Salmon farming in B.C. should be guided by science not activism

“Decisions about our fish farms should come from those directly involved, not from activists unfamiliar with our work,” – Isaiah Robinson, Deputy Chief Councillor of the Kitasoo Xai’xais Nation

By Fabian Dawson
SeaWestNews

A First Nations leader is calling for the future of salmon farming in British Columbia to be guided by those with extensive knowledge and experience in aquaculture, rather than activists driven by an ideological opposition to the sector.

“Decisions about our fish farms should come from those directly involved, not from activists unfamiliar with our work,” said Isaiah Robinson, Deputy Chief Councillor of the Kitasoo Xai’xais Nation, which began farming salmon in its traditional territories in the late 1980’s.

“These are not scientists or veterinarians; they are activists with a vendetta against fish farms, using them as a scapegoat to distract from real threats to wild salmon-issues like climate change, overfishing, and sport fishing,” said Robinson in a fiery social media post.

The Federal Liberal government, disregarding its own scientific experts and yielding to activist pressures, is currently advancing a   transition plan for ocean-based salmon farms in B.C.,  following an announcement to ban the sector starting in 2029.

The activist groups assert they have backing from multiple First Nations but none of them are involved in salmon farming. Instead, many of them are supportive of projects in their own territories that actually threaten wild fish habitats.

These activist groups and their First Nation supporters are now pushing for oversight of the transition process.

“It’s remarkable that those who have never run fish farms in their territories and have repeatedly declined our invitations to visit the Kitasoo Xai’xais fish farms, now feel entitled to dictate the transition process,” said Robinson.

The activist groups are claiming that their “independent monitoring and oversight… will help the federal government in its goal of rebuilding trust in the science and decision-making.”

“You know what will rebuild trust? The government respecting our Rights and Title by keeping their hands out of our sovereign operations, our decision-making process, and our right to self-governance and self-determination.

“It’s crucial to understand that 100% of the remaining fish farms in BC waters operate in partnership with First Nations, reflecting our stewardship and commitment to sustainable practices. Respecting these partnerships is the only way the government will earn the trust of the coastal First Nations who have chosen to enact their sovereignty through responsible aquaculture in our unceded territories.

“We are committed to working collaboratively (on the transition process), but the focus should be on partnering with the First Nations that know their waters, steward their resources, and have everything to lose if this industry – one that is rapidly improving – is unjustly dismantled,” said Robinson.

The B.C. salmon farming sector is deeply embedded in many coastal indigenous and non-indigenous communities, wildlife ecosystems, and local economies, employing some 6,000 people directly and indirectly, engaging with over 1,000 suppliers, and contributes approximately $2 billion to the economy.

The sector also directly and indirectly employs over 700 Indigenous people and provides $120 million in total annual economic benefits to First Nations, with $42 million going directly to Indigenous communities. Today, 100 percent of BC’s farmed salmon is raised in agreement with Rights Holder First Nations.

Since 2020, the Trudeau Liberals, influenced by the science-deficit activist campaigns have already shut down 40% of salmon farms in B.C. increasing carbon emissions and wiping out jobs that are the lifeblood of rural, coastal and Indigenous communities.

Dallas Smith, a spokesman for the   Coalition of First Nations for Finfish Stewardship,  has also said that the activists and their First Nations supporters do not have any meaningful participation or involvement with aquaculture in B.C.

He pointed out that the Coastal Gas Link, the Roberts Bank Terminal 2 and several LNG projects, all of which have triggered environmental concerns over the impact on wild fish populations, are supported by many of the First Nations that have purportedly signed a petition, organised by the activists.

Like Robinson, Smith stressed that the Coalition is not opposed to any of the mega projects as First Nations involved with them can be trusted to protect their traditional lands and waters on their journey towards economic reconciliation.

“We are asking for the same trust…We as nations of the coast, trust the nations along the Fraser River that are dependent on salmon to make decisions that mitigate any impacts to that resource. But for some reason, we’re not given that same benefit.”

(File image shows Isaiah Robinson, Deputy Chief Councillor of the Kitasoo Xai’xais Nation)