Can fish farming succeed?
Guest: Dallas Smith, Nanwakolas Council
In this edition of Journal, we take the time to look at some of the complexities surrounding open-net fish farms in British Columbia.
There is no question that this is a valuable business, bringing in over a billion dollars in economic activity to the province along with thousands of jobs – many supporting our First Nations communities.
There is also no question that open-net fish farming is controversial. Those who are against it talk about the poisoning of wild salmon through either transfer of disease or escaped fish contaminating the stock.
Those in favour say much has improved over the years, greatly reducing the number of escaped fish, and they refer to a government report that suggested “marine operations pose minimal risk to wild stocks.”
Despite this, the federal government has decided to take what they call a “precautionary approach” and close all open-net fish farms within five years. The assumption here is that the option of moving to land based containment is doable for all these enterprises – but is it?
The Coalition of First Nations for Finfish Stewardship has come forward to say this is a political decision not based on science – and Hereditary Chief Richard George of the Ahousat Nation has said that in his territory, a 5-year transition to closed containment is the same as shutting their operations down.
So, big questions: Can we have it all? Can we protect wild salmon and farm fish in the ocean at the same time?
To further this examination I have invited Dallas Smith, President and Chair of the Nanwakolas Council business corporation and spokesperson for the Coalition, to join me.
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