Take Action

Stop the expansion of open net-cage salmon farming in B.C.

Please send a message to the Honourable Steve Thomson of Ministry of Agriculture of Lands and let him know that you want your government to deny the application of the Gunner Point farm -- and any other new open net-cage salmon farm!

Now that the Strathcona Regional District has approved Greig Seafood's new salmon farm application for Gunner Point in the northern Georgia Strait, it is up to the government to protect the future of all juvenile salmon who use this migration channel by denying the company's application.

As an emergency measure, the Coastal Alliance for Aquaculture Reform is also demanding the closure of five fish farms in the Wild Salmon Narrows near Quadra Island. Clearing just one channel of salmon farms in this region could give B.C.’s wild salmon a better chance at survival.

To ensure your message is received loud and clear, please include a personal comment.
 Fill out this form to send an email to the B.C. Minister responsible for salmon farms, the Honourable Steve Thomson of Ministry of Agriculture of Lands with the message below (follow the orange arrows).
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YOUR MESSAGE:

Dear Minister Thomson,

I am writing to urge you to deny the application by Grieg Seafood Ltd for a new net-cage salmon farm at Gunner Point in Johnstone Strait. The scientific evidence is undeniable: wild juvenile salmon are at risk due to infestations of sea lice from existing open net-cage salmon farms in B.C. Adding any new salmon farms along the only northern migration route through Georgia Strait could be disastrous for wild salmon populations and all the economic sectors that rely on healthy marine ecosystems.

The location of Grieg’s proposed farm in Sunderland Channel is at the bottleneck of the migratory route for juvenile salmon from as far south as the Fraser River and Puget Sound. Considering all the pressures on wild salmon survival, I would strongly support a moratorium on any new open net-cage salmon farms in B.C.

Canadians rely on our governments to protect wild salmon. We also understand that aquaculture can play an important role in our economy if it is done sustainably. Canada has the opportunity to become a global leader in the growing demand for responsibly farmed products and environmentally sound technology. Rather than lend your support to more harmful open net-cages, I want my government to invest in the future. I understand there have been repeated calls to your government to assist with the transition to closed containment farming, including calls from the Pacific Salmon Forum, numerous local governments, community groups, chefs, restaurants, concerned citizens and even a salmon farming company.

I urge you and the government of Canada to heed these calls and take responsible action; first by denying Greig’s applications for new farms in Sunderland Channel, then by investing in the development of closed containment. Please take this opportunity to make BC a world leader in sustainable aquaculture technology.

I look forward to your immediate action on this matter.

Yours sincerely,