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On February 17, 2023, Canada’s Department of Fisheries and Oceans announced it will not renew the licences of fish farms in Laich-kwil-tach Territory, or the Discovery Islands.

This announcement is a clear lack of recognition of Title holder Nations’ inherent right to self-determination and decide for ourselves whether, where, and how finfish farming is to take place in our territories.

Our Calls to Action

The First Nations for Finfish Stewardship Coalition is calling on Prime Minister Trudeau and his government to respect each Nation’s rights, title, and self-determination and prevent actions that would remove salmon farms from our territories without our consent.

Our Coalition of First Nations for Finfish Stewardship (the Coalition) is united by a concern that the Minister of Oceans, Fisheries and Canadian Coast Guard, Joyce Murray, is:

  1. Rushing the ongoing open net-pen Transition Plan engagement process for finfish aquaculture in British Columbia, and is
  2. Attempting to make possibly damaging decisions for our Indigenous communities without conducting proper due diligence like socio-economic impact studies.

Rights and title set First Nations apart from other stakeholders in decisions regarding salmon farming, or other resource-based activities, in our traditional territories.

The Nations in the Coalition of First Nations for Finfish Stewardship retain jurisdiction over our lands, waters, resources, and interests through unextinguished Aboriginal title. The voices of the Coalition’s leaders are not being heard by the Fisheries Minister, and when heard, are not being counted.

If these Nations’ governments and communities have agreed to support the salmon farming sector in our territories, then removing the sector without our consent goes against the Federal Government’s:

  1. Commitment to reconciliation and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), and
  2. Their recent promise to support First Nations in their right to manage their ocean resources, including fisheries and aquaculture.
Title holder First Nations should have the right to decide if, when, or how we want to operate finfish aquaculture in our traditional waters.
1
Conduct a Social and Economic Impact Study

We are very concerned that any Transition Plan the Minister presents to Cabinet will be biased and under-informed due to a rushed engagement process and lack of proper consultation with our Nations. Join us in calling on the federal government to do its due diligence and undertake a full social and economic impact study of the coastal communities that will be hurt by any decision on the salmon farm transition that will remove opportunity and revenue. The Federal Cabinet should not make any decision on this critical file without having an extensive understanding of the potential devastation to our rural and remote communities.

This study must be completed and presented to the Federal Cabinet and the Nations before a potentially damaging decision can be made that will devastate our communities, create an employment vacuum where jobs cannot be replaced in rural and remote coastal communities, and put us back into poverty and social distress.

2
Extend the Transition Plan Engagement Process for Title Holder Nations

For months our Nations have called on DFO to extend the current Transition Plan process beyond 2023 and into 2024. The process has been too hasty considering the significance of the outcome for title holder Nations participating in the sector. To date, that ask has been denied. We strongly believe more time is necessary in order to properly consider transition and technology options for each Nation and Indigenous community working with finfish aquaculture. A rushed process threatens the entire transition of a sector we rely on for both the social and economic health of our communities. We call on DFO to do its due diligence and extend the transition engagement process with our Nations into 2024, which goes hand-in-hand with our call for proper impact studies be conducted by a federal body.

3
Let First Nations Lead Transition

The federal government needs to work with these coastal Nations, their geographical and cultural distinctiveness, and their traditional knowledge to define what transition of the sector means to them in their territories. This Coalition expects any transition plans  be built on the true intent of reconciliation; to represent the Nations’ autonomous yet connected voices; to respect rights and title; and to deliver positive outcomes for Indigenous communities, for their territories’ unique ecosystems, and all of coastal British Columbia.

Our Side of the Salmon Farming Story

Many Canadians have been led to believe that all BC First Nations are actively opposed to salmon farming, but this is not the reality. Seventeen First Nations have a variety of relationship agreements with finfish aquaculture companies, with the longest going back over two decades. Altogether, these Nations’ territories make up most of the south coast of British Columbia.

