Canada: Eliminating British Columbia's open-net fish farms would cost billions, report says

Published 2024년 11월 29일

Tridge summary

Representatives from various stakeholders, including Indigenous nations, are engaging with the Canadian government in Ottawa to advocate for their perspectives on the future of coastal salmon farming in British Columbia. Indigenous groups backing the federal government's plan to shut down the industry in five years due to concerns over wild salmon diseases and food security, while other First Nations and the BC Salmon Farmers Association argue for the industry's economic benefits and the potential for transitioning to closed containment systems or alternative aquaculture models like seaweed farming. A report highlights the proposed ban's projected economic downturn, including significant job losses and billions in taxpayer costs, but critics counter that the report underestimates the losses in food security for Indigenous communities if salmon farms are not phased out. The debate continues amidst calls for a more balanced approach to addressing environmental and economic concerns without significantly harming the sector, First Nations' rights, and coastal communities in British Columbia.
Disclaimer:The above summary was generated by Tridge's proprietary AI model for informational purposes.

Original content

Opposing sides in British Columbia's fractious battle over coastal open net-pen salmon farming are in Ottawa casting for support to either phase out the industry or throw it a life line. Representatives of B.C. Indigenous nations who support the federal government's plan to close the industry in five years met with Liberal government officials, while supporters who include other First Nations released a report Thursday citing massive economic fallout and job losses if the marine farms are closed. The report commissioned by the BC Salmon Farmers Association said the proposed federal ban on open net-pen salmon farms in B.C. coastal waters will cost taxpayers billions and seriously impact Canada's economy, food security and Indigenous communities. The ban would result in $9 billion of "unnecessary costs" to taxpayers to close the sector and subsidize companies with "unproven closed containment technology," said the report by Ottawa-based economics consultants RIAS Inc. "I've just sat ...

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