Canada: Federal government decision expected on controversial British Columbia's fish farms

OTTAWA — The federal government is expected to announce the way forward for fish farms along British Columbia's coast. The ocean-pen aquaculture operations have been a flashpoint between First Nations, the industry, wild salmon advocates and environmentalists for several years. Fisheries Minister Diane Lebouthillier will make the announcement in Ottawa this afternoon, while Energy Minister Jonathan Wilkinson is expected to make the same announcement in Vancouver. Lebouthillier has been consulting with Indigenous leaders, industry stakeholders and coastal communities about the government's transition plan involving 79 salmon farms after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau pledged during the 2019 election that his government would phase out ocean-pen farms. The B.C. Salmon Farmers Association has said an economic analysis concluded the province could lose about 4,700 jobs and more than $1 billion in annual economic activity if the fish farm licences are not renewed. Former fisheries ...