In addition to the misconception around our opposition to salmon farming:

1
Arbitrary Decisions by the Federal Fisheries Minister Goes Against First Nations Rights, Title, and Reconciliation

The coalition of First Nations for Finfish Stewardship (FNFFS) is deeply opposed to the Federal Government disregarding science and bowing to unfounded activist claims, discussing plans that could remove salmon farms from these Nations’ territories. These actions are not respecting the rights and titles of First Nations, and go against the fundamental principles of the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) that the Federal Government has ascribed to through Bill C15, and the British Columbia Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA). This goes against the Federal Government’s commitment to reconciliation and the rights of Indigenous peoples and their recent promise to support the participation of First Nations in the management of ocean resources, including fisheries and aquaculture.

2
First Nations are Committed to Environmental Stewardship and Restoration in Their Territories

The protection of wild salmon is a priority for coastal First Nations, who would not put centuries of stewardship at risk for short-term gains. The oversight of farms in their territories and transparency from the sector are key to protecting wild salmon and the marine sources within their territories. In many cases where there are agreements with companies, Indigenous guardians monitor farm sites and independent biologists ensure that the production is done according to sustainable principles negotiated with companies. Companies are held accountable for their actions. As well, often at the request and direction of the Nations, producer companies are committing to constant improvement of their practices through technology and innovation.

3
Aquaculture can Contribute to Self-Determination by Lifting Communities from Dependency and Poverty

Seventeen First Nations have negotiated agreements with one or more producer companies that are operating within their territories. Respect, reconciliation, and recognition of First Nations governance, territory, and their position as rightsholders are central to protocol agreements. Most agreements address operational plans, environmental stewardship, wild salmon protection and enhancement, economic development opportunities, profit sharing, employment, and emerging business opportunities.

What Salmon Farming Means to First Nation Communities

In total, BC’s farmed salmon sector is estimated to generate $29.2 million in economic activity within First Nations, $16.7 million in GDP, and 247 jobs earning $12.8 million in wages per year. Further benefits are generated outside of First Nations communities, amounting to $54.2 million in economic activity, $31 million in GDP, and $23.8 million in wages for 460 workers. Some of these benefits accrue to First Nations members living outside their communities.

17

First Nations with formal agreements

276

Employees that identify as Indigenous

21

Contracts with Indigenous-owned businesses and suppliers

$11.5M

Payroll for Indigenous employees

$24M

Total spend on Indigenous-owned businesses

$12.1M

Financial support via protocol/benefit agreements

$2.4M

Annual support outside agreements

$50M

Total direct economic benefit

As relationships with the farmed salmon sector continue to strengthen and diversify, the ability for First Nations to keep these economic benefits within their communities will increase.

Within First Nation Communities (est)
Outside Communities (est)
Total
Number of FTE Jobs

247

460

707

Number of FTE Jobs

247

460

707

Wages ($ Millions)

$12.8

$23.8

$36.6

Additional Economic Activity ($ Millions)

$29.2

$54.2

$83.3

GDP ($ Millions)

$16.7

$31.0

$47.8

Total Economic Benefit for First Nations ($ Millions)

$42.0

$78.0

$120.0

Is Anyone Listening?

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Chief John Smith and Dallas Smith, Tlowitsis First Nation

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James Wallas, Quatsino First Nation

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Dennis Dugas, Mayor, District of Port Hardy

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Shelley Downey, Elected Councillor, Town of Port McNeill

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Chief Terry Walkus, Gwa’sala-‘Nakwaxda’xw Nation

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Albert Charlie, Coucillor, Gwa’sala-‘Nakwaxda’xw Nation

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Isaiah Robinson, Elected Councillor, Kitasoo/Xai’xais Nation

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Gwa’sala-‘Nakwaxda’xw Nation – Fisheries/Aquaculture Announcement

Seventeen First Nations have negotiated agreements with one or more producer companies that are operating within their territories. Respect, reconciliation, and recognition of First Nations governance, territory, and their position as rightsholders are central to protocol agreements. Most agreements address operational plans, environmental stewardship, wild salmon protection and enhancement, economic development opportunities, profit sharing, employment, and emerging business opportunities.

Every First Nation is taking their own approach to these relationships some are in favour of industry and others have decided not to have salmon farms in their territories. Not all Nations with agreements are shown in this map.

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Contact Us

info@firstnationsforfinfish.ca