Write B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell and urge him to allocate funds for a Closed System Aquaculture Innovation Fund
Sea-lice from open net cage fish farms are killing B.C.’s out migrating juvenile salmon. After months of hearings across B.C., the Legislature’s Special Committee on Sustainable Aquaculture recommended a transition from open net-cage salmon farms to closed containment farming.
Write Premier Campbell and urge him to take a more visionary and practical approach to salmon aquaculture by investing in the development of closed containment technology. Join Living Oceans and our partners in the Coastal Alliance for Aquaculture Reform in calling on the Province to create a $10 million fund to encourage closed system pilot projects.
The
Closed System Aquaculture Innovation and Development (CSAID) Fund
would provide matching funds to entrepreneurs to build and operate
closed containment salmon aquaculture projects. It would establish
transparent environmental and economic monitoring and analysis of these
projects and assist in marketing viable new technologