As the clock ticks on 79 salmon farm licences in B.C. that expire this month, federal Fisheries Minister Joyce Murray came under intense pressure Friday at a meeting with the Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) to not renew them, and to do a better job of protecting First Nation rights to fish. Read more […]

Pressure on the minister not to renew [open net pen salmon farm] licenses due to mounting scientific evidence that diseases leaking from BC salmon farms are driving down wild salmon populations. Read more here.  

New study from Pacific Salmon Foundation shows pathogen exposure rates were 12X higher near open net pen salmon farms in the Discovery Islands.   “Any renewal of licences that prolong this risk to wild salmon would be deeply concerning.” – Dr. Andrew Bateman, PSF Read more here.

“The beginning is going to be revisiting the decision for the Discovery Islands. The recent exposure of the fallacy of peer reviewed science from [CSAS] showing that this is a very tilted unobjective process which the department stands on to issue Discovery Islands fish farm licenses. I anticipate that the Minister will not renew those […]

Sea lice are becoming more resistant to pesticides. Outbreaks on open net pen salmon farms make it possible for lice to move from farmed fish to wild fish. Young migrating wild salmon can be harmed or killed when heavily infested. Fisheries and Oceans Canada requires all fish farms in Canadian coastal waters to have a […]

The decision to phase out fish farms in the Discovery Islands was based on consultation with First Nations. “[Minister] Murray will make decisions on next steps in due course, and remains committed to transitioning away from open net-pen salmon farming in coastal B.C. waters”, said ministry spokesperson Kevin Lemkay. Read the full article here.

House of Commons Canada Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans (FOPO) Meeting April 28th, 2022 Science at The Department of Fisheries and Oceans Watch full testimony here.  Read Opening Statements from Dr. Brian Riddell, Pacific Salmon Foundation, Science Advisor and Dr. Andrew Bateman, Pacific Salmon Foundation, Manager Salmon Ecological Health. On behalf of Dr Brian […]

This March, the federal Information Commissioner ordered DFO to release the information that found pathogens among open net fish farms in the province. The commissioner ruled that suppressing publication of the document was not justified. “The complaint is well-founded,” the commissioner said of a request to access the material. Hear more from this 3-Minute Market […]

“For 10 years, DFO has had reliable information about the harm that these viruses may cause wild salmon, which we could have used to protect these dwindling stocks.” Read the full article here.

In 2011, a DFO scientist, Dr. Kristi Miller-Saunders, identified PRV in British Columbia (BC) and discovered that it was likely causing a fatal disease in endangered Chinook. But DFO refused to allow her to publish that research, citing the objections of industry collaborators. DFO also refused to release her research under the Access to Information Act. […]