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BC Government and First Nations Extend Discussions around Salmon Aquaculture Tenures

Wednesday, 26 September 2018 17:48

In the heart of the Broughton Archipelago (Photo Courtesy of Kayak BC)

The new mandate will give both parties 60 days to reach an agreement regarding appropriate protection of wild salmon in the Broughton Archipelago, which is located on the central coast of British Columbia.

The British Columbia Government and the Namgis, Kwikwasut'inuxw Haxwa'mis and Mamalililiulla First Nations are extending a government-to-government mandate by 60 days regarding discussions around salmon aquaculture tenures in the Broughton Archipelago.

The Broughton Archipelago is located on the central coast of British Columbia and just north of Vancouver Island.

An original mandate regarding a letter of understanding was signed by all parties in June by three ministers and the First Nations.

The mandate highlighted action needed in the Broughton Archipelago regarding the open-net fishing issues, setting out a 90-day period to establish consensus recommendations practices.

Kwikwasut'inuxw Haxwa'mis First Nations Chief Robert Chamberlin notes why the mandate was extended.

"We've decided upon a sixty day extension to get the work accomplished...and find a solution that meets everyone's needs."

Chief Robert Chamberlin also commented on the specifics of the new extension.

"Now that we've got the process in place we're going through that process in relationship to each of the tenures... We have to understand what operations are ongoing (including) where there's new fish and where there's harvestable fish."

Chief Chamberlin notes 'choke points" are common along their traditionally territory, where up to 700,000 fish are enclosed in such a small space like fish farms and consequentially generate large quantities of sea lice, which can contaminate out-migrating natural salmon stocks.

Viruses generated from the sea lice are also transferable between oceans according to commission reports, threatening entire ecosystem which could have irreversible impacts.

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