441-02423 (Fisheries)

Wild Pacific salmon are an iconic species and of great importance to the people and communities of British Columbia, and in particular to First Nations peoples, both culturally and economically. Wild Pacific salmon are facing historic threats from a variety of stressors, such as climate change impacts that lead to rising ocean temperatures, ocean acidification, and changes in marine ecosystems. Given these unprecedented threats that wild Pacific salmon are facing, it is imperative that governments and partners take bold action to strengthen and rebuild their populations. The Government of Canada has taken several measures to protect wild Pacific salmon, including the launch of the Pacific Salmon Strategy Initiative announced in Budget 2021, with a $686 million investment over five years to stem the decline of wild Pacific salmon and rebuild stocks to support species recovery. Investments were made in four pillars: conservation and stewardship, salmon enhancement, harvest transformation, and integration and collaboration.   

The Government of Canada is also working with the province of British Columbia and Indigenous communities to create a responsible plan to transition from open net-pen salmon farming in coastal British Columbia waters by 2025. The Government is committed to ensuring aquaculture activities are undertaken in a manner that is environmentally responsible, sustainable, and minimizes impacts on wild salmon and other fish stocks along our coasts. Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) works closely with provincial and territorial partners, and in collaboration with Indigenous peoples, to create and maintain an effective and responsible regulatory framework for aquaculture in Canada.

There is general consensus from the scientific community that PRV-1a is endemic in BC and that almost all farmed fish will be exposed soon after marine entry. The impact of PRV-1a on wild salmon populations is believed low and research activities continue. DFO recently carried out a two year project screening over 2200 juvenile salmon (primarily Atlantic, Chinook and coho) from 12 commercial and 27 enhancement hatcheries in British Columbia for PRV. The results of the study indicate that 99.9% of salmonids originating from BC hatcheries were not infected with the virus and no fish tested positive for the non-endemic strains (PRV-2 or PRV-3). There were no conclusive detections of PRV-1 in commercial facilities raising Atlantic salmon, nor in DFO Salmon Enhancement Program hatchery populations of Chinook, sockeye or steelhead salmon incorporated in the study. It was concluded that freshwater hatcheries in British Columbia contribute minimally to the prevalence and persistence of PRV 1. With respect to pathogen risks to wild Pacific salmon, DFO assessed the risk to Fraser River Sockeye salmon from nine pathogens that occur in Atlantic salmon farms in the Discovery Islands area of British Columbia. Nine risk assessments were published between 2017 and 2020. The peer-reviewed, scientific risk assessments concluded that the transfer of these pathogens (including piscine orthoreovirus - PRV) pose minimal risk to migrating Fraser River Sockeye salmon abundance and diversity in the area under the existing farm management practices.

The Government of Canada undertook engagements in 2020 and 2021, collecting views on transitioning the salmon aquaculture sector in British Columbia. On July 29, 2022, DFO released a discussion framework, which outlines a proposed vision for transitioning from open net-pen salmon aquaculture in British Columbia to reduce or eliminate interactions with wild Pacific salmon. There are a variety of views amongst Canadians about the open-net pen transition plan, but all support the minimization or elimination of potential impacts of aquaculture on wild salmon, and all support the need to base decisions on science-based information. The framework has guided engagement with the Government of British Columbia, First Nations, industry, local governments, stakeholders, and British Columbians. Once a Transition Plan is finalized and published, DFO will continue to collaborate and engage with partners and stakeholders on its implementation.