Campaigners ordered off BC farm site

PROTESTERS occupying a fish farm in British Columbia were ordered to vacate the site ahead of a court case which could remove them permanently, the Vancouver Sun reported last month.

The anti-fish farm campaigners from the Musgamagw and Namgis First Nations have been occupying the Marine Harvest facility near Midsummer Island since early September, demanding that the salmon farmer shuts down operations in their traditional territories.

The local First Nations have asked the BC government not to renew leases on farm sites in the Broughton Archipelago when they expire next June.

Marine Harvest has applied for an injunction to oust the protesters for good. The First Nations group was given three days by the Supreme Court of BC to remove its camp from the farm for 30 days.

Salmon have been harvested in recent weeks, but Marine Harvest has delayed restocking because of safety concerns for the protesters.

‘We will review the biological schedule of our fish as we raise a living, growing animal,’ said Marine Harvest Canada’s managing director Vincent Erenst.

‘Until meaningful discussions are taking place to find long-term solutions, we will concentrate on continuing to take care of our fish and our employees.’

Erenst urged senior levels of government to find a solution to First Nations concerns about their rights and title.

‘This important government to government discussion needs to occur so our business and many other businesses in the province can be given clarity about this process,’ he said.

Marine Harvest employs about 600 people in BC and has working relationships with 15 First Nations, including seven First Nations owned businesses.