https://thenarwhal.ca Deep Dives, Cold Facts, & Pointed Commentary en-US Copyright 2026 The Narwhal hourly 1 https://thenarwhal.ca/bc-salmon-farming-future/ Thu, 03 Oct 2024 12:00:00 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=120756 The last open-net pen salmon farms in B.C. have until July 2029 to figure out a different way of doing business. Environmental advocates say the shift is long overdue but the industry warns the timeline is impossible Shannon Waters On the ground B.C. fisheries Oceans salmon salmon farming Photo: Jérémy Mathieu / The Narwhal An aerial view of a fish farm - a floating rectangle composed of six square pens with a green generator shed - in Clayoquot Sound. In the foreground is a circular pen and another floating outbuilding as well as a barge loaded with equipment. The water is a deep blue gray and calm, forested island and mountains rise in the background https://thenarwhal.ca/bc-salmon-farms-promise-2024/ Fri, 07 Jun 2024 13:00:00 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=109261 Five years ago, with wild salmon in sharp decline, the federal government promised a transition away from open-net farming. As the clock ticks towards a 2025 deadline, wild salmon advocates worry Ottawa is back-peddling Shalu Mehta Explainer B.C. fisheries salmon salmon farming Photo: Tavish Campbell Three large, circular salmon farm pens fill a coastal inlet. They are surrounding by boats and floating infrastructure. https://thenarwhal.ca/atlantic-salmon-farm-risk-report/ Tue, 28 May 2024 11:00:00 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=107854 Internal government emails about a report on threats to wild fish reveal tensions between protecting salmon and protecting aquaculture industry interests Moira Donovan Investigation Atlantic Canada fisheries foi salmon salmon farming Photo: Robert F. Bukaty / Associated Press Three small boats float on the ocean, surrounded by an array of circular salmon farm pens https://thenarwhal.ca/bc-broughton-indigenous-protected-area/ Fri, 17 Nov 2023 21:45:04 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=93411 The Ḵwiḵwa̱sut'inux̱w Ha̱xwa’mis First Nation’s Chief Rick Johnson says the move to take over stewardship of the region — once teeming with salmon and abundant old growth — is to ‘reclaim what is already ours’ Sarah Cox News B.C. fisheries Indigenous protected areas Indigenous Rights salmon salmon farming Spirits of Place Photo: Ryan Wilkes The Ḵwiḵwa̱sut'inux̱w Ha̱xwa’mis First Nation has a village, Gwa'yasdams, on Gilford Island in B.C.'s Broughton Archipelago. https://thenarwhal.ca/fisheries-and-oceans-canadas-scientific-advice/ Fri, 04 Aug 2023 14:00:00 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=84721 In a new paper, researchers from UBC, Dalhousie call for an independent advisory body to tackle concerns about federal fisheries science Larry Pynn News B.C. federal politics fisheries salmon salmon farming Science Photo: Amy Romer A group of biologists approach a fish farm in a small boat https://thenarwhal.ca/bc-broughton-archipelago-fish-farms/ Wed, 08 Mar 2023 23:48:52 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=72794 ‘To have our decision-making authority recognized on an issue of such importance to us, and to all of British Columbia is very meaningful’ Ainslie Cruickshank News B.C. biodiversity climate change salmon salmon farming wildlife hoto: Melissa Renwick / The Narwhal A fish farm floats on the ocean covered by a low mist with mountains in the background https://thenarwhal.ca/bc-dfo-sea-lice-report/ Thu, 02 Feb 2023 20:23:30 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=69655 A Fisheries and Oceans Canada study found no significant link between sea lice at B.C. salmon farms and on wild salmon, prompting scientists to express ‘professional dismay’ Ainslie Cruickshank News B.C. salmon salmon farming sea lice Photo: Julia Simmerling a juvenile chum salmon with sea lice https://thenarwhal.ca/bc-fish-farms-closure-concerns/ Tue, 13 Dec 2022 15:00:00 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=66327 Critics say they fear an ongoing public consultation about open-net pen fish farms has a ‘foregone conclusion’ to leave fish farms in the water, to the detriment of wild salmon Steph Kwetásel’wet Wood News B.C. federal politics fisheries foi salmon salmon farming Photo: Tavish Campbell Salmon smolt swim in the foreground, with a B.C. fish farm visible in the background on the green-ish blue water's surface https://thenarwhal.ca/salmon-farm-transition-consultation/ Fri, 05 Aug 2022 14:00:00 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=57117 Conservation group worries ‘slippery language’ in discussion document could signal the federal government is walking back commitments to transition salmon farms out of the water in coming years Ainslie Cruickshank News B.C. salmon salmon farming Photo: Tavish Campbell A salmon farm is seen lit up at night off the coast of B.C. with mountains in the background https://thenarwhal.ca/salmon-farm-licences-extended/ Thu, 23 Jun 2022 00:28:08 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=54566 Fisheries and Oceans Canada Minister Joyce Murray announced a two-year extension for dozens of salmon farm licences that were set to expire at the end of June Ainslie Cruickshank Explainer B.C. salmon salmon farming wildlife Photo: Tavish Campbell The nets of a salmon farm on the B.C. coast are seen in dark waters https://thenarwhal.ca/cermaq-bc-sea-lice-docs/ Mon, 13 Jun 2022 12:59:45 +0000 https://thenarwhal.ca/?p=53229 Internal government emails show sea lice levels multiple times higher than federal rules detected at two Cermaq farms earlier this year Ainslie Cruickshank News B.C. salmon salmon farming wildlife Photo: Julia Simmerling a juvenile chum salmon with sea lice