MLA's provide background into committee deliberations

The Daily News completed its comprehensive coverage into the Fish Farming report on Thursday, with a Question and Answer session with the North Coast’s MLA, Gary Coons.

As well, from the front page they review the details from the chairman of the committee, Robin Austin of Skeena, who says that eventually the Liberals will come around to understanding “the will of the people”.

A process which may take a bit longer than he thinks, judging by the remarks of Pat Bell the Liberal Agriculture Minister.

Fish farm report reflects public opinion says MLA
The Daily News
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Page Two

Daily News reporter Leanne Ritchie interviewed North Coast MLA Gary Coons about his support of the sustainable Aquaculture Committee’s final report that was released yesterday and about the impact of suggestion that there be no farms north of Cape Caution. Here’s what he had to say.

Question: The report recommends no new farms north of Cape Caution (the tip of Vancouver Island), how do you explain your support of this report to the Chief and Council in Kitkatla who are working with Marine Harvest to develop sites and job opportunities for their village?

Coons: I believe British Columbians spoke. We had 18 months of intensive input and heard from hundreds of witnesses and had thousands of pieces of evidence reading material. On the North Coast, it was heard loud and clear that there are concerns about open net technology and there needs to be a swing toward protecting wild salmon and the marine environment and this is going to be a fair and balanced approach to it.

Question: How would you respond to the concern that opposing development in Kitkatla's traditional territory is a violation of Kitkatla's aboriginal rights and title?

Coons: I would say that's something that needs to be sorted out with First Nations in the region. Traditionally, with the sharing, there is a concern with the wild stocks going through their territory and I believe until we have First Nations consolidation on the issue that this is a safe approach. We have heard loud and clear from the majority of British Columbians that wild stocks are of number one importance.

Question: If Kitkatla's neighbours don't want open net fish farms and there needs to be more science done before development occurs, do you have any suggestions for Kitkatla for how they solve their currently unemployment problem?

Coons: Our report recommends the expansion of shellfish aquaculture to help many First Nations in coastal communities to hopefully drive economic development up and move forward in that area. We hope government will support that and put in the necessary testing areas and the initiatives to proactively go towards shellfish in lieu of open net fish farms until we have ocean-based closed containment at a point where we can incorporate it in the waters.

Question: The Kitasoo and Marine Harvest need the approval of new sites on the Central Coast to continue with their current level of production and let fallow the sites they already have. Does this report allow them to pursue those new sites and keep that industry going?

Coons: I would say that the existing Klemtu sites will be grandfathered, so they will be keeping what they have now at the current density but again we heard so much controversy in that region that we recommended the sites be grandfathered subject to negotiations with First Nations in the area and Marine Harvest. We honestly believe the CAAR Marine Harvest relationship is one that needs be fostered and built open.

(This agreement was signed by Marine Harvest Canada and the nine member groups of the Coastal Alliance for Aquaculture Reform CAAR including coastal First Nations in the Campbell River area in 2006. It sets up a "Framework for Dialogue" that will foster collaborative efforts toward solving the conflicts surrounding open net-cage salmon farming.)

We believe the industry does want to move forward with sustainable aquaculture and they realize there is a need to move forward in ocean-based closed containment and look at this issue. This is a report that will hopefully cover everybody's concerns.

Question: The report acknowledges there is no consensus from the scientific community on the impact of open net pen technology on wild salmon, yet the report expressed concern for the decline in wild salmon stocks and calls for action in regards to fish farms. Why if there is no consensus on the scientific evidence open net farms impact wild salmon, do you support the report's call for action?

Coons: In the amount of research I did personally and the information that was presented to us, what I kept hearing about were the knowledge gaps, the lack of science as far as sea lice, the interaction between wild and farmed salmon, escapes and all about environmental impacts. I think what we need to do is ensure the science is right and there is a consensus both between aquaculture associations and advocates for wild salmon. I honestly believe, as does the Pacific Fisheries Resource Conservation Council, that the moratorium was lifted prematurely by the Liberals in 2002, without the adequate science and regulations put in place to protect our wild stocks.

Question: Liberal MLA and deputy chair Ron Cantelon said that the report reflects the compelling politics heard during the public hearings, not compelling scientific evidence. Can you defend the report from that statement?

