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For The Record

THE FACTS ON B.C. AQUACULTURE

April 7, 2009
Ministry of Agriculture and Lands
 

Letters to the Editor

This government is working to protect our wild salmon stocks, while at the same time helping to build an environmentally and economically sustainable aquaculture industry for the benefit of all British Columbians.

  • Approximately 2,900 jobs have been created in B.C.’s salmon aquaculture sector with women and First Nations peoples filling over 50 per cent of those jobs.
  • Salmon farming in B.C. generates over $50 million in wages annually.
  • Salmon farming contributed $370 million to the provincial economy in 2007.
  • B.C. has approximately 130 licensed finfish farms with 70 to 85 operating at any one time.
  • B.C. is the world’s fourth-largest farmed salmon producer, after Norway, Chile and Scotland.
  • According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, U.S. demand for seafood is projected to increase by between 30 and 50 per cent by the year 2010.
  • The Province has established one of the most comprehensive aquaculture regulatory regimes in the world, with enhanced regulations for escapes and waste discharge, improving fish health, monitoring and reporting systems, and more resources for compliance and enforcement.
  • The 2007 Fish Health Report, along with the 2007 Compliance and Enforcement Report, shows that British Columbia has one of the most comprehensive regulatory regimes of any aquaculture producing jurisdiction in the world.
  • In addition, the 2007 Fish Health Report confirms that: the industry is compliant with B.C.’s Fish Health Program; the farmed fish populations are healthy; very little medication is used; and lice abundance remains low on the Atlantic salmon.
  • The Province created the Pacific Salmon Forum (PSF) in 2004 as an independent panel of experts to provide balanced, impartial information, advice and recommendations.
  • In February 2009, the PSF released their final report and recommendations, which found that wild and farm salmon can co-exist in the coastal waters of BC under a strict regulatory regime.
  • The province will continue discussions with our Federal counterparts on how we can jointly manage BC’s valuable aquaculture industry.
  • Government suspended finfish aquaculture on the North Coast of B.C. in March 2008 while it examines the feasibility of adopting a new approach to aquaculture management in collaboration with First Nations.
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Letters to the Editor

July, 13, 2009
Letter to the Editor
GOVERNMENT LEADING BY EXAMPLE GOING CARBON NEUTRAL
By John Yap
Minister of State for Climate Action
Submitted: Tri-City News
Status: Not published
In his July 9 column it is clear that Terry O'Neill is not up to speed on why a carbon neutral public service is important to British Columbia – by focusing on the costs, he misses the mark by failing to recognize the substantial benefits that will ensue. [Read More]

April 8, 2009
Letter to the Editor
WHERE DOES CAROLE JAMES STAND ON CLIMATE CHANGE?
By Barry Penner
Minister of Environment
Submitted: Times Colonist
Status: Published
It's sad how NDP Leader Carole James continues to oppose our government's efforts to fight climate change while offering no leadership – and more importantly – no solutions of her own. [Read More]

April 8, 2009
Letter to the Editor
ENVIRONMENT MINISTER SETS RECORD STRAIGHT ON IPPS
By Barry Penner
Minister of Environment
Submitted: Black Press
Status: Not yet published
A number of people have expressed interest in small hydro projects (also known as run-of-river projects). I have seen a number of emails on this topic from Rafe Mair, who has been hired to be the spokesperson for a group opposing these renewable energy projects. [Read More]