First Nations Sue Over Salmon

Larry Pynn
February 5, 2009
The Vancouver Sun

Aboriginal people in the broughton archipelago off northeastern vancouver island launched a class-action lawsuit wednesday against the b.C. Government for damages caused by salmon farming to wild stocks.

"We are focusing on the health of the wild salmon," Chief Bob Chamberlain of the Kwicksutaineuk Ah-Kwa-Mish First Nation said in an interview. "We have an obligation to look after our resources."

Chamberlain said the B.C. Supreme Court class-action suit involves a total of eight first nations in the area concerned about the detrimental impact of open-net salmon farming on wild stocks.

He said the class action is a last resort based on years of frustration over the province not addressing aboriginal concerns about salmon farms, 29 of which are authorized in the area.

"The province's approach can be characterized by three words -- delay, deny, distract," he said.

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Posted February 5th, 2009