The BC Government and 3 First Nations stakeholders have released a list of recommendations aimed at open-pen fish farms, and protecting and restoring wild salmon stocks.
The recommendations call for removing 17 fish farms between 2019 and 2023 in the Broughton Archipelago, with a "farm-free migration corridor" created in the short term to help reduce harm to wild salmon.
Recommendations also include: Establishing a First Nations-led monitoring and inspection program be established to oversee fish farms during the transition; addressing environmental risks including sea lice with new technologies; and immediate action to enhance wild salmon habitat restoration and rehabilitation.
The province says a "ground-breaking government-to-government" process resulted in a letter of understanding regarding the future of finfish aquaculture, with the recommendations agreed to by the 2 fish farm operators in the Broughton: Marine Harvest Canada and Cermaq Canada.
Further consultation continues with First Nations who decided not to participate in the letter of understanding.
Meantime Federal Fisheries Minister has issued a statement on the recommendations.
Jonathan Wilkinson commends the work of the Province, its Indigenous partners and industry, and says he looks forward to reviewing the recommendations.
The minister notes his government shares similar concerns about the potential impacts to wild salmon from farms located on migration routes.
Earlier this week Wilkinson announced plans to enhance the environmental sustainability of the aquaculture sector -- including a study on alternative technologies, land and sea-based closed containment, and creating a single comprehensive set of regulations.
Wilkinson says Ottawa will work with the Province, Indigenous leaders, industry and environmental groups to address the recommendations.
And the science-based conservation charity Watershed Watch Salmon Society applauds the recommendations, saying "it's the beginning of the end of salmon farms in BC's Broughton Archipelago."
Science Advisor Stan Proboszcz says salmon farms are known to spread harmful parasites to wild salmon as they migrate past the farms, and have other serious impacts on coastal fish and wildlife.
He says hearing 6 sites will be removed in the short-term, and an additional 11 over the next five years, is good news.
Proboszcz says while the plan is a major step forward, salmon farms in other areas like the Discovery Islands and the West coast of Vancouver Island are still a threat to B.C.'s wild fish.