Whereas British Columbias coastal communities rely on healthy waterways and healthy marine ecosystems including fisheries for economic, social and ecological wellbeing and where the proliferation of open-net fish farms with non-native fish species threatens local waterways and wild fish species, undermining the economic, social and ecological wellbeing of local communities; And whereas many open-net fish farms have been established in Indigenous territories in the absence of adequate consultation with Indigenous governments, undermining the shared objective of reconciliation and respectful relations between Indigenous and non-Indigenous governments: Therefore be it resolved that the Province of British Columbia consult First Nations governments, local governments, conservation organizations and industry on a transition plan to closed-containment aquaculture, including a just transition for affected workers.
Ministry of Agriculture Commercial and recreational fisheries and aquaculture are of great importance to B.C., providing significant economic and social benefits across the Province. Government supports the objective of transitioning aquaculture operations to closed-containment systems where practical and appropriate. The Ministry of Agricultures goal is to ensure sustainable and resilient fisheries resources, to meet cultural, environmental, social, and economic interests and ensure safe food supply for future generations. There are still significant barriers to large-scale transition to closed-containment aquaculture. Challenges include high energy consumption costs, technological barriers, and the need for closed-containment systems to be located near their markets to reduce transportation costs. High capital costs and lending rates from financial institutions that are risk-averse to providing financing to aquaculture operations during uncertain economic conditions have made financing difficult for the development of large, closed-containment salmon farms. The Province will continue to work with Fisheries and Oceans Canada DFO and industry in exploring options andor incentives for adopting innovative new technologies closed containment and others and minimize the risk to wild salmon. Despite these challenges, provincial government staff across several agencies work to ensure B.C.s policies support the conservation and protection of healthy waterways and marine ecosystems, including looking at options for supporting the transition of marine net pens to closed-containment systems. The Government of Canada has recently introduced the Fisheries and Aquaculture Clean Technology Adaptation Program FACTAP which is designed to assist the seafood industry aquaculture, capture, recreational fisheries and seafood processing with upgrading existing equipment and processes to clean technologyprocess alternatives. FACTAP is cost-shared between DFO, the Province represented by the Ministry of Agriculture, and applicants. B.C. has also recently revised its policies on salmon-farming tenures to ensure increased reliance on best-available science and assurances from DFO on the minimization of risk to wild salmon stocks. Effective June 2022, the Province will only grant Land Act tenures to fish farm operators who have satisfied DFO that their operations will not adversely impact wild salmon stocks, and who have negotiated agreements with the First Nations in whose territories they propose to operate. In June 2018, B.C. launched a multi-stakeholder Wild Salmon Advisory Council WSAC that is assisting in the development of a strategy to support restoring healthy and abundant wild salmon stocks in B.C. The Council consists of 14 British Columbians who have a broad understanding of the role that salmon play within B.C.s environment, for coastal and inland Indigenous communities, and local economies up and down the coast. The Councils report was made public in October, 2018 to coincide with the start of the International Year of the Salmon. The report provided 14 specific recommendations to support the health, habitat and management of wild salmon as well as the sustainability of the wild salmon industry in British Columbia. Government had planned to refer the report to the Select Standing Committee on Agriculture, Fish and Food to conduct a public engagement but, due to scheduling challenges and time constraints, chose to ask the Council to lead the public engagement. Multiple community meetings were held, and those unable to attend in person were able to provide their input to the Council through an online public engagement site. Government will begin developing proposals for a made-in-B.C. wild salmon strategy this summer, supported by the advice and guidance of the WSAC.