Fish Farming

WHEREAS viable wild salmon stocks are a vital component for the economic, cultural and social health of many communities in BC; AND WHEREAS the provincial government established the BC Pacific Salmon Forum with a 5 million budget in 2004 as an independent, balanced and impartial body with a mandate to analyze scientific and socio-economic issues in order to develop policy recommendations to protect and enhance the viability of wild salmon stocks and their economic, social and environmental benefits to all British Columbians, especially in regards to the issue of open-net fish farms: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the provincial government be requested to place a moratorium on any expansion of open-net fish farming on the BC coast until the final report of the BC Pacific Salmon Forum is completed.