DFO’s sea lice threshold fails to protect wild Pacific salmon
With its recent announcement to “ban open-net pen salmon farms by 2029”, the federal government promised new restrictions on the amount of allowable levels of sea lice in farmed salmon. However, measures under the new licensing agreements, which will last until the end of this decade, are still insufficient in strengthening conditions to protect wild Pacific salmon.
“We see what they called stricter conditions is actually just lowering the sea lice threshold by 0.2 of a louse, which is completely meaningless,” said Kilian Stehfest, Marine Biologist & Marine Conservation Specialist, David Suzuki Foundation.
Sea lice have been one of the major issues of salmon farming in BC waters over the years because these harmful parasites thrive in close quarters and can spread to wild salmon populations that pass nearby.
A coalition of environmental groups, including the David Suzuki Foundation, Living Oceans Society, Watershed Watch Salmon Society, Georgia Strait Alliance, and Clayoquot Action sent a letter to Fisheries Minister Diane Lebouthillier urging her to reconsider the sea lice threshold to ensure wild Pacific salmon are protected for future generations.