First Nations fish-farm opponents and their supporters staged a sit-in at B.C. Agriculture Minister Lana Popham’s office Thursday, protesting farms in the Broughton Archipelago.
About 30 protesters arrived at the Quadra Street office of Popham, MLA for Saanich South, to show solidarity with First Nations occupying Marine Harvest fish farms at Swanson and Midsummer islands, off northeast Vancouver Island.
The Musgamagw, ‘Namgis, and Mamalilikulla First Nations are calling for an end to open-pen fish farms in the waters of the archipelago, which they have fished for generations.
Opponents believe aquaculture operations, which largely raise Atlantic salmon, devastate wild stocks by transferring disease and parasites. Open-net systems allow water to flow freely between pens holding farmed fish and the natural marine environment.
Carla Wilson – Times Colonist – September 29, 2017.
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