Question Period Note: Atlantic Aquaculture and Pacific Discovery Islands Area Decision

• This government recognizes the important role aquaculture plays in Canada’s economy, our collective food security, and economic development in rural, coastal and First Nations communities.
• Based on the outcome of recent consultations with seven First Nations in the Discovery Islands area of British Columbia, and hearing their concerns about aquaculture in their territories, DFO will phase out existing salmon farms in this area over the next 18 months.
• This approach applies only to the Discovery Islands, aligns with the provincial commitment that all aquaculture licenses will require agreements with local First Nations by June 2022, and is not an indication of future advice or decisions on aquaculture in any other area of BC or the rest of the country.
• I recognize the lead role of the provinces in managing aquaculture development and licensing on the east coast, and my department will continue to work with provincial partners in the management of aquaculture.

If pressed on Discovery Islands decision:
• I have confidence in the professional integrity of my department’s scientists and their science advice.
• The farms in the Discovery Islands are a specific case. The decision to phase out fish farms in the Discovery Islands was not an easy one. It was made after many consultations and weighing many factors.
• In early 2021, I will be meeting with industry and community representatives on the west coast to discuss the transition. We will continue to work with the provincial governments, industry, First Nations, and other key partners to create jobs and build a stronger, more sustainable aquaculture sector across Canada.

Atlantic Aquaculture
• On the east coast, marine-based salmon aquaculture is established in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador. Across these provinces, salmon aquaculture investment that began prior to COVID-19 are on track and will progress over the next several years to establish new sites and expand operations. New companies, MOWI and Grieg, have begun operations in the region with significant production expansion planned in Newfoundland and Labrador. Cooke Aquaculture continues to invest in infrastructure and technology across these provinces and is pursuing new sites in Nova Scotia.
• In Atlantic Canada, the industry has significant year-round employment growth potential, making it particularly well suited to revitalizing remote, rural and coastal communities, including Indigenous communities. Technology in aquaculture, such as automation, digitization, and traceability, continues to evolve.
• A recent pursuit of possible development by Cermaq in Nova Scotia highlighted the ongoing concerns across the region by Indigenous and rural fishing communities on the impacts of marine salmon aquaculture on species used for fishing, primarily lobster and endangered salmon populations.
• An increasing marine finfish aquaculture sector, as well as the region’s globally recognized shellfish industry, remain key pillars for continued growth opportunities being pursued by all eastern provinces.
• The leasing and licensing of aquaculture is led by the provinces. DFO provides advice to the provinces on the impacts to fish and fish habitat, along with licensing the movement of fish onto aquaculture sites.

Discovery Islands
• On November 5, 2009, Canada established the Commission of Inquiry into the Decline of Sockeye Salmon in the Fraser River (“Cohen Commission”) to investigate the decline of Sockeye salmon stocks and to provide recommendations.
• The final report of the Cohen Commission, The Uncertain Future of Fraser River Sockeye, was released in 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.
• Thirteen of the 75 recommendations related specifically to aquaculture.
• Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), along with Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) and the Province of British Columbia (BC), have taken actions to address all 75 of these 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. A summary of the findings and science advice has been posted on the DFO website (https://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/cohen/iles-discovery-islands-eng.html).
• Following consultations with the seven First Nations in the Discovery Islands area, as announced on December 17, 2020, the Department will phase out existing salmon farming facilities in the area over the next 18 months. No new fish of any size may be introduced into Discovery Islands facilities during this time and all farms must be free of fish by June 30, 2022.
• Consultations with the seven First Nations in the Discovery Islands area heavily informed the decision. This approach aligns with the provincial land tenure commitment that all aquaculture licences as of June 2022 require agreements to be in place with local First Nations.
• DFO consulted with the Homalco, Klahoose, K’ómoks, Kwiakah, Tla'amin, We Wai Kai, and Wei Wai Kum First Nations.

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