Ecojustice threatens lawsuit against Ottawa over fish-farm expansion

Kevin Sauvé
February 23, 2010
The Globe and Mail

An environmental group is threatening to sue the federal government for approving the expansion of a B.C.-based fish farm without properly assessing the environmental impact.

Ecojustice, a non-profit organization of environmental lawyers, says that the 37-per-cent expansion to the Doyle Island facility, which will make it one of the largest Atlantic salmon farms in the province, is illegal.

"The Department of Fisheries and Oceans approved the expansion without an assessment, neglecting their mandatory duties under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act," said Jonah Harrison, a staff lawyer with Ecojustice, which represents the marine-conservation group Living Oceans Society.

In an interview yesterday, Mr. Harrison said the DFO has until today to reverse its decision or Ecojustice will sue. The DFO did not provide a spokesperson to respond to the allegations.

In an e-mail obtained by The Globe and Mail that was sent to Mr. Harrison, the DFO said that it will not perform another assessment.

An original assessment, conducted by the Ministry of Transportation, was based on 2,550 tonnes of annual fish production. The expansion will increase production by 1,500 tonnes a year.

Read the full story in The Globe and Mail

Read related story: The Times Colonist; February 25, 2010; "Salmon-farm expansion draws lawsuit threat - Group says Doyle Island plans lack environmental assessment"