Fish Farms

A B.C. aquaculture facility. Black Press file photo

Industry report: not renewing B.C. salmon farm licenses comes with $1.2 billion cost

Economic analysis says 4,700 jobs depend on 79 licenses set to expire at the end of June

A B.C. aquaculture facility. Black Press file photo
A diagram of the semi-closed containment system Grieg Seafood BC Ltd. has trialed, showing tarp barriers extended (cropped for web). Figure courtesy Grieg.

Grieg expanding use of semi-closed salmon farm system off Island’s West Coast

Made-in-BC technology resulted in lower sea lice levels in trial, company says

A diagram of the semi-closed containment system Grieg Seafood BC Ltd. has trialed, showing tarp barriers extended (cropped for web). Figure courtesy Grieg.
Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard Joyce Murray rises during Question Period, Friday, December 3, 2021 in Ottawa. Mowi Canada West, one of the largest farmed salmon producers operating in B.C. says it’s permanently closing it’s processing plant in Surrey, B.C., because of a federal decision to phase out some fish farms. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Federal decision on fish farms prompts closure of B.C. processing plant: company

Plant employed 80 people and was operational for four years

Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard Joyce Murray rises during Question Period, Friday, December 3, 2021 in Ottawa. Mowi Canada West, one of the largest farmed salmon producers operating in B.C. says it’s permanently closing it’s processing plant in Surrey, B.C., because of a federal decision to phase out some fish farms. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
Coastal Server, a vessel with a mechanical sea lice removal system. Photo courtesy Grieg Seafood BC.

Grieg launching new vessel to tackle sea lice at its Vancouver Island fish farms

Mechanical system reduces need for medicinal or chemical treatment, company says

Coastal Server, a vessel with a mechanical sea lice removal system. Photo courtesy Grieg Seafood BC.
Cermaq Canada has been fined $500,000 for spilling approximately 522 litres of marine diesel into the ocean near Campbell River sometime overnight between March 4 and 5, 2017. Google maps

Cermaq fined $500,000 for 2017 diesel spill at fish farm off northern Vancouver Island

Now-decommissioned farm spilled approximately 522 litres of fuel

Cermaq Canada has been fined $500,000 for spilling approximately 522 litres of marine diesel into the ocean near Campbell River sometime overnight between March 4 and 5, 2017. Google maps
A merger between Nanaimo-based Taste of B.C. Aquafarms and Blue Star Foods of Miami, Fla., will scale up land-based fish farm steelhead production on the mid Island. (Photo submitted)

Nanaimo fish farm plans to scale up production 15 times thanks to US deal

Taste of B.C. Aquafarms was acquired by Miami, Fla.’s Blue Star Foods Corp. earlier this year

A merger between Nanaimo-based Taste of B.C. Aquafarms and Blue Star Foods of Miami, Fla., will scale up land-based fish farm steelhead production on the mid Island. (Photo submitted)
Indoor raceways at an existing land-based aquaculture facility, similar to those planned for the proposed Gold River Aquafarms facility. Photo courtesy Robert Walker.

Gold River Aquafarms project waiting on regulatory green light

Company has plans for 3,000-tonne, land-based steelhead aquaculture facility at former sawmill site

Indoor raceways at an existing land-based aquaculture facility, similar to those planned for the proposed Gold River Aquafarms facility. Photo courtesy Robert Walker.
Sablefish is a fish species that lives in sea beds of the Pacific Northwest that is also farmed commercially. Public domain photo.

Vancouver Island First Nation testing the waters of sablefish fish farming

Campbell River area We Wai Kai to conduct habitat surveys with provincial and federal funding

Sablefish is a fish species that lives in sea beds of the Pacific Northwest that is also farmed commercially. Public domain photo.
The islands and channels of the Discovery Islands/Vancouver Island area are surrounded by peaks and mountains. Photo by Alistair Taylor/Campbell River Mirror

Injunction seeking to restock two Discovery Island fish farms fails in federal court

Cermaq Canada says it is disappointed by the decision

The islands and channels of the Discovery Islands/Vancouver Island area are surrounded by peaks and mountains. Photo by Alistair Taylor/Campbell River Mirror
Spot prawn fishing is a multimillion dollar industry in B.C. (pixabay)

Island MPs slam DFO for not consulting fishery workers

Decision-making process needs some work, they say

Spot prawn fishing is a multimillion dollar industry in B.C. (pixabay)
Cermaq Canada is taking DFO to court over the decision to deny licence extension applications (Cermaq Canada)

Cermaq takes legal action against DFO to challenge licence denials

Company ‘disappointed and perplexed’ about decision

Cermaq Canada is taking DFO to court over the decision to deny licence extension applications (Cermaq Canada)
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)

