Canadian government facing new BC salmon legal threat

AT least two First Nations groups are taking legal action against the Canadian government over its decision to allow open net salmon farming in British Columbia for the next five years.

They are also threatening to sue the salmon farming companies operating in province which include Mowi and Grieg.

The groups are the ‘Namgis and the Kwikwasut’inuxw Haxwa’mis and said this week that the licence extension infringed their Aboriginal rights.

It is just over a month ago that the federal government said open net farming in BC will have to cease, but gave the companies until 2029 to find an alternative.

However, the two First Nations groups concerned have attacked the government claiming they are beholden to the salmon farming industry.

Kwikwasut’inuxw Haxwa’mis Chief Rick Johnson said there’s been “great frustration” about the wild salmon populations, which he claims is declining. The fish, he said was the group’s “most precious resource”.

He claimed: “Our responsibility as chiefs is the protection of wild salmon and we’ve known for a long time now that the Department of Fisheries and Oceans’ mandate is not to protect wild salmon. It is there to make sure that the industry can do what they want.”

Meanwhile the move by the other group, the ‘Namgis’ claims fish stocks of pink, coho, chinook and sockeye salmon have become “severely depleted.

But not all First Nations groups are against salmon farming and some have called for a re-think on the decision to ban open salmon farming.

The entire issue looks set to be fought out in the courts for several more months yet. In the meantime, the salmon companies and the hundreds of people who work for them will be looking on anxiously.