BC's salmon issue on a slow broil

Stephanie Dearing
October 22, 2009
Digital Journal 

While the Department of Fisheries and Oceans has been mum on its plans for taking over the regulation of salmon farms in British Columbia, the people who rely on salmon for their livelihoods have not been sitting idle.

Earlier this year, the BC Supreme Court said that because BC's fish farming takes place in the ocean, it is up to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans to regulate BC's fish farming industry. The Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) adopted a Statement of Solidarity on Aquaculture in September, staking a claim in anticipation of the hand-over of the regulation of fish farms to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO). The UBCIC Statement of Solidarity was adopted at the 40th annual General Assembly and notice was sent to DFO's Minister, Gail Shea this week. The Union is trying to ensure that B.C. First Nations will be included in further discussions over jurisdiction of the fish farms. Earlier this fall, the DFO held an invitation-only emergency meeting on the collapse of the Sockeye salmon fishery, but refused to let in a designated First Nations representative, Chief Bob Chamberlin.

BC First Nations want the salmon to be protected. This year's Sockeye collapse followed two previous years of collapses of the Sockeye fishery. First Nations, environmentalists, scientists and sports fishermen have been saying that fish farms have a detrimental effect on wild salmon stock. Sea lice is seen to be the primary cause of the wild sockeye decline. William Shatner recently lent his support to the side of conservationists calling for limitations to be imposed on fish farms. The government of British Columbia has backed demands for an inquiry into the collapse.

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