Fish Farms

Mowi Seafood, which has operations in Campbell River, has been selected as the top sustainable food producer for the forth year in a row by international investment consortium Coller FAIRR. Photo courtesy Mowi Canada

Seafood companies with local presence finish 1, 2 in international sustainability index

Mowi, Grieg tops among global food producers; seven salmon farming companies in top 10

  • Dec 20, 2022
Mowi Seafood, which has operations in Campbell River, has been selected as the top sustainable food producer for the forth year in a row by international investment consortium Coller FAIRR. Photo courtesy Mowi Canada
Aquatic science biologist Howie Manchester picks a salmon to collect samples from during a Department of Fisheries and Oceans fish health audit at the Okisollo fish farm near Campbell River, B.C. Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS /Jonathan Hayward

Sea lice numbers not necessarily influenced by salmon farms: industry studies

New data suggests sea lice levels trend up or down; Activists are skeptical

Aquatic science biologist Howie Manchester picks a salmon to collect samples from during a Department of Fisheries and Oceans fish health audit at the Okisollo fish farm near Campbell River, B.C. Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS /Jonathan Hayward
Mowi Canada West salmon farm. (Mowi photo)

Union of BC Indian Chiefs want more action on fish farm closure from the feds

Nanaimo-Ladysmith MP criticize federal plan UBCIC calls nothing but ‘another bait and switch’

  • Nov 24, 2022
Mowi Canada West salmon farm. (Mowi photo)
FILE - In this photo provided by the Washington State Department of Natural Resources, a crane and boats are anchored next to a collapsed “net pen” used by Cooke Aquaculture Pacific to farm Atlantic Salmon near Cypress Island in Washington state on Aug. 28, 2017, after a failure of the nets allowed tens of thousands of the nonnative fish to escape. A Washington state jury on Wednesday, June 22, 2022, awarded the Lummi Indian tribe $595,000 over the 2017 collapse of the net pen where Atlantic salmon were being raised, an event that elicited fears of damage to wild salmon runs and prompted the Legislature to ban the farming of the nonnative fish. (David Bergvall/Washington State Department of Natural Resources via AP, File)

Washington bans fish-farming net pens, citing salmon threat

California, Oregon and Alaska have already outlawed net-pen aquaculture

FILE - In this photo provided by the Washington State Department of Natural Resources, a crane and boats are anchored next to a collapsed “net pen” used by Cooke Aquaculture Pacific to farm Atlantic Salmon near Cypress Island in Washington state on Aug. 28, 2017, after a failure of the nets allowed tens of thousands of the nonnative fish to escape. A Washington state jury on Wednesday, June 22, 2022, awarded the Lummi Indian tribe $595,000 over the 2017 collapse of the net pen where Atlantic salmon were being raised, an event that elicited fears of damage to wild salmon runs and prompted the Legislature to ban the farming of the nonnative fish. (David Bergvall/Washington State Department of Natural Resources via AP, File)
Aquatic science biologist Howie Manchester picks a salmon to collect samples from during a Department of Fisheries and Oceans fish health audit at the Okisollo fish farm near Campbell River, B.C. Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS /Jonathan Hayward

Writing on the wall for West Coast fish farms, conservationists say after closures

Washington joins ranks with Alaska, California and Oregon in not having industrial fish farms.

Aquatic science biologist Howie Manchester picks a salmon to collect samples from during a Department of Fisheries and Oceans fish health audit at the Okisollo fish farm near Campbell River, B.C. Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS /Jonathan Hayward
The 2022 Ignite award for Cleantech/Aquaculture/Advanced Materials, was presented by Innovate BC to Campbell River company Brown’s Bay Packaging for their efforts to create an alternative to traditional plastic wrapping. (Photo courtesy of Innovate BC)

Campbell River fish packaging company wins prestigious award for cleantech project

Browns Bay awarded $300,000 for solution to traditional packaging at 2022 Ignite Awards

The 2022 Ignite award for Cleantech/Aquaculture/Advanced Materials, was presented by Innovate BC to Campbell River company Brown’s Bay Packaging for their efforts to create an alternative to traditional plastic wrapping. (Photo courtesy of Innovate BC)
FILE – An Atlantic salmon is seen during a Department of Fisheries and Oceans fish health audit near Campbell River, B.C. Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS /Jonathan Hayward

B.C. salmon farmers say timeline to shut down farms is ‘rushed’; consultations continue

Federal Minister Joyce Murray met with various fishing companies and other members last week

FILE – An Atlantic salmon is seen during a Department of Fisheries and Oceans fish health audit near Campbell River, B.C. Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS /Jonathan Hayward
An Atlantic salmon is seen during a Department of Fisheries and Oceans fish health audit at the Okisollo fish farm near Campbell River, B.C. Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. The executive director of British Columbia’s salmon farmers association says a formalized consultation process for the future of the industry is welcome after several years of “ad hoc” discussions stemming from the Liberal government’s pledge in 2019 to end open-net pen salmon aquaculture off B.C.’s coast. THE CANADIAN PRESS /Jonathan Hayward

Vancouver Island First Nations worry feds flip-flopping on B.C. fish farms transition

BC Salmon Farmers Association ‘heartened’ after its round of meetings with Fisheries minister

An Atlantic salmon is seen during a Department of Fisheries and Oceans fish health audit at the Okisollo fish farm near Campbell River, B.C. Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. The executive director of British Columbia’s salmon farmers association says a formalized consultation process for the future of the industry is welcome after several years of “ad hoc” discussions stemming from the Liberal government’s pledge in 2019 to end open-net pen salmon aquaculture off B.C.’s coast. THE CANADIAN PRESS /Jonathan Hayward
Bonny Glambeck and Dan Lewis of Clayoquot Action collect fish farm samples. (Photo credit: Jérémy Mathieu / Clayoquot Action)

