It was just one sentence about removing open-net fish farms from B.C. waters by 2025.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wrote it in the Dec. 13 to Fisheries Minister Bernadette Jordan.
But that one promise provided a long-awaited positive sign for independent biologist Alexandra Morton, and Skwah First Nation elder Eddie Gardner, who have both been fighting for years to see open-net fish farms moved off the migratory routes of Fraser River wild salmon runs.
The PM乌鸦传媒檚 letter pledges to: 乌鸦传媒淲ork with the province of British Columbia and Indigenous communities to create a responsible plan to transition from open net-pen salmon farming in coastal British Columbia waters by 2025, and begin work to introduce Canada乌鸦传媒檚 first-ever Aquaculture Act.乌鸦传媒�
乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 very encouraging news,乌鸦传媒� Gardner said in a phone interview, adding he乌鸦传媒檒l be firing off a letter of congratulations and thanks to the PM, for following up on a campaign promise, as well as to the Province of B.C. and the new Fisheries Minister.
乌鸦传媒淭his will go a long way toward international efforts to restore our wild salmon and to preserve them for the wild salmon economy, and the biodiversity upon which we all depend,乌鸦传媒� Gardner said.
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As one of the founders of the Wild Salmon Defenders Alliance, Gardner has lobbied government, business and the public for years, holding rallies at big box stores to reinforce the idea that open-net fish farming needs to be shifted away from the ocean.
Morton reacted on Twitter with: 乌鸦传媒淲ell, finally a glimmer of hope,乌鸦传媒� and although she envisions a lot of work ahead with the new minister, the PM乌鸦传媒檚 words constitute a 乌鸦传媒減ath乌鸦传媒� to be followed.
An aquaculture representative weighed in as well.
乌鸦传媒淭he Canadian seafood farmers look forward to working with Minister Jordan under her new mandate from the Prime Minister,乌鸦传媒� said Tim Kennedy, president of the Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance.
The 乌鸦传媒楬igh Level Panel乌鸦传媒� for a Sustainable Oceans Economy, to which Canada乌鸦传媒檚 PM is a signatory, has posited that 乌鸦传媒渢he largest potential carbon reduction gains for food production乌鸦传媒� are in the sustainable expansion of marine aquaculture, he said.
乌鸦传媒淥ur sector is a carbon and sustainable food solution. We are also a great opportunity for Canada乌鸦传媒檚 Indigenous peoples and reconciliation and for good jobs in rural and coastal communities,乌鸦传媒� Kennedy said.
Aquaculture will figure prominently in the global 乌鸦传媒榖lue economy乌鸦传媒� down the road.
乌鸦传媒淭he announcement of Canada乌鸦传媒檚 first Oceans Strategy is very important and seafood farming will play a critical role,乌鸦传媒� Kennedy noted. 乌鸦传媒淲e look forward to discussions with partners in B.C. to develop a responsible plan for the future of salmon farming in the province.乌鸦传媒�
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jfeinberg@theprogress.com
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