Aquaculture Act

Both sides of British Columbia's contentious fish farm debate are welcoming Ottawa's move to delay a decision on a planned transition from open-net salmon farms in the province's coastal waters.

A formal consultation process for the future of the industry is welcome after years of "ad hoc" discussions over Ottawa's pledge to end open-net salmon aquaculture, the executive director of the B.C. Salmon Farmers Association said on Thursday, June 23, 2022.

The escape of an estimated 20,000 non-native fish off Vancouver Island demonstrates the urgent need to phase out ocean-based farming and calls into question the federal government's own five-year deadline, say wild salmon advocates.

Provincial Fisheries Minister Gerry Byrne says an independent review will be carried out after a mass die-off at a southern Newfoundland salmon farm as the government looks at changing its aquaculture regulations.

A mass salmon die-off at a Newfoundland fish farm last month has highlighted environmental risks and transparency issues facing the region's growing aquaculture industry as some Atlantic provinces pin economic hopes on its development.