The Cutbanks Conversations Episode 34: Disease, Deception and Decisions of Salmon Farming in BC - A Conversation with Alexandra Morton Hosts: Don Willimont and Steve Hamilton Guests: Alexandra Morton Produced: Matthew Wakeham Alexandra’s earliest interest in studying wildlife and the influence o
The new farm will infect the last salmon of Knights Inlet, already in collapse due to salmon farms on the other side of the inlet...
'We're trying to exercise our home authority and generate revenue from our territory, which we have been legislated out of,' First Nation official said.
30 November 2021 6:01 GMT Updated 30 November 2021 14:23 GMT
By Rachel Sapin
A joint proposal submitted by the Tlowitsis First Nation and Grieg for a new salmon farm in British Columbia marks the first time that a salmon farm's water lot lease and license will belong to the Tlowitsis.
"Grieg will be allowed to grow Atlantic salmon and pay us a stipend for being in the water lot lease," Thomas Smith, councilor for the Tlowitsis Nation on East Vancouver Island in British Columbia, told IntraFish. "It's all within our traditional territory."
Its also the first time Grieg Seafood British Columbia will be contracted to grow salmon on a license owned by a First Nation partner.
With 'milestone' looming, Canada's plan to phase out conventional salmon farming in BC looks increasingly complex, report shows
Read more
The proposed Ga-guump farm would be located in the Tlowitsis traditional territory of Clio Channel.
The Tlowitsis are a British Columbia First Nation of 450 registered members. Its traditional territories span the coastal area of Northern Vancouver Island, Johnstone Strait and adjacent mainland inlets.
Canada's alignment of its federal laws in recent years with the The UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), as well as its commitment to reconciliation, have given First Nations in the country increasing power to exercise territorial rights in areas of British Columbia where Norway-based companies Grieg, Mowi and Cermaq have operated salmon farms for decades.
"Grieg has been wise enough to see the writing on the wall," Smith said of the newest farm proposal and why it is different than those that have come before it.
Mowi to temporarily cease operating Canada salmon hatchery, blames Trudeau administration
Read more
The search for a new beginning
The Tlowitsis were displaced from traditional territory in the late 1960s, leading the First Nation to be culturally and physically separated from the land, according to the First Nation's website.
In the spring of 2018, the Tlowitsis finalized the purchase of a 635-acre property in the Strathcona Regional District, just south of Campbell River.
The First Nation is establishing a new home community for its citizens, known as Nenagwas, or “a place to come home to” in English.
"We're trying to exercise our home authority, and generate revenue from our territory, which we have been legislated out of," Smith said.
The revenue generated from the proposed farm is set to go to housing development in that new community, including providing light infrastructure such as water and sewer lines, Smith added.
There are three Grieg farms in Tlowitsis territory.
Grieg Seafood currently has impact benefit agreements with three First Nations on both coasts of Vancouver Island, and operates 12 of its farms with the consent of these Nations, according to the company's website.
Those agreements require the proponent to provide benefits to the First Nations in exchange for support of a project, but do not necessarily guarantee ownership or operating rights.
Smith added the Tlowitsis are currently not pursuing changes to other farm agreements with Grieg.
"We've had a good working relationship with Grieg since 2014," he said. "We’ve looked at it a few times. Given the logistics and legal process, it would be complicated to do it."
The Tlowitsis still need approval from provincial authorities as well as the Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) to move forward with the new salmon farm. (Copyright)
'We're trying to exercise our home authority and generate revenue from our territory, which we have been legislated out of,' First Nation official said.
Wait until the NGO's and others start world-wide PR campaigns against buying and eating polluting, disease spreading, water based salmon feedlots. They can encourage boycotts that will pressure buyers to drop net pen farmed salmon like they have in other areas.
Can FN's foolishly decide to run net pen salmon farms - yes. Are FN net based salmon farms exempt from changes in market demands and preferences - NO! They are businesses like any other and will need to change with the times. Be interesting to see how this plays out.
to add to WitW's post:
First Nations obviously have the right to pursue economic opportunities within their territories. However, all industries need to be regulated and monitored to ensure they do not impact the wild stocks. It is difficult to accomplish that using the open net-pen technology. And as described earlier on this thread - that lack of risk assessment and management could end up pushing adjacent FNs into court action. Time will tell how this goes.
And it is interesting how this industry talks out of both sides of their mouths at the same time. On one hand they are lauding UNDRIP and how FN have control in their territories as long as that suits the industry while calling themselves "wise" - meanwhile their lawyers are in court asking for injunctions against those decisions by FNs when they disagree with those same companies.
Wait until the NGO's and others start world-wide PR campaigns against buying and eating polluting, disease spreading, water based salmon feedlots. They can encourage boycotts that will pressure buyers to drop net pen farmed salmon like they have in other areas.
Can FN's foolishly decide to run net pen salmon farms - yes. Are FN net based salmon farms exempt from changes in market demands and preferences - NO! They are businesses like any other and will need to change with the times. Be interesting to see how this plays out.
