Commentary
By SeaWestNews

The five-year transition plan proposed to overhaul British Columbia’s salmon farming sector is not just ambitious—it’s wildly unrealistic.

The current limitations of remote area infrastructure, electrical power and the lack of scalable, proven closed-containment technology in salmon farming, make this timeline untenable.

It is a plan conceived without a proper scientific basis, aimed at mandating closed-containment systems without any serious environmental assessments or global precedents to support its success in British Columbia.

Forcing BC salmon farms to produce 70,000 tonnes within five years using unproven land-based or marine closed-containment systems is reckless policymaking by the Federal Liberals, who are more interested in appeasing activists to get their votes than addressing the practical realities of the aquaculture sector.

This rushed transition timeline overlooks the fact that the technology for these closed-containment systems is still in its infancy, untested at the necessary scale, and could lead to unforeseen consequences for both the environment and coastal indigenous and non-indigenous communities in B.C.

A BC government-commissioned report has projected that replacing the province’s current salmon farm production with recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS), also known as land-based or closed containment operations, would require a direct investment of between $1.8 billion to $2.2 billion.

The reports’ authors also estimated that it will be at least 10 years before a significant land-based salmon production sector is operating at a steady rate in B.C.

It mirrors an earlier government report –  The State of Salmon Aquaculture Technologies study released in February 2020 which warned RAS technology requires the use of large amounts of land, water, and power, and thus has a significant environmental footprint, in particular greenhouse gas emissions.

Beyond the logistical challenges, the economic fallout of this ill-conceived transition plan is staggering.

This sector is deeply embedded in many coastal communities, wildlife ecosystems, and local economies, employing some 6,000 people directly and indirectly, engaging with over 1,000 suppliers, and contributes approximately $2 billion to the economy.

Already, BC’s coastal communities are reeling from job losses, the closure of farms, and soaring costs of living.

Since 2020, the Trudeau Liberals, influenced by the science-deficit activist campaigns have already shut down 40% of salmon farms in B.C. increasing carbon emissions and wiping out jobs that are the lifeblood of rural, coastal and Indigenous communities.

The proposed transition timeline threatens to deepen this crisis, putting even more jobs at risk.

Furthermore, this plan threatens food security not just within B.C., but across Canada.

The removal of farms from coastal waters in B.C. will severely disrupt supply chains, making salmon—a key source of protein—both scarcer and more expensive for consumers.

The potential economic losses are catastrophic, with projections of a $1.2 billion annual provincial hit and the destruction of more than 4,600 additional jobs.

These are not just numbers; these are people—families, businesses, and communities that are being torn apart by poor policy.

The government’s inconsistent and poorly planned decisions are not just impacting local communities—they are making global investors wary of Canada as a viable place to do business.

Large international players in the salmon farming industry, such as MOWI, Grieg Seafood, and Cermaq, are halting their investment projects due to fears of policy instability. These companies, once keen to invest in BC’s economy, are now re-allocating their capital to more predictable and business-friendly jurisdictions. This lack of investment will stifle innovation, erode the region’s competitiveness, and leave BC struggling to keep pace in the rapidly evolving global Blue Economy.

As one industry insider told SeaWestNews, “Why would we continue to invest in a country where the government doesn’t seem to understand its own industries, let alone support them?”

“We are talking about decades of future innovation and economic growth that could be flushed away due to short-sighted political decisions.”

Proponents of the transition plan often cite the need to protect wild Pacific salmon from the perceived threats posed by salmon farms. But this argument collapses under scrutiny.

Federal scientists have consistently found that the risk posed by salmon farms to wild stocks is minimal. Claims about sea lice and disease outbreaks have been largely debunked, with studies showing that removing farms does not significantly lower sea lice levels in any region. Moreover, the sensationalist claims that disease transfer from salmon farms will decimate wild populations are unsupported by peer-reviewed data.

In fact, recent data shows that even after removing farms, sea lice levels have not decreased in the areas where farms were closed.

The notion that farmed salmon are decimating wild salmon stocks is not just false—it’s a dangerous distraction from the real threats to our wild stocks, such as climate change, habitat destruction, and overfishing.

The claims by anti-salmon farming activists are based on shaky science and emotional rhetoric rather than empirical evidence.

The solution lies not in abrupt, politically motivated transitions, but in thoughtful, evidence-based policy that fosters collaboration between industry, government, and Indigenous communities.

A responsible transition plan could breathe new life into BC’s salmon farming sector, driving economic growth and job creation while supporting meaningful reconciliation with First Nations.

If handled correctly, the industry could generate over $2.37 billion in annual economic activity by 2030, supporting over 9,200 jobs. By 2040, the potential could grow to a staggering $3.9 billion in economic activity, with over 15,000 jobs benefiting from the sector. This growth could be further fueled by the adoption of innovative farming technologies and infrastructure development that will not only revitalize rural communities but also enhance BC’s leadership in the global Blue Economy.

Crucially, a responsible plan would not neglect wild salmon populations. Instead, it would work alongside conservation efforts, supporting sustainable practices while helping rebuild wild stocks.

The path forward lies in collaboration, not conflict, between conservationists, policymakers, and the salmon farming industry.

It also offers an avenue for true reconciliation with Indigenous communities, many of whom rely on salmon farming for economic stability.

The industry has already made significant strides in working with First Nations, creating meaningful economic partnerships that have benefited both the environment and local indigenous communities.

Today, 100 percent of BC’s farmed salmon is raised in agreement with Rights Holder First Nations.

To dismantle this industry is to dismantle these partnerships, undermining years of progress toward reconciliation.

The five-year transition timeline is nothing short of a disaster waiting to happen.

What we need is thoughtful leadership, not politically driven panic to secure votes.

Let’s take the time to get this right—for our First Nations, for our coastal communities, for our environment, and for our future.