Coons: The Liberals on the committee chose not to support the report and we should not be surprised. I believe they have been too close to the industry for too long. We all must remember that one cabinet minister resigned after handing out inside information and in the last month or so we learned the B.C. Liberals paid fake protesters to show up at fish farm rallies. I believe they would see it as playing politics but we see it as trying to maintain a health sustainable aquaculture industry, but especially protect our wild stocks.

Question: Does the province have a larger role to play managing wild salmon stocks?

Coons: I believe the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) has dropped the ball in a lot of situations, especially in the use of the precautionary principal and there is no explicit commitment to the protection of salmon habitat. DFO, I believe, willingly sacrifices habitat on behalf of the aquaculture industry. They put the pursuit of aquaculture and the pursuit of maintaining wild stocks on equal footing. The report recommends we use more stringent policy as far as the precautionary principle.

‘Public opinion is behind call for caution’
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Page One

The chair of the province's sustainable aquaculture committee believes that the Liberal government will come around and support both a moratorium for the North Coast and Central Coast and back a move to ocean-based closed containment.

Speaking from Victoria yesterday, Skeena MLA Robin Austin said that despite the four Liberal committee members choosing not to support the report, while the five NDP members did, the report reflects the will of the public.

"Once British Columbians have read this report and the recommendations, provided they think it is the right thing to do, they'll put pressure on the government to do what's right," said Austin.
"In regards to recommendation on the North Coast, there was more or less unanimity. We went from Kitkatla all the way in to Smithers and nobody wanted fish farms. I can't imagine the Liberals do not want to respect the wishes of all the communities, all the people along the Skeena River who came out to talk to us."

Northwest B.C. First Nations were in Victoria yesterday urging Gordon Campbell to heed the Special Committee on Sustainable Aquaculture's recommendation against fish farms in B.C.'s northern waters.

Eugene Bryant with the Allied Tsimshian Tribes of Lax Kw'alaams says Minister of Agriculture and Lands Pat Bell's comment that he will not be bound by the committee's recommendations betrays the hundreds of people who testified before the committee.

"Our people have said loudly and clearly that fish farms are not acceptable," said Eugene Bryant. "Allowing fish farms to expand northward despite the risks will demonstrate that this government would rather prolong the conflict than work towards lasting solutions."

A 2005 study by IBM Business Consulting estimated that wild salmon contribute $110 million to the annual economy of the Skeena watershed.

"We already have a rich wild salmon economy on the North Coast," said Bryant. "Jeopardizing this significant economy by introducing fish farms makes no business sense whatsoever."
The delegation asserts that fish farms would exacerbate other threats facing northern salmon stocks, including climate change, habitat loss and stock mismanagement.

Austin said Bell has already declared a mini moratorium on new fish farm site approvals.
"Bell has said between now and June the 12, he will not allow any new fish farm approvals to go through. He wants to take a look at it ... and decide which parts he supports and which parts he doesn't," said Austin.

While there are currently no salmon farms on the North Coast, the Kitasoo and their partner Marine Harvest are seeking an expansion of their sites in the Central Coast and the Kitkatla First Nation is working with Marine Harvest to bring aquaculture development in their traditional territory.

A report that’s totally unacceptable

The above tells you all you need to know about the reaction in Kitkatla to the report of the Committee on Sustainable Aquaculture.

The report which was issued earlier this week called for a ban on fish farming north of Cape Caution, a ban that will have a major impact on the First Nation community, which has been working to create an aquaculture industry in their territory to provide employment for the people of Kitkatla.

The Daily News examined the issue from the Kitkatla perspective as well as from the point of view of the industry stake holders, with an article in Thursday’s paper. The article included the thoughts of Farm industry executives and of Chief Clifford White, head of the Kitkatla Nation and someone who probably is not too impressed with the NDP led committee this week.

‘REPORT SLAMS DOOR ON MEANIGNFUL LOCAL JOBS’
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Page three

The Chief of the Kitkatla Nation says the recommendations of the NDP led Committee on Sustainable Aquaculture will prevent his people for economic development.

