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Canada to ban open-net salmon farms in British Columbia waters by 2029

Canada will prohibit opennet salmon farms off the coast of British Columbia by the middle of 2029 in order to help secure dwindling wild Pacific salmon populations, the federal government said on Wednesday.

Salmon are a culturally and ecologically substantial species on Canada's west coast, but over half of the 9,000 unique populations in British Columbia are in a state of decrease, according to the Pacific Salmon Structure.

The province has dozens of open-net salmon farms, which campaigners state can spread out lice and illness to wild fish. In 2019 Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau pledged to phase out open-net farms by 2025.

In a declaration released on Wednesday, Fisheries and Oceans Minister Diane Lebouthillier stated existing salmon aquaculture licenses will be restored for 5 years to make sure an effective shift, however with more stringent conditions around handling sea lice on farmed fish, reporting requirements for the market, and tracking of marine mammal interactions.

It's fantastic to see the federal government commit to concrete due dates, even though they do not fulfill the federal government's. initial commitment to transition from open-net pens by 2025 or. the urgency of the minute offered the dire state of many wild. salmon runs, said Kilian Stehfest, marine preservation. professional for the David Suzuki Foundation.

Salmon farming supports 7,000 jobs in seaside communities. and contributes about C$ 1.5 billion ($ 1.09 billion) yearly to. the provincial economy, according to the BC Salmon Farmers. Association.

A number of First Countries and coastal communities count on. open-net salmon farms for their income and the government. intends to release a draft salmon aquaculture transition plan by. the end of July.

From July 1 this year only closed-containment systems on. land or in the sea will be thought about for brand-new salmon aquaculture. licenses.

Lebouthillier said the government acknowledged. closed-containment systems would be a more costly financial investment. and prepared to release nine-year licenses to successful applicants. to guarantee greater certainty.

While some Indigenous neighborhoods in British Columbia have. been calling for an end to open-net salmon farms, others. slammed Ottawa for lack of adequate assessment and the. speed of the phase-out.

Five years to shift to land-based or. closed-containment in my area is the exact same as shutting our. operations down, stated Hereditary Chief Hasheukumiss of the. Ahousaht First Country on the west coast of Vancouver Island at a. interview.

The British Columbia government advised Ottawa to support. regional communities through the transition period by moneying brand-new. economic opportunities and developing great jobs.

We acknowledge the importance of significant and thoughtful. engagement with First Nations partners and neighborhoods as we. move on, in order to guarantee that financial impacts are. alleviated, federal Natural Resources Minister Jonathan. Wilkinson said in a declaration.

(source: Reuters)