B.C. workers rally against federal decision to close fish farms
There was outrage on the streets of Campbell River on Thursday as more than 100 fish farm workers gathered to raise concerns about the closure of open net pen fish farms in the area.
"We wanted to make sure we were heard by Rachel Blaney at her office, our local member of parliament, so we chose to finish there and have a few people speak," said Mike Dobbs, area production manager for Mowi Canada.
The workers are upset at a recent decision by federal Fisheries Minister Joyce Murray to close down fish farms around Vancouver Island.
(BC Salmon Farmers Association)"I've already experienced closures of the Broughton area at the request of the First Nations of that area, and significant closures of the Campbell River area," said Dobbs.
Murray made the decision not to renew fish farm licences in the Discovery Islands region to protect wild salmon populations.
"The potential extra stress on [the salmon], of going through this area of our coast, just was not acceptable," said Murray.
What's not acceptable, the fish farm industry says, is the loss of more than $1 billion in economic activity, and around 5,000 jobs.
"There's already been a significant loss of jobs," said Kaitlin Guitard, a Mowi Canada fish health lab manager.
"We lost about 40 per cent of our farms already, so that right there is a couple of hundred of jobs in the industry alone."
Industry workers also point to countless more spinoff jobs for suppliers and transportation that will be affected by the closures.
"We're going to keep fighting the good fight because we are good salmon farmers and we are great at what we do, and we love our oceans," said Guitard.
Aquatic science biologist Shawn Stenhouse releases an Atlantic salmon back into its tank during a Fisheries Department health audit at the Okisollo fish farm near Campbell River, B.C. Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2018. (THE CANADIAN PRESS /Jonathan Hayward)Salmon farms have long divided people living along the coast, including within First Nations.
"The elders are very disgusted about what's going on here, it's a dirty, foreign industry," said George Quocksister Jr., hereditary chief of the Laichwiltach Nation.
"I can say dirty because everybody's seen the videos," he said.
Dobbs says there's room to continue operating while respecting the wishes of First Nations.
"We have First Nations on the coast that have made the decision that they do not want farms in their territory, and that is certainly something that will be respected by the industry," he said.
Thursday's rally-goers say they want the Canada's fisheries minister to listen to the science surrounding fish farms and reverse her decision.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
'Sophisticated' cyberattacks detected on B.C. government networks, premier says
There has been a "sophisticated" cybersecurity breach detected on B.C. government networks, Premier David Eby confirmed Wednesday evening.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs to start for Canucks in Game 1 vs. Oilers
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs will start in net for the Canucks as Vancouver kicks off a second-round series against the Edmonton Oilers Wednesday night.
Nijjar murder suspect says he had Canadian study permit in immigration firm's video
One of the Indian nationals accused of murdering British Columbia Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar says in a social media video that he received a Canadian study permit with the help of an Indian immigration consultancy.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.