Science vs sovereignty in the fight to farm salmon
Indigenous communities in BC and Washington State turn to the courts to get their voices heard and their traditional rights to farm salmon respected. By Fabian DawsonSeaWestNews Indigenous communities in the Pacific Northwest, frustrated with “out of touch politicians” pandering…
Aquaculture workers fight back against fish farm ban
Show us the science that is killing our jobs demand Washington State’s fish farm workers in a new aquaculture advocacy campaign By Fabian DawsonSeaWestNews Aquaculture workers in Washington State are calling on legislators to investigate the “unilateral and unscientific decision”…
Minister can’t be “trusted” say salmon farming First Nations
First Nations’ leaders call for ouster of Fisheries Minister Joyce Murray following her controversial, unscientific and damaging decision to shut down salmon farms in BC By Fabian DawsonSeaWestNews A coalition of First Nations is calling for the removal of Federal…
Commissioner Franz must explain her ‘political’ aquaculture decision
A broad range of American fisheries officials and scientists are calling for an inquiry into the sudden ban on commercial net pen aquaculture in Washington State. By Fabian DawsonSeaWestNews Pressure is mounting onWashington Public Lands Commissioner, Hilary Franz, to explain…
Science not politics should drive sustainable aquaculture policies
The impact of recent political decisions relating to aquaculture in British Columbia and Washington equates to the direct loss of hundreds of full-time salmon farming jobs Guest CommentaryTimothy Kennedy The recent political announcement of steelhead trout farm closures in Washington…
America plans to grow more seafood in its oceans
New five-year national aquaculture plan signals that the concept of growing fish on land is not yet ready for prime time. By Fabian DawsonSeaWestNews America’s newly unveiled 5-Year Strategic Plan for Aquaculture, illustrates the urgent need to increase seafood production…
“Can’t do” approach plagues aquaculture sector in Canada
Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance calls for a shakeup at the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) to address the perceived conflict of interest at the agency By Fabian DawsonSeaWestNews The discussion around aquaculture, especially salmon farming in British Columbia, is…
Another day, another lie by anti-salmon farming activists
Fisheries and Oceans Canada denies claims by anti-aquaculture activists of increased farmed salmon production in British Columbia’s Clayoquot Sound By Fabian DawsonSeaWestNews The Government of Canada is being forced to once again deny claims by anti-fish farm activists that it…
Exhibition dives into history, Innovations and challenges of aquaculture
Aquaculture: Farming the Waters is a new exhibition at the Canada Agriculture and Food Museum By Fabian DawsonSeaWestNews The past, present and future of aquaculture in Canada is being featured in a new exhibition that explores the world of farming…
“Responsible aquaculture is needed” says Buy BC’s new Chef Ambassador
“If our growing population wants to keep eating fish (and I certainly want to) the future includes farming,” – Chef Ned Bell By Samantha McLeodSeaWestNews The only way we can continue to consume seafood with any sense of sustainability is…
Aquaculture sector thanks Atlantic Canada’s premiers
“When it comes to salmon farming, Atlantic Canada is unique – and that uniqueness is key to our sector’s success,” states an open letter to premiers Dear Atlantic Premiers: As our region, our country and the rest of the world…
Net gains from aquaculture growing around the world
Record aquaculture production makes critical contribution to global food security says UN By Samantha McLeodSeaWestNews Aquaculture has grown faster than capture fisheries in the last two years and is expected to expand further over the next decade across the world,…
First Nations assert traditional rights to farm salmon
Aquaculture-dependent First Nations in BC set to defy government agenda to remove salmon farms from their traditional territories By Fabian DawsonSeaWestNews Aquaculture dependent First Nations say they will assert their traditional rights to allow salmon farming in their territorial waters,…
Canada needs to intensify agri-food and aquaculture production
“With rapidly rising food prices and the growing spectre of global food shortages, Canada not only has the potential, but an obligation, to support food production as a top policy priority.” – Canadian food producers By Fabian DawsonSeaWestNews Canadian food…
“It will be a shuckingly good seafood celebration”
BC Seafood Festival returns to the Comox Valley with a range of chefs and events to celebrate the bounty of our oceans. By Samantha McLeodSeaWestNews Western Canada’s largest seafood festival is returning to the Comox Valley on Vancouver Island this…
Politics drives Faustian salmon aquaculture pact in BC
