BC fish farm workers take protest to Trudeau political rally

More than 200 fish farm workers took part in a protest at a Trudeau government political rally in British Columbia this week.

They called on the government to deliver on its promise for a responsible and achievable transition plan for BC’s fish farming companies.

The demonstration (pictured, photo courtesy Mowi) took place near the Liberal Party’s retreat in the Vancouver Island city of Nanaimo, where Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke about future investment in Canada.

His government has given BC salmon farmers five years to shut down their open pen fish farms and switch to a closed containment operation.

However, Trudeau did not meet the protestors or comment on the fish farm issue at his party’s rally.

The industry has said the time limit is far too short and there has been talk of some Norwegian companies ceasing operations in the province.

It is reported that companies such as Mowi and Skretting were represented at the protest which was mainly organised by fish farm workers and their trade unions.

They believe the government is bending to the views of radical environmental campaigners who they accuse of making false claims about fish farms.

First Nations groups are also divided on the issue, with some backing the net-pen ban and some resisting it.

Cyrus Singh, CEO of K’awat’si Economic Development Corporation, said at the rally: “This government needs to stand up and choose to honour its commitments to UNDRIP [United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples], it has to honour those commitments because Nations that are standing with us believe this sector can thrive.”