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…
Controversial salmon farming decision heads back to court
First Nations and salmon farmers seek judicial review of minister’s aquaculture decision that prevents them from raising fish in the Discovery Islands of British Columbia. By Fabian DawsonSeaWestNews Two British Columbia First Nations are asking the courts to overturn a…
Fishy aquaculture decision in British Columbia under fire
“After eight years, the Trudeau government continues to fail to provide transparency and accountability in its fisheries and oceans decisions.” By Fabian DawsonSeaWestNews The Trudeau government’s move to close down open net-pen salmon farms in the Discovery Islands of British…
Ottawa rejects science, betrays First Nations with aquaculture decision
Decision to shut down Discovery Islands salmon farms goes against First Nations Reconciliation, increases food costs and devastates local economies By Fabian DawsonSeaWestNews The Federal Government has ordered the shutdown of salmon farms in BC’s Discovery Islands, walking back on…
BC salmon farm closures trigger record high prices
Price spikes are being driven by government decisions to reduce supply of BC’s farm-raised salmon, states the Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance (CAIA). By Fabian DawsonSeaWestNews As food prices continue to soar, government decisions to shut down salmon farms in British…
Salmon farmers want more time to develop transition plan
Future of aquaculture in the Discovery Islands should be part of Transition Plan for all of BC, say salmon farmers and First Nations By Fabian DawsonSeaWestNews. BC’s salmon farmers are calling on the government to allow for more time to…
Let us keep our salmon farms say First Nation leaders
Salmon aquaculture operations have brought us out of a dark era of depression, poverty, and suicides, say First Nation leaders in a series of poignant videos. By Fabian DawsonSeaWestNews First Nation leaders from British Columbia’s coastal communities are demanding that…
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…
Federal Court rejects ministerial bid to shut down BC salmon farms
New ruling reaffirms that “salmon aquaculture in B.C. poses no more than a minimal risk to wild salmon”, countering the false claims by anti-fish farm activists. By Fabian DawsonSeaWestNews The Federal Court has ordered the government to set aside its…
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…
Minister issues fish transfer licence in contentious zone
Transfer permit issued to Yellow Island Aquaculture in the Discovery Islands is “in the interest of ocean science”, says Fisheries Minister Joyce Murray. By Fabian DawsonSeaWestNews Ottawa has approved a fish transfer licence application by a small aquaculture operation in…
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…
Surrey pushes for pause on salmon farm closures
Town Hall on salmon farm closures in the remote Discovery Islands paints bleak picture of lost businesses, jobs and family livelihoods in Surrey, BC’s urban hub for the aquaculture industry. By Fabian DawsonSeaWestNews The Surrey Board of Trade is calling…
Minister thumbs her nose at judge, First Nations over aquaculture decision
Bowing to demands by eco-activists, Fisheries Minister Bernadette Jordan continues to demonstrate a complete lack of respect and concern for the people who depend on aquaculture for their livelihoods, says fish farmer By Fabian DawsonSeaWestNews Canada’s Fisheries Minister Bernadette Jordan…
Job losses from salmon farm closures alarms BC
“I am deeply concerned about the job losses and the overall economic impact of the federal government’s decision to close salmon farms in the Discovery Islands,” – Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation. By Fabian DawsonSeaWestNews The…
BC salmon farm closures will hit Surrey hard
Surrey stands to lose 344 jobs and $220 million in annual revenue with closures of salmon farms in BC’s Discovery Islands, says a new report, which examines the impact of the rural aquaculture industry to an urban community. By Fabian…
Court allows baby salmon transfer in Discovery Islands
“The only evidence before me is that today, salmon aquaculture in B.C. poses no more than a minimal risk to wild salmon” Federal Court Judge, Mr. Justice Panagiotis Pamel By Fabian DawsonSeaWestNews The Federal Court has ruled that fish farmers…
Court rejects Morton’s missive on BC fish farms
“Ms. Morton’s proposed affidavit contains untested hearsay evidence, contains improper opinion evidence under the guise of being factual evidence” on BC fish farms – Federal Court of Canada By Fabian DawsonSeaWestNews The Federal Court of Canada has rejected attempts by…
Ignorance spurs bullying in BC’s aquaculture industry
Why are those with the least knowledge of aquaculture making the most noise about salmon farms and bullying women in the industry? CommentaryBy Fabian DawsonSeaWestNews The old adage that empty vessels make the most noise seems to be a cherished…
Federal Court snubs First Nations in salmon farming dispute
In a disturbing ruling, the Federal court has rejected intervenor status by five First Nations in the Discovery Islands’ salmon farming dispute, opting to hear submissions from activists perpetuating the ‘Big Lie’ about aquaculture in BC. By Fabian DawsonSeaWestNews The…
Quid-pro-quo poser in BC salmon farming ban
After ignoring her own scientists, Federal Fisheries Minister Bernadette Jordan also rebuffed her deputy minister when deciding to ban salmon farming in BC’s Discovery Islands, an internal government document shows. By Fabian DawsonSeaWestNews Federal Fisheries Minister Bernadette Jordan’s hasty…
Canada launches ocean literacy plan while keeping salmon farmers in the dark
Three months after the devastating decision to close salmon farms in the Discovery Islands, Ravi Kahlon, B.C.’s minister of jobs, economic recovery and innovation says he has not received any information about the plan from Fisheries Minister Bernadette Jordan By…
Mowi in court to stop mass salmon slaughter
Mowi Canada West files injunction to suspend Federal Government order that compels it to kill 12 million healthy salmon, which could provide 235 million meals. By Fabian DawsonSeaWestNews The Federal government’s sudden decision to stop salmon farming in the waters…
Prize and prejudice in BC’s salmon aquaculture industry
First-ever BC Aquaculture Innovation Awards announced as salmon farmers challenge Federal order to shut down their operations in the Discovery Islands. By Fabian DawsonSeaWestNews From advanced ship technology to vaccine development and environmental monitoring of the seas, BC is a…
BC salmon farms shutdown will have devastating impacts
A new report lays bare widespread economic, human and animal welfare impacts that will result from shutting down salmon farms in BC’s Discovery Islands. By Fabian DawsonSeaWestNews BC’s salmon farmers will have to destroy 10.7 million young fish – the…
BC salmon farms decision attacked by aquaculture stakeholders
Canada’s Department of Fisheries and Oceans announces new aquaculture engagement process as it defends decision to phase out salmon farms in BC’s Discovery Islands By Fabian DawsonSeaWestNews Canada has announced a series of online engagements for a plan to transition…
‘Dead Loss’ report on aquaculture is dead wrong
BC Premier John Horgan takes aim at federal aquaculture decision, as calls mount for anti-salmon farm activist groups to be held accountable for spreading false information By Fabian DawsonSeaWestNews Using guesstimates and fact-deficit analyses, a UK-based activist group named “Changing…
“What now Prime Minister”, ask aquaculture millennial leaders
Decision to phase out salmon farms in BC’s Discovery Islands is having a profound impact on young people, who once looked ahead to a long and positive career path in aquaculture By SeaWestNews “What about my mortgage?” “What about my…
Build back better with fisheries and aquaculture: UN
“The fisheries and aquaculture sector has a crucial contribution to make within the Four Betters: Better Production, Better Nutrition, Better Environment and Better Life” – Qu Dongyu , Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)…
BC salmon farmers seek judicial reviews over aquaculture ban
Canadian Federation of Agriculture joins growing chorus of support for BC salmon farmers and urges government to review Discovery Islands aquaculture ban By Fabian DawsonSeaWestNews Mowi Canada West, Cermaq Canada and Grieg Seafood BC, which risk losing a significant part…