“The NDP are slamming the door in the face of our people,” says Chief Clifford White, Gitxaala First Nation. “We believe aquaculture creates a sustainable economy that will allow our people to build meaningful jobs and careers in our traditional homes. The report presented today is totally unacceptable.”

Kitkatla are among the coastal First Nations that want to see aquaculture developed in their territory in order to provide employment.

However, the report recommends banning any new developments north of Cape Caution as well as a transition to ocean-based closed containment within five years.

The industry responded yesterday by saying the report may satisfy environmental activists but it will be at the expense of B. C.’s coastal communities.

“If these recommendations are adopted as presented here today, it would send a clear message to our First Nation partners, the coastal communities who depend on our industry and the wider business community that B. C. is not a favourable place to do business,” added Alistair Haughton, deputy managing director, Mainstream Canada. “The idea that we could turn away from scientifically developed and environmentally sustainable practices to gamble with the health of our livestock by attempting to rear them in systems with no data to support their claimed benefits is simply not acceptable.”

Industry representatives said the committee members’ lack of technical understanding, their willingness to ignore science and commercial interests, and their apparent disregard for the men and women who work in the aquaculture industry, and for First Nations interested in sustainable aquaculture, was shocking.

Critics noted commercial closed containment technology is not in use anywhere in the world. Pilot projects undertaken by industry and government in B. C. and many other parts of the world have raised significant concerns about fish health and the amount of power required to mimic ocean conditions.

“While we haven’t had an opportunity to read the report in detail, based on what we understand is being recommended we are disappointed,” says Clare Backman, Marine Harvest Canada. “We had hoped for more innovative, original recommendations providing for the continuity of a strong viable industry while addressing the issues of sustainability. The immediate next step is to review these recommendations in detail and provide our perspective to government and interested parties. In doing this, our focus is on ensuring our practices are environmentally appropriate and economically viable but without reliance upon unproven closed technology that has historically failed to deliver its promised results.”

A report – Salmon Forever - published by the BC Auditor General in 2005 pointed to a number of environmental impacts affecting wild salmon and their habitat, by type of activity. Representatives of the salmon farming industry are calling on governments to revisit that report and take the action required rather than endorsing recommendations that they say will adversely impact more than 6.000 men and women employed in aquaculture.

“Certainty is critical to provide security for our members’ existing investments and to encourage investment into many remote rural communities,” said Mary Ellen Walling, Executive Director, and BC Salmon Farmers Association.

“If we strip away the rhetoric in the committee’s report, the harsh reality is that the main recommendations say B. C. does not want to participate in the global marketplace and that companies are better to invest elsewhere,” said Walling.

Fish Farm report finally released and becomes instantly controversial!

The recently released provincial report into Fish Farming has called for ban on farms north of Vancouver Island, a recommendation that isn’t particularly sitting well with First Nation’s communities in Kitkatla and Klemtu.

The report specifically recommended that “no new fin fish sites be approved north of Cape Caution.” The current Marine Harvest operation at Klemtu run in conjunction with the Kitasoo would be allowed to continue operating under a grandfather clause, but no additional development along that site would be allowed, should the report’s recommendations be accepted by the Government.

The report’s recommendations came about after a five four split of the panel, with the five opposition MLA’s from the NDP voting in favour of the report’s final draft, while the four government MLA’s on the panel voted against the prospect of a fish farm ban.

There was wide coverage of the report across the province, which we provide links to below, as well as the front page story from Thursday’s Daily News which provided some local detail to the coast long controversy.

Special Committee Report on Sustainable Aquaculture

Committee Report--Volume One
Committee Report--Volume Two

Media Reports

Vancouver Sun-- Closed pen farming
Vancouver Sun-- Final salmon report spawns controversy
Vancouver Province-- Liberal MP slams fish-farming study
Victoria Times-Colonist-- Salmon farming industry slams MLAs' report
Victoria Times-Colonist-- Start the debate on salmon farms
Globe and Mail--Radical new approach urged in salmon farming
The Fish site--Aquaculture Committee Recommendations Ignore Scientific Research
Westcoaster-- Committee calls for closed containment Salmon Farms


‘BAN FISH FARMS FROM THE NORTH COAST’ REPORT URGES
Eagerly awaited, highly controversial aquaculture report demanding change
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Pages one and three

A new report is calling on the province to put a halt to plans for fish farms on the North and Central Coast, including proposed sites in Kitkatla and Klemtu.

