Question Period Note: Aquaculture - Open-Net Pen Transition Plan in British Columbia

• The mandate commitment provided to my predecessor was to work with the Province of British Columbia and Indigenous communities on a responsible plan to transition from open-net pen salmon farming in coastal British Columbia waters by 2025.
• The health of wild Pacific salmon is of great importance, and with numbers in decline, it is imperative that governments and partners take bold action to strengthen and rebuild those populations.
• The Government of Canada has already taken several measures to protect wild Pacific salmon, including the launch of the Pacific Salmon Strategy Initiative in 2021, which is the largest and most transformative investment Canada has made to stem the historic declines in wild Pacific salmon stocks.
• The Department has been engaging with British Columbians, including First Nations and the Province of BC, on the development of a responsible plan to transition from open-net pen salmon farming in BC coastal waters, ensuring that the plan is responsible, realistic, and achievable.

• On June 22, 2022, the then Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard (Murray) announced next steps towards development of a plan for transitioning from open-net pen salmon aquaculture in coastal British Columbia.
• The Government of Canada previously undertook engagement in 2020 and 2021 and collected views on transitioning the salmon aquaculture sector in British Columbia.
• On July 29, 2022, Fisheries and Oceans Canada released a discussion framework, which outlines a proposed vision for transitioning from open-net pen salmon aquaculture in British Columbia. The framework has helped guide engagement with the Government of British Columbia, First Nations, industry, local governments, stakeholders, and British Columbians.
• Engagement on the discussion framework is ongoing. A “what we heard” report on phase two of engagement, which comprised intensive engagement and the development of plan elements, was published in May 2023, and was used to inform and guide continued engagement through the summer of 2023.
• The current Minister has engaged in meetings and roundtables with First Nations, associated industry, and environmental non-governmental organizations.
• All licences in the marine finfish aquaculture licence class in British Columbia expire on June 30, 2024. This includes 85 individual licences for species including: Atlantic salmon (64 active; approx. 10 inactive), chinook salmon (8), and sablefish (3). Of these 85, 66 are seeking re-issuance. The Department has engaged with partners and stakeholders in advance of licence reissuance decisions that will be made in June 2024.
• There are a number of different expectations from industry, First Nations, and environmental non-governmental organizations regarding the appropriate length of time that the licences should be renewed for, with perspectives ranging in duration from non-renewal to nine years or
• Budget 2021 announced a $647 million investment in the Pacific Salmon Strategy Initiative to stem the decline of wild Pacific salmon and rebuild stocks to support species recovery. Investments were made in four pillars: conservation and stewardship, hatcheries, harvest transformation, and integrated management.
 

If pressed on progress towards transition plan
• Extensive consultations have been conducted since 2020, and summarized in reports published in July 2021 and May 2023.
• A Discussion Framework was released in July 2022.
• In July 2023, in response to the requests from First Nations, industry, and stakeholders, the time period for Phase 2 consultation on the Transition Plan was extended to the end of September 2023.
• Since then, meetings with First Nations and key stakeholders to hear their perspectives first-hand continue to take place. I also undertook a series of bilateral meetings and virtual Ministerial Roundtables, as well as a tour of aquaculture sites on Vancouver Island.
• Phase 4 of engagement was launched in February 2024 and closed in March 2024. The purpose of this phase of engagement was to receive targeted feedback required for the development and release of a draft transition plan,
• The input of First Nations, the Government of British Columbia, local governments, industry, key stakeholders, conservation organizations, and other parties has been extensive.
• Once a transition plan is finalized, Fisheries and Oceans Canada will continue to collaborate and engage with partners and stakeholders on its implementation.
If pressed on 2024 marine finfish licence renewals
• Consultations with First Nations, industry, and other stakeholders on marine finfish licences that are set to expire this June occurred from January to March of 2024. A decision related to licence renewals will be announced prior to June 30, 2024, the date licences expire.