Wild salmon conservation orgs hold a news conference in Ottawa
Wild salmon conservation organizations held a news conference in Ottawa calling on the federal government to complete and release its draft Salmon Aquaculture Transition Plan, which would confirm the phase-out of open-net pen salmon farms in B.C. coastal waters by June 30, 2029.
Speakers from the Pacific Salmon Foundation, Watershed Watch Salmon Society, the David Suzuki Foundation, and Living Oceans Society urged Ottawa to follow through on the federal commitment and provide certainty for wild salmon, coastal communities, First Nations, workers, and the aquaculture sector.
The news conference reinforces the urgency of finalizing the transition away from open-net pens and moving toward systems that better protect wild Pacific salmon from the risks of sea lice, pathogens, pollution, and other impacts associated with open-net pen aquaculture.