New industry group to fight Canada government's decision to phase out salmon farming in key BC region

A new national organization, the Canadian Aquaculture Suppliers Association (CASA), announced its formation on Friday, with the aim to lobby for the companies that stock and equip Canada's aquaculture sector.

Like its counterparts, which include the BC Salmon Farmers Association and the Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance (CAIA), the suppliers association wants Canada's federal government to renew British Columbia's 79 remaining salmon farm licenses, which are set to expire in June of this year.

The group is also asking for the government to reverse its decision to close all netpen salmon farming in British Columbia's Discovery Islands by June of this year.

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“Those who supply our nation’s aquaculture sector directly employ thousands of Canadians, including in communities where jobs are scarce and economic opportunity is limited,” said Ben James, CASA's president.

In June, 19 salmon farming licenses in the Discovery Islands will expire as the country phases out netpen salmon farming in the region.

Both CASA and the BC Salmon Farmers have confirmed with IntraFish they have not heard from the minister of fisheries on the status of the remaining licenses.

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Joyce Murray, Canada's Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and Canadian Coast Guard (DFO), has publicly stated she is committed to phasing out the Discovery Islands netpen farms owned by Mowi, Cermaq and Grieg. She has not yet commented on what she plans to do when it comes to renewing remaining licenses.

However, earlier this week, Murray announced the Canadian government is investing $11.8 million (€10.5 million) to support First Nations commercial fisheries enterprises for the benefit of Indigenous communities through the Pacific Integrated Commercial Fisheries Initiative (PICFI).

These PICFI investments will support 52 First Nations seafood initiatives, according to Fisheries and Oceans Canada. PICFI is co-developed, co-designed and co-delivered in collaboration with Indigenous partners.