British Columbians share a deep connection to our marine and coastal environments. Healthy wild pacific salmon stocks are a critical component of these ecosystems. Last week, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) announced their decision in regard to Recommendation 19 of the Commission of Inquiry into the Decline of Sockeye Salmon in the Fraser River (the “Cohen Commission”) that on September 30, 2020, the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans should prohibit net-pen salmon farming in the Discovery Islands (fish health sub-zone 3-2) unless he or she is satisfied that such farms pose at most a minimal risk of serious harm to the health of migrating Fraser River sockeye salmon.

DFO scientists determined that each of the nine pathogens studied did not pose more than a minimal risk to wild salmon. For each of the 9 risk assessments, DFO found that each individual pathogen provided a minimal risk to the abundance and diversity of Wild Fraser River Sockeye Salmon. Their assessment does not include further analysis of the cumulative risk of all nine pathogens taken together either independently or in conjunction with other cumulative risks to wild salmon such as sea lice, climate change, or overharvesting. We continue to build on our body of science and on our understanding of the marine environment--this includes how we manage aquaculture. Our government is committed to a precautionary approach and moving forward with a responsible transition from open net pen finfish aquaculture on the West Coast of British Columbia.

The response to this recommendation has been a renewed commitment to an area-based management approach to aquaculture. Accordingly, formal consultations with the First Nations in the Discovery Islands have been launched to ensure a complete view of their concerns with respect to the aquaculture sites in the area is ascertained. The outcome of this process will inform the decision of whether or not to renew these licenses, prior to the December 2020 renewal deadline. This process is in line with our commitment to reconciliation with First Nations.

Since being elected as your Member of Parliament, I have received and responded to thousands of inquiries on what our government is doing to protect and restore wild salmon stocks. We continue work at the Big Bar site to restore fish passage for Fraser River Chinook and key habitat projects across British Columbia are helping to restore estuaries that salmon depend on. I have personally spoken to community leaders, interested stakeholders, Indigenous leaders, industry and other ocean users on this issue and will continue to do so as your Member of Parliament.

I know how important this issue is to our community and very much appreciate the strong voices and commitment we have made together to ensure we do everything possible to restore salmon stocks.

For this reason, I have been working to address the myriad of issues facing pacific salmon, by, among other actions, continuing to press for action on the recommendations of the Cohen Commission. I take every opportunity possible to join the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans to better understand the issues facing Pacific Salmon. I frequently discuss this important topic with the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadians Coast Guard, the Honourable Bernadette Jordan, Parliamentary Secretary Terry Beech, and caucus more broadly, and in particular about how we will meet our commitment to have a responsible plan to transition from open net pen salmon farming in British Columbian waters.

As your Member of Parliament, both myself and our government, remain committed to a responsible plan to transition from open-net pen finfish aquaculture sites in Pacific waters by 2025. This must be done in partnership with First Nations, and in conjunction with other measures to support wild Pacific salmon such as investments in local conservation, habitat restoration, and technological advancements in aquaculture systems. 

I recognize that we are at a critical juncture and that historic, decisive action must be taken now and in the coming years to ensure our wild pacific salmon not only survive, but thrive. That is why it is just as important that we have a blue recovery as it is that we have a green recovery from COVID-19.

Sincerely,

Patrick Weiler, MP
West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country