The anti everything groups already do what you mention, peta comes to mind but dam i love a good steak, wont stop most people from eating what they want to
to add to WitW's post:
First Nations obviously have the right to pursue economic opportunities within their territories. However, all industries need to be regulated and monitored to ensure they do not impact the wild stocks. It is difficult to accomplish that using the open net-pen technology. And as described earlier on this thread - that lack of risk assessment and management could end up pushing adjacent FNs into court action. Time will tell how this goes.
And it is interesting how this industry talks out of both sides of their mouths at the same time. On one hand they are lauding UNDRIP and how FN have control in their territories as long as that suits the industry while calling themselves "wise" - meanwhile their lawyers are in court asking for injunctions against those decisions by FNs when they disagree with those same companies.
With UNDRIP being implemented and the direction it looks to be going, after ALL the dust settles, do you truly believe that 1st nation bands/family will still operate under the rule of colonial law? and colonial regulations in their territory?
Some dont now ffs
With UNDRIP being implemented and the direction it looks to be going, after ALL the dust settles, do you truly believe that 1st nation bands/family will still operate under the rule of colonial law? and colonial regulations in their territory?
Some dont now ffs
Excellent questions, SF. I don't think anyone has a crystal ball as to what laws will be fully implemented in 10 or 100 years in the future. And the laws within Canada will continue to evolve, as will hereditary law as applied to any particular FN territory. s. 35 of the Constitution Act isn't going away - neither is UNDRIP, and Bill C-15 got past the 1st reading and will be implemented some time soon. It will be interesting to see if hereditary law will supersede parts of colonial law, and if those laws will apply to non-aboriginals in those territories. It will also be interesting to see if the Indian Act will stay, along with Band Councils years down the road.
In any event - in this particular circumstance - the issues raised a page or 2 back are still unresolved over identification of affected FNs, and potential and realized impacts.
With UNDRIP being implemented and the direction it looks to be going, after ALL the dust settles, do you truly believe that 1st nation bands/family will still operate under the rule of colonial law? and colonial regulations in their territory?
Some dont now ffs
Don't need to think long and hard as history, experience and common sense clearly and simply dictate here. It does not matter who is producing what product, under whatever laws (colonial or FN's), regulations, policies, procedures, cultural customs, etc. FN's operate like any other business in that they will always be directly impacted by public perceptions, preferences and choice. These are in turn influenced by education programs, PR campaigns, advertising, regular media and social media, court decisions and peer and social pressure, etc.
This in turn directly impacts what the public buys, or does not buy and how much. It's basic economic/business theory and practice and FN's are not exempt.
If the public think/feel that net pen farmed salmon are bad for the health of humans and/or the environment, then they won't buy it and then the related businesses either fail or have adapt like so many businesses and industries have in the past. Hopefully, all salmon farming will adapt to move onto the land where their harmful environmental impacts can be better managed.
Don't need to think long and hard as history, experience and common sense clearly and simply dictate here. It does not matter who is producing what product, under whatever laws (colonial or FN's), regulations, policies, procedures, cultural customs, etc. FN's operate like any other business in that they will always be directly impacted by public perceptions, preferences and choice. These are in turn influenced by education programs, PR campaigns, advertising, regular media and social media, court decisions and peer and social pressure, etc.
This in turn directly impacts what the public buys, or does not buy and how much. It's basic economic/business theory and practice and FN's are not exempt.
If the public think/feel that net pen farmed salmon are bad for the health of humans and/or the environment, then they won't buy it and then the related businesses either fail or have adapt like so many businesses and industries have in the past. Hopefully, all salmon farming will adapt to move onto the land where their harmful environmental impacts can be better managed.
Thats the most ridiculous stuff ever said!, we dont live in a utopian perfect world, never will, as you go buy more **** made/grown and caught from slave labor in countries with zero accountability to save a buck
Thats the most ridiculous stuff ever said!, we dont live in a utopian perfect world, never will, as you go buy more **** made/grown and caught from slave labor in countries with zero accountability to save a buck
No need to be nasty and imply false and negative actions on my part - pretty damn childish and time to grow up eh!
I do not think certain folks are fully understanding what I am saying. I am thinking it's because for some unknown reason certain folks don't want to, as it is pretty basic point I am making here.
I cannot help folks who do not understand basic business and economic theory. Like always consumers and their preferences on how and on what they spend their money on will dictate the fate and future of any business (FN based or not). Always been this way, and always will be this way in a free market economy - only a fool would argue against this obvious fact. If folks cannot understand this simple concept then it's time to move on to another topic as we are all wasting our time on this one. TTFN.
Three salmon farmers in the top four places. For the third year in a row, Mowi has topped the FAIRR Index, which ranks the world's largest listed animal protein producers on sustainability. The annual survey is the world's most comprehensive analysis of ESG sustainability for producers of meat...
The B.C. Salmon Farmers Association is citing a new report on sea lice in its latest volley against open-net-pen opponents, as the federal deadline approaches to close all Discovery Islands fish farms by the end of June.
This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
www.saltwire.com
