WHEREAS the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans has rejected a proposal by the Comox-Strathcona Regional District to investigate the development of closed containment demonstration projects for salmon farming because the Ministry believes that land-based salmon farming is uneconomical; AND WHEREAS a demonstration project may assist in developing more environmentally and economically sound methods of fish farming, with collected fish waste actually proving to be a valuable resource and byproduct for this industry: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Union of British Columbia Municipalities work with the Government of Canada to secure further research and development funds to operate a closed containment demonstration project on Vancouver Island, which could thoroughly research the environmental and economic benefits of closed containment fish farming.
Ministry of Fisheries Oceans Resolution B123 concerns closed-containment aquaculture. DFO is currently evaluating scientific and economic factors related to current closed-containment technologies to gain baseline information on this method of aquaculture. DFO will then be in a better position to provide advice for such research.