Mowi Canada West pleased Federal Court orders fish transfer to proceed
April 6, 2021 Campbell River, BC. BC’s largest salmon aquaculture company, Mowi Canada West (MCW), was pleased to hear late yesterday that the Federal Court of Canada has granted the injunction that MCW sought against an order by the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans prohibiting the transfer of juvenile Atlantic salmon to two farms sites near Campbell River.
The transfer of 600,000 smolts to MCW’s Phillips Arm farm and 582,000 fish to its Hardwicke farm may now proceed.
“This is a great relief to our employees and communities as it allows us, in the short term, to continue growing these fish and operating these two sites,” says Dr. Diane Morrison, Managing Director, MCW.
“Our Federal Court application for Judicial Review of the Minister’s December 17, 2020, order to not renew our licenses for Hardwicke, Philips Arm, and other sites in the Discovery Islands area continues, but for now we do not have to cull any more fish and dozens of jobs are secure for at least a while longer.”
In its filing for the injunction MCW demonstrated that failure to transfer the fish to Hardwicke and Phillips would result in a financial loss of $26 million and the immediate layoff of 78 employees.
Justice Pamel found that “ The only evidence before me is that today, salmon aquaculture in B.C. poses “no more than a minimal risk” to wild salmon. As regards to transfer operations, as of March 5, 2021 the DFO website deemed the transfer of Atlantic salmon to licenced B.C. aquaculture facilities from local sources (other licenced B.C. hatcheries and saltwater sites) to be low risk.”
“The harm to Mowi and Saltstream, as well as their employees, their families and other businesses in the community, in particular First Nations businesses, will be real and substantial if the injunction is not granted.”
In the wake of Minister Bernadette Jordan’s order last December MCW has already had to cull about 900,000 healthy juvenile fish.
Mowi and other affected companies in BC’s salmon farming industry have appealed to Minister Jordan for an opportunity to discuss her Discovery Islands decision, which endangers about 30 percent of Mowi Canada West’s total BC production. The Minister has refused all such requests.
“Having a transparent, open and inclusive dialogue with our local communities and Governments is the best way to finding a sustainable path forward for salmon farming in British Columbia”, says Dr. Morrison.
About Mowi Canada West:
Mowi Canada West operates salmon farms and processing plants in British Columbia, Canada, where 500 people raise 40,000 tonnes of sustainable Atlantic salmon each year. Mowi Canada West is part of the Mowi ASA group, the world’s largest producer of Atlantic salmon.
Further information at mowicanadawest.ca
Media Contact:
Dean Dobrinsky
Mowi Canada West
Dean.Dobrinsky@mowi.com
250-830-4527