“To remain in power, the PMO is willing to sacrifice the citizens and their children and future generations of Northern Vancouver Islanders to a life of poverty and isolation. And the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans is an all-too-willing accomplice.”…
False facts matter to BC’s anti-salmon farming activists
After losing two recent court cases, anti-salmon farming activists in BC have embarked on a concerted campaign to discredit aquaculture and fisheries scientists CommentaryBy Fabian DawsonSeaWestNews British Columbia’s anti-fish farming crowd, licking its wounds after two recent court rulings decimated…
Land-based salmon farming not for us: First Nations coalition
Aquaculture-dependent First Nations decry Ottawa’s lack of understanding on what transitioning open-net salmon farming to growing fish on land means to remote Indigenous coastal communities. By Fabian DawsonSeaWestNews Moving to land-based salmon farming is not an option for aquaculture-dependent coastal…
First Nations want ‘Aquaculture Zone’ off Vancouver Island
“We are working towards sustainability of both fisheries and aquaculture…they can both exist in our waters, but it should be our community that decides what that looks like for our Traditional Territory,” – The Gwa’sala-‘Nakwaxda’xw Nations By Fabian DawsonSeaWestNews Two…
Respect our rights to salmon farming say First Nations
“Our coalition is opposed to the federal government disregarding science and bowing to unfounded activist claims on salmon farming that, if heeded, will severely damage our communities, and deny our rights and title,” – Coalition of First Nations for Finfish…
Licences in limbo threaten thousands of aquaculture jobs
Vancouver Island communities will lose more than 4,700 aquaculture-related jobs if the Federal Government does not renew 79 salmon farming licences immediately By Fabian DawsonSeaWestNews British Columbia’s indigenous and non-Indigenous coastal communities will lose more than 4,700 jobs and $1.2…
As Canada dithers, nations move to expand aquaculture
Unlike Canada, which keeps bowing to anti-aquaculture activists, countries around the world are taking strident steps to expand seafood farming in their waters with new legislative frameworks. By Fabian DawsonSeaWestNews A trio of seafood experts are calling on nations around…
Salmon farmer Mowi tops global sustainable protein rankings
Salmon farmers at the forefront of sustainable food production in the latest Coller FAIRR Protein Index, which ranks the world’s key food producers on sustainability BySeaWestNews As the debate over maritime aquaculture rages on in British Columbia, two of the…
Anti-salmon farm activists trample on First Nations’ rights
Anti-salmon farm activists are signalling that the collective and individual rights of First Nations should be disregarded when it comes to marine aquaculture operations in traditional territories By Fabian DawsonSeaWestNews Anti-aquaculture activists in British Columbia are calling on the federal…
Aquaculture will help rebuild Salish Sea – tribal leader
“Sustainable fish-farming allows us to continue harvesting locally grown seafood without further depleting our native stocks. I firmly believe aquaculture is part of the solution, not the problem.” Commentary By W. Ron AllenTribal Chair of the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe If the past…
Job losses mount over BC salmon farm closures
Workers at Vancouver Island salmon hatchery among the first casualties of the Discovery Islands’ decision, which is expected to kill 1,535 aquaculture-related jobs, mainly in BC’s coastal and indigenous communities. By Fabian DawsonSeaWestNews It was just about two weeks ago…
Fishy fear mongering dominates new anti-salmon farm campaign
“Our salmon production is totally dependent upon a healthy ocean environment and we are on the seas constantly monitoring the waters we work in…not in some downtown Vancouver office creating fear mongering propaganda so that the activists can get a…
Aquaculture propels First Nations, tribal communities towards ‘self-reliance’
New video shows the value of aquaculture for the environment and economic growth of tribal communities in the Pacific Northwest By SeaWestNews Tribal communities across the Pacific Northwest are diversifying into aquaculture to provide economic opportunities and food security for…
Documentaries vs ‘Shockumentaries’ in the world of aquaculture
Misleading claims, erroneous statistics and out-of-context interviews dominate ‘Shockumentaries’ that pedal falsehoods about aquaculture, especially salmon farming. By Fabian DawsonSeaWestNews Documentary filmmakers are creative artists for whom ethical behaviour is at the core of their projects. Their primary relationship with…
What Canada’s next Fisheries Minister needs to do about aquaculture
Canada’s next Fisheries Minister, the fifth in just six years, needs to think outside the box for the sustainable growth of aquaculture By Fabian DawsonSeaWestNews Canada’s next Fisheries Minister needs to think outside the box and challenge the status quo…