Question Period Note: Discovery Islands Salmon Aquaculture Licences Decision

Why have you made the decision to close 15 salmon farms in the Discovery Islands area of British Columbia?

• Given the unprecedented threats that wild Pacific salmon are facing, we must take action to conserve and protect them.
• Following extensive consultations, I have decided not to renew licences for fifteen open-net pen Atlantic salmon aquaculture sites in the Discovery Islands area.
• The decision was not an easy one, but many First Nations and British Columbians expect timely, decisive action in the Discovery Islands to protect wild salmon.

• In November 2009, Canada established the Commission of Inquiry into the Decline of Sockeye Salmon in the Fraser River to investigate the decline of Sockeye salmon stocks and to provide recommendations (the Cohen Commission).
• The final report of the Cohen Commission was released October 2012. The report did not find any single factor leading to decreased Sockeye salmon stocks.
• The report made 75 recommendations, the majority of which focused on Pacific salmon fisheries management, fisheries science, salmon habitat protection, and the implementation of the Wild Salmon Policy. Action has been taken to address all 75 of the recommendations.
• In response to the Cohen Commission’s Recommendation 19, DFO considered the risk to Fraser River Sockeye salmon from diseases that occur in Atlantic salmon farms. The scientific risk assessments focused on farms located in the Discovery Islands area.
• The nine peer-reviewed, scientific risk assessments concluded that the transfer of these pathogens pose, at most, a minimal risk to migrating Fraser River Sockeye salmon in the area.
• The risk assessments were published in November 2019, which was linked to the expiration date of the annual licences in the Discovery Islands.
• On December 17, 2020, then Minister Bernadette Jordan announced her intention to phase out existing salmon farming licences in the Discovery Islands by June 30, 2022.
• In January 2021, Mowi, Cermaq, and Grieg Seafood each filed an application for judicial review of the decision in the Federal Court.
• On April 22, 2022, the Federal Court released its decision on judicial review applications, deeming the December 2020 policy decision to be a licensing decision and quashing it because it failed to comply with procedural fairness requirements.
• The Federal Court decision meant that individualized decisions had to be made on whether to renew salmon aquaculture licences in the Discovery Islands, which were all due to expire on June 30, 2022.
• On June 22, 2022, Minister Murray announced next steps towards development of a plan for transitioning from open-net pen salmon aquaculture in coastal British Columbia. At the same time, the Minister made a decision to approve a two-year reissuance of marine finfish licences across British Columbia, with the exception of the Discovery Islands. Following the Federal Court’s decision, the Minister directed the Department not to reissue licences for 15 Atlantic salmon facilities in the Discovery Islands, and to issue six-month licences for two remaining chinook facilities.
• Consultations with five licence holders and seven First Nations in the area were subsequently conducted to inform a decision on reissuance or non-reissuance for all 17 licences, which the Minister intended to make in January 2023.
• In January 2023, the Minister granted a one-month licence renewal to a small chinook salmon facility whose licence would have expired otherwise, with fish present in the water. In February 2023, the chinook facility was a granted a six-month licence renewal. Another facility no longer required a licence as it was being decommissioned.
• On February 17, 2023, the Minister announced her decision to not renew licences for fifteen open-net pen Atlantic salmon aquaculture sites in the Discovery Islands.
• On March 20, 2023, Mowi, Cermaq, Grieg, as well as the We Wai Kai and Wei Wei Kum First Nations filed an application for a judicial review of the decision. Grieg Seafood has also filed a second separate motion.

If pressed on justification for decision
• My belief is that the Discovery Islands has unique environmental characteristics, including the migration of wild salmon in many of its channels. It was identified as an area to examine in the Cohen Commission report.
• Additionally, social and cultural factors pertaining to aquaculture licensing in the Discovery Islands are challenging and so significant that they warrant an alternative management approach in the area.
• However, I am mindful of the impact these decisions will have. Officials will continue to consider these impacts as we work towards a plan to transition open-net pen aquaculture in British Columbia.

If pressed on the economic impact of the decision
• I acknowledge that many may disagree with my decision.
• The Government of Canada offers a strong suite of supports for workers and communities. There is already a strong partnership in place with British Columbia, including through the Canada-British Columbia Workforce and Labour Market Development Agreements.
• Additionally, Budget 2021 established a new regional development agency for British Columbia to support economic development and help develop businesses to create good jobs.

If pressed on the judicial review application
• As this matter is now before the court, I cannot comment on the matter.