Minister to delay plan for closure of B.C. salmon farms after pressure from industry, Indigenous chief – The Globe and Mail

The federal Fisheries Minister is delaying a decision on closing the remaining ocean-based salmon farms in British Columbia, after pressure from First Nations and the fish-farm industry.

Joyce Murray had been expected in June to release a transition plan to move open-net fish farms out of B.C’s coastal waters, to land-based farms.

But on Wednesday her office issued a statement saying it was extending a consultation on the future of the remaining open-net salmon farms off the coast of B.C. throughout the summer.

“To respond to requests from First Nations, industry and stakeholders, we are extending consultation on the open-net pen aquaculture transition to all interested parties through the summer,” the minister’s office said in a statement.

Read More: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-minister-to-delay-plan-for-closure-of-bc-salmon-farms-after-pressure/