CBC - A coastal First Nation in B.C. is vowing to challenge the B.C. government's new approach to fish farm tenures, which would give First Nations a say over where these operations can set up on the West Coast.
The province announced Wednesday that starting in 2022, fish farms will need First Nations approval to renew their tenures.
That's not soon enough as far as the Dzawada̱ʼenux̱w First Nation is concerned.
Many First Nations in the Broughton Archipelago region, where the Dzawada̱ʼenux̱w are located, have long opposed fish farms, saying their presence has a negative impact on wild salmon and other marine species in the area.
There are 17 fish farm operating in the Broughton Archipelago, nine of those are in the Dzawada̱ʼenux̱w title claim area.
While the announcement was framed by the government as a move to protect wild salmon and advance reconciliation with First Nations, the Dzawada̱ʼenux̱w First Nation said they are disappointed.
Jack Woodward represents the Dzawada̱ʼenux̱w First Nation in their Aboriginal title claim. It was filed earlier this month, in part, to bolster the community's efforts to get fish farms out of the area they assert title to.
The nation says it has been opposing the farms for 30 years.
Woodward said the nation will turn to the courts to "remove these fish farms immediately, as soon as humanly possible." Read more..