Strathcona Regional District asked to support decision to remove fish farms

Wilderness Tourism Association says SRD consituents ‘will benefit greatly’ from wild salmon population

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)
Chum Salmon fry being examined with multiple motile and attached sea lice on Vargas Island. (Cedar Coast Field Station photo)

Study: Tofino fish farm sea lice infestations add fuel to push to remove open pens

Ahousaht First Nation asking for higher standards than what DFO requires

Chum Salmon fry being examined with multiple motile and attached sea lice on Vargas Island. (Cedar Coast Field Station photo)
Cermaq’s Ronja Islander well-boat is used to combat sea lice outbreaks on fish farms. (Clayoquot Action photo)

Cermaq Canada’s latest pesticide permit application intensifies fish farm debate

Tofino aquaculture company wants to use hydrogen peroxide to treat sea lice on farmed salmon

Cermaq’s Ronja Islander well-boat is used to combat sea lice outbreaks on fish farms. (Clayoquot Action photo)
Mowi has applied to the court to be allowed to transfer fish into two of their Discovery Islands pens to let the salmon grow to marketable size. (Photo supplied)

Fish farmers in court today arguing for Discovery Islands injunction

DFO, conservationists will argue tomorrow against putting more fish in the pens slated for closure

Mowi has applied to the court to be allowed to transfer fish into two of their Discovery Islands pens to let the salmon grow to marketable size. (Photo supplied)
Port Hardy mayor Dennis Dugas. (Dennis Dugas photo)

Port Hardy mayor advocates for fish farm industry, talks impact on North Island

The Discovery Islands closures will certainly have an effect on Port Hardy, says Dugas.

Port Hardy mayor Dennis Dugas. (Dennis Dugas photo)
Aquaculture employee, Michelle Franze, poses with a comment that she received on social media. Facebook group Women in Canadian Salmon Farming started an online campaign #enoughisenough to highlight the harassment they were facing online after debates about Discovery Islands fish farms intensified on social media. (Submitted photo)

Maximick: Women in salmon farming should be celebrated, not bullied

Growing numbers of women are making an impact on the North Island aquaculture scene

  • Mar 9, 2021
Aquaculture employee, Michelle Franze, poses with a comment that she received on social media. Facebook group Women in Canadian Salmon Farming started an online campaign #enoughisenough to highlight the harassment they were facing online after debates about Discovery Islands fish farms intensified on social media. (Submitted photo)
Economist Doug Blair who prepared the report for RIAS Inc., said that he found significant concern with the lack of consultation by Minister Bernadette Jordan, leading her to make a rushed decision without understanding the implications and seemingly no plan to manage impacts. (Supplied photo)

B.C. salmon farmers ask feds to reconsider decision based on new economic analysis

The independent report by RIAS Inc. estimates an annual loss of $390 million dollar cost to B.C.’s economy

Economist Doug Blair who prepared the report for RIAS Inc., said that he found significant concern with the lack of consultation by Minister Bernadette Jordan, leading her to make a rushed decision without understanding the implications and seemingly no plan to manage impacts. (Supplied photo)
A Photo from Sept. 2020, when First Nations and wild salmon advocates took to the streets in Campbell River to protest against open-pen fish farms in B.C.’s waters. On Dec. 17, federal fisheries minister Bernadette Jordan announced her decision to phase out 19 fish farms from Discovery Islands. (Marc Kitteringham/Campbell River Mirror)

B.C. chiefs say Discovery Island fish farm process did not get reconciliation right

Wei Wai Kum and We Wai Kai chiefs say feds, province and industry all missed opportunities

A Photo from Sept. 2020, when First Nations and wild salmon advocates took to the streets in Campbell River to protest against open-pen fish farms in B.C.’s waters. On Dec. 17, federal fisheries minister Bernadette Jordan announced her decision to phase out 19 fish farms from Discovery Islands. (Marc Kitteringham/Campbell River Mirror)
A Photo from Sept. 2020, when First Nations and wild salmon advocates took to the streets in Campbell River to protest against open-pen fish farms in B.C.’s waters. On Dec. 17, federal fisheries minister Bernadette Jordan announced her decision to phase out 19 fish farms from Discovery Islands. (Marc Kitteringham/Campbell River Mirror)

B.C. chiefs say Discovery Island fish farm process did not get reconciliation right

Wei Wai Kum and Wei Wai Kai chiefs say feds, province and industry all missed opportunities

A Photo from Sept. 2020, when First Nations and wild salmon advocates took to the streets in Campbell River to protest against open-pen fish farms in B.C.’s waters. On Dec. 17, federal fisheries minister Bernadette Jordan announced her decision to phase out 19 fish farms from Discovery Islands. (Marc Kitteringham/Campbell River Mirror)