ban so that we can implement our responsible plan."

Canadian First Nations make new call to save BC salmon sector 

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Canadian First Nations that support salmon farming in their territories in British Columbia have demanded the power to issue salmon aquaculture licences from 2029, when all current open net pen permits expire.

The federal government led by Justin Trudeau issued five-year licences in July 2024 and said they wouldn’t be renewed due to its plan to “transition” the sector in BC from open net pens to land-based or floating closed containment farming methods. The salmon sector hopes that the current administration led by the more business-focused Mark Carney will reverse that decision.

The demand for licensing powers is a key plank in a five-part plan by the First Nations Finfish Stewardship coalition (FNFFS) to ensure the future of the salmon sector and their continued involvement in it.

Stark options

The next six-year salmon grow-out cycle in BC begins in June, and without policy clarity, aquaculture companies face two stark options: proceed with production only to cull millions of healthy fish in 2029, or halt the cycle entirely - triggering immediate job losses across rural, remote, coastal and Indigenous communities.

At a press conference on Parliament Hill in Ottawa this week, chiefs from FNFFS unveiled their plan, which includes the creation of a Nation-led Salmon Stewardship Fund that would require salmon aquaculture companies to make a per-harvested-tonne contribution to a new Indigenous Centre for Aquatic Health Science (iCAHS).

Scrap the ban

“BC coastal First Nations believe in conservation and having a choice to responsibly develop sustainable aquaculture economies for our people and within our territories, and salmon aquaculture is the backbone,” said Dallas Smith, a member of the Tlowitsis First Nation and spokesperson for the FNFFS.

“One hundred per cent of salmon farms operate with the permission of rights-holder Nations. In the midst of an affordability crisis, and in a sector where two thirds of the workforce is under 35, maintaining jobs that grow Canadian food for Canadian families should be a priority for the Government of Canada.

“BC coastal First Nations are calling on the Carney government to immediately reverse the 2029 Trudeau net pen ban so that we can implement our responsible plan to drive new foreign investment and increase our equity investment in the BC salmon aquaculture sector.”

The Kitasoo Xai’Xais settlement of Klemtu is 800km to the north of Vancouver and only accessible by boat or plane, and salmon aquaculture is 51% of the economy. "We are already feeling the social and economic effects of the 2029 net pen ban in job losses," said deputy chief counsellor Isaiah Robinson.

Isaiah Robinson, deputy chief counsellor of the Kitasoo Xai’Xais Nation, said the Nation had a 40-year history with aquaculture in its traditional territory, and had confidence in the science and modern technology behind it.

“Living 800 km up the BC central coast, and accessible only by plane or boat, we are already feeling the social and economic effects of the 2029 net pen ban in job losses,” said Robinson.

“Salmon aquaculture is 51% of our economy. Modern salmon aquaculture is the backbone of the seafood processing, water transportation, small craft harbours, net repair, and other businesses that support the sector – including the development of new technologies.

“It just doesn’t make sense that the federal government wants us to accept the development related to tankers, pipelines and increased natural resource development [by other First Nations], yet it continues to block new investments in the highly regulated salmon farming sector that feeds families and employs thousands in rural BC.”

Richard George: "We are asking to stand inside the economic agenda, partner to partner."

One rule for all

Hasheukumiss Richard George, a chief of the Ahousaht First Nation, said Carney had asked for Canadians to stand together to build Canada strong, and the FNFFS was part of that.

“We are asking to stand inside the economic agenda, partner to partner. We have seen all across this country, First Nations with equity stakes – or building towards them – in projects like pipelines, mining, oil and gas, in critical minerals. That is self-determination. That is reconciliation in action. It is the right of every First Nation. It can’t be [acceptable to allow] pipelines and mines and forestry for some First Nations, but not salmon aquaculture for ours. That is our natural resource.”

Economic damage

Ivan Vindheim, chief executive of global salmon farmer Mowi, said the Trudeau’s net pen policy had damaged the economies of coastal communities, BC, and Canada.

“It has weakened food security and food sovereignty, forcing Canadians to rely on imported salmon instead of affordable Canadian-raised fish or go without,” added Vindheim.

“Mowi remains committed to stewardship, science-based decision-making, certification to Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative benchmarked standards and full compliance with regulatory requirements. The time is now to create certainty for the Nations and for the industry.”

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