Ottawa is scaling back its promise to phase out open net-pen salmon farms, critics say

3 expansions approved since phase-out promise made

  • Sep 19, 2022
Bonny Glambeck and Dan Lewis of Clayoquot Action collect fish farm samples. (Photo credit: Jérémy Mathieu / Clayoquot Action)
An Atlantic salmon is seen during a Department of Fisheries and Oceans fish health audit at the Okisollo fish farm near Campbell River, B.C. Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS /Jonathan Hayward

DFO set begin public consultation on B.C. fish farming transition plan

First Nations and other stakeholder meetings scheduled to begin this month for North Island

An Atlantic salmon is seen during a Department of Fisheries and Oceans fish health audit at the Okisollo fish farm near Campbell River, B.C. Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS /Jonathan Hayward
Aquatic science biologist Shawn Stenhouse releases an Atlantic salmon back into its tank during a Department of Fisheries and Oceans fish health audit at the Okisollo fish farm near Campbell River, B.C. Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS /Jonathan Hayward

B.C. fish farm licences outside Discovery Islands renewed until at least spring 2023

Atlantic salmon facilities around Discovery Islands not being renewed, final decision in January

Aquatic science biologist Shawn Stenhouse releases an Atlantic salmon back into its tank during a Department of Fisheries and Oceans fish health audit at the Okisollo fish farm near Campbell River, B.C. Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS /Jonathan Hayward
Cermaq Canada and the Ahousaht First Nation have renewed a protocol agreement that will allow salmon farm operations to continue in Clayoquot Sound. (Cermaq Canada photo)

Cermaq Canada renews protocol agreement with Ahousaht First Nation near Tofino

Federal government maintains its commitment to transitioning away from open-net fish farms

Cermaq Canada and the Ahousaht First Nation have renewed a protocol agreement that will allow salmon farm operations to continue in Clayoquot Sound. (Cermaq Canada photo)
Salmon warriors during the May 7 flotilla.

Flotilla pounds drums against fish farm licence renewal across Tofino waters

A flotilla for wild salmon called on the federal government to not renew fish farm licenses for 2022

Salmon warriors during the May 7 flotilla.
Mowi Canada West salmon farm in B.C. waters. (Photo supplied by Mowi Canada)

Judge quashes Fisheries Minister’s decision to phase out Discovery Islands fish farms

Decision was made in breach of industry’s rights to procedural fairness, Federal Court judge rules

Mowi Canada West salmon farm in B.C. waters. (Photo supplied by Mowi Canada)
Jeremy Mathieu of Clayoquot Action captured this photograph of sea lions inside Cermaq Canada’s Rant Point salmon farm. (Jeremy Mathieu photo)

Sea lions trapped in fish farm pens near Tofino move on

Fish farm industry watchdog Clayoquot Action says the sea lions will likely head to another farm

Jeremy Mathieu of Clayoquot Action captured this photograph of sea lions inside Cermaq Canada’s Rant Point salmon farm. (Jeremy Mathieu photo)
Nineteen salmon farms in the Discovery Islands were given 18 months to vacate, causing shock and uncertainty in the industry. (Photo courtesy Grieg Seafood BC)

DFO says Canada still committed to transitioning away from open-net pen salmon farming

All remaining Discovery Islands’ facilities must be cleared of fish by this coming summer

Nineteen salmon farms in the Discovery Islands were given 18 months to vacate, causing shock and uncertainty in the industry. (Photo courtesy Grieg Seafood BC)
Several sea lions were spotted feasting on salmon inside Cermaq Canada’s Rant Point fish farm site in Clayoquot Sound. (Skookum John photo)

VIDEO: Locals alarmed as sea lions feast on B.C. fish farm

Ahousaht First Nation officer Skookum John says farmed fish are likely getting out of the pens

Several sea lions were spotted feasting on salmon inside Cermaq Canada’s Rant Point fish farm site in Clayoquot Sound. (Skookum John photo)
President of Sto:lo Tribal Council Tyrone McNeil (left) and Grand Chief Stewart Phillip at a news conference Tuesday, April 5, 2022, in Vancouver, B.C. (Jane Skrypnek/Black Press Media)

Alliance against open-net fish farms calls for feds to follow through on phasing out commitment

First Nations and fishing organizations renew call for feds to move away from current fish farm structure

President of Sto:lo Tribal Council Tyrone McNeil (left) and Grand Chief Stewart Phillip at a news conference Tuesday, April 5, 2022, in Vancouver, B.C. (Jane Skrypnek/Black Press Media)
B.C. Premier John Horgan visited with local First Nations in Alert Bay in 2017 to discuss transitioning salmon farms out of the Broughton Archipelago. (North Island Gazette file photo)

New documentary chronicles Indigenous-led initiative to rebuild wild salmon stocks

The world premiere was held at the Vancouver International Mountain Film festival

B.C. Premier John Horgan visited with local First Nations in Alert Bay in 2017 to discuss transitioning salmon farms out of the Broughton Archipelago. (North Island Gazette file photo)
Tanks at Grieg's new Gold River Hatchery expansion. Photo courtesy Grieg Seafood BC.

Grieg Seafood BC Gold River hatchery expansion nearing completion

Company looking to increase time salmon spend ‘on land’

Tanks at Grieg's new Gold River Hatchery expansion. Photo courtesy Grieg Seafood BC.