A new report commissioned by the B.C. Salmon Farmers Association (BCSFA) estimates that the Liberal government's proposed ban on marine salmon farms in British Columbia could cost Canadian taxpayers $9 billion. The ban, set to eliminate B.C.'s top agri-food export and potentially displace 4,560 jobs, is seen as a way to appease anti-fish farming lobbies. Critics argue that the ban disregards science and economic reality, and could lead to increased imports of farmed salmon from countries like Chile and Norway, resulting in higher greenhouse gas emissions and consumer prices. The ban is also expected to have significant socio-economic impacts, including the closure of businesses in the fish processing industry and the loss of career opportunities for rural and coastal communities.