At present, Canada’s federal government and the BC Provincial government both support, promote and favour the expansion of the open net-cage salmon aquaculture industry. Despite abundant scientific evidence that use of this technology is unsustainable and is implicated in the decline of wild salmon stocks and other environmental hazards not just in BC, but worldwide, both governments continue to advocate for and support the expansion of open net-cages.

CAAR’s Government Relations team works to foster change in government policy and advocates for a shift to closed containment technology for salmon aquaculture. We work with government scientists and officials, as well as industry representatives to advocate for reforms to policy and practices in order to achieve:

1. Protection of wild salmon, BC’s marine environment and coastal communities.
2. The development of a sustainable aquaculture industry that contributes to the economy of BC and Canada without risking ecosystem health.

History

Many organizations (including two current CAAR member groups) have been working on salmon aquaculture issues since the late 80s and early 90s.

Since CAAR's formation in 2001, member organizations have worked through Provincial processes, dialogue and engagement to pursue fundamental changes in salmon aquaculture management in BC, while vigorously campaigning publicly to increase awareness of the issues and to advocate for change.

CAAR member groups have participated in:

• the Gillespie Inquiry (1986)
• the B.C. Ombudsman’s inquiry (1988)
• the Salmon Aquaculture Review (1995)
• the BC Aquaculture Research and Development Council (BCARDC) (2001)
• the Leggatt Inquiry (2001)
• the Special Legislative Committee Hearings on Sustainable Aquaculture (2007)
• Pacific Salmon Forum consultations
• dialogue processes involving industry, First Nations, the Provincial government
• supporting a $2.4 million dollar grant by Sustainable Technology Development Canada to the AgriMarine floating closed tank farm on Vancouver Island

Throughout, CAAR and member organizations have offered both rigorous scientific analysis and locally-observed & documented information regarding the numerous problems associated with open net-cage salmon farming and have urged policy initiatives and solutions that would maintain aquaculture jobs while protecting BC’s marine health and wild salmon.

Government Inaction

In 2004, the CAAR member group Georgia Strait Alliance published a government report card assessing the regulation of salmon farming in BC, its successes, failures and shortcomings. In 2007, the team updated the report card and found BC still sadly lacking in the development of sustainable salmon farming. The government has never responded to the recommendations.

In 2004, the Salmon Aquaculture Dialogue, involving representatives of the international salmon farming industry and non-governmental organizations such as CAAR, commissioned a series of independent technical assessments, including one on chemical and antibiotic use in the global industry. The BC salmon aquaculture industry’s shortcomings are clearly documented in the Executive Summary of this report.

The BC government repeatedly claims to be leading the world in salmon aquaculture management and standards. However, a report commissioned by the provincially funded BC Pacific Salmon Forum (PSF) challenges that claim. The report, B.C. Finfish Aquaculture Regulation: An Information Review and Progress Report by Gareth Porter gave BC an average overall score of 5.1 out of 10. Read Gareth Porter’s report here.

In 2007, CAAR submitted a full budget briefing and encouraged the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands and the Provincial government to establish the Closed System Aquaculture Innovation and Development Fund. This $10 million fund would provide investment to entrepreneurs who demonstrate the ability to build and operate closed system salmon aquaculture projects. Government support would enable private operators to prove systems without carrying the full costs and without forcing existing businesses into an immediate, capital-intensive transition to technology with which they are not familiar.

Both 2008 and 2009 Provincial budgets did not contain any funding commitments for closed containment. We have made a further submission to the 2010 Provincial budget process.