Community BBQ highlights stakes in BC salmon farming policy.
The BC Salmon Farmers Association will host its annual Community Appreciation BBQ on Thursday 24 July in Campbell River, against a backdrop of ongoing uncertainty over the federal government’s plan to phase out ocean-based salmon farming in British Columbia by 2029.
The event, expected to draw around 1,000 people, is billed as a community fundraiser for the local food bank but will also feature appearances by MP Aaron Gunn and MLA Anna Kindy, both of whom have voiced concerns over the impact of current federal policy on rural and Indigenous communities.
Sector representatives are using the event to highlight recent research challenging the scientific rationale behind the 2024 federal phase-out decision. A 20-year analysis recently published in a peer-reviewed journal concluded that BC salmon farms pose no more than minimal risk to wild salmon, and a separate study found no measurable sea lice decline following farm closures in the Discovery Islands.
The federal plan, announced last year, has already led to over $1 billion in cancelled investment and could, industry groups warn, cost 4,500 jobs and $1.17 billion in annual economic output. An industry-backed report estimates the transition could cost Canadian taxpayers $9 billion.
In parallel, a provincial analysis has questioned whether land-based salmon farming can scale without significantly higher environmental and financial costs. Sector leaders argue that Canada risks falling behind in global aquaculture growth, citing projections from the World Bank and WWF suggesting up to 22 million new jobs in the sector worldwide by 2050.
All operating farms in BC are currently under agreements or partnerships with local First Nations.