And it says the remainder of the aquaculture industry needs to transition to ocean-based closed containment within five years.

The Special Legislative Committee on Sustainable Aquaculture approved its report in a five-four vote yesterday with Liberals MLA’s, including North Coast MLA Gary Coons and Skeena MLA Robin Austin (committee chair,) voting in favour.

“While there is no consensus among the scientific community about the potential harm incurred by open net pen technology, the overwhelmingly majority of scientists, as well as a preponderance of evidence, suggests that from a public policy point of view we must act, and act immediately,” reads the report. “We are the guardians and trustees of the environment and therefore cannot place at risk our wild salmon population nor the overall marine environment, both of which are the envy of the world.”

On the North Coast, the report specifically recommends using “the precautionary principle” with “no new fin fish sites approved north of Cape Caution.”

The sites operated by the Kitasoo and Marine Harvest near Klemtu would be grandfathered in, however the report recommends rejecting new sits the partners have applied for.

The Kitasoo say they need the new sites to keep their current level of production and allow their current sites to be fallowed.

The report recommends no new sites be approved unless they use ocean-based closed containment technology.

As for the existing industry down south, the report recommends that the industry work with government to develop ocean-based closed containment, defined as floating barrier technology that ensures no contact between wild and farmed fish.

This would eliminate the concern of disease transfer and sea lice movements on to juvenile salmon and the committee believes would be in demand around the world as people push for more sustainable aquaculture.

They recommended a full commercial scale ocean-base close containment project be undertaken by industry and government to meet the three-year deadline. Once new technology is developed, government should provide incentives for the industry to transition to ocean-based closed containment within another two years.

The report also recommends reinstating the rights of cities and residents to approve any new sites in the future.

During the committee hearing to adopt the report, Liberal MLA and deputy committee chair Ron Cantelon said the report was more political than scientific.

“Compelling politics we heard; compelling evidence we didn’t hear,” he said. “The core recommendation which dominates the report, is the recommendations to move closed containment in three years. As I think from what we hear the evidence supports, that’s not a feasible option. Since everything seems to stem from that, the rest of the report is incidental to that core recommendation.”

However, North Coast NLA Gary Coons disagreed. “This committee was tasked with finding recommendations for a sustainable aquaculture industry and protecting wild salmon and I believe we have a fair and balanced report here that is going to help both industries.:

Although they presented the report in the legislature yesterday, it has not yet been debated by all members and its conclusions are not binding.

Nor does the province, if it approves the recommendations approve and deny sites. That process is conducted by the federal department of Fisheries and Oceans.

WHAT THE REPORT IS CALLLING FOR.
The Daily News
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Page Two

Recommendations of the provincial Special Committee on Sustainable Aquaculture

Fin fish aquaculture:

-- A rapid phased transition to ocean-based closed containment from open net pens. The technology must be developed in three years and industry must adopt the technology in another two years.

-- There should be no new fish farm sites approved north of Cape Caution (the northern tip of Vancouver Island)

-- The existing Klemtu sites should be grandfathered in subject to negotiations between area First Nations and Marine Harvest.

-- Any expansion north of Cape Caution must include closed containment technology.

-- Once the transition to closed containment occurs, new sites may be developed only if the rights of local governments and residents to approve sites is restored and all local governments, First Nations and citizens should be involved in the tenure siting.

-- A watchman program should be established under which first Nations in whose territory the fish farms are located are contracted to monitor sites for best practices.

-- Priority should be placed with the provincial and federal government for increased capacity for monitoring.

-- Effective fallowing regimes must be brought in place to protect juvenile wild salmon during period of migration.

-- There must be no increase in product levels per site or tenure.

Other

-- Use of fish meal and fish oil derived from wild sources must not exceed one pound of wild fish harvested to one pound of aquatic animals grown.

-- The province must work with industry and the federal government on a new labeling regime that labels additives, distinguishes between open and closed containment and labels the content of the feed.

For a full copy of the report, visit http://www.leg.bc.ca/ and look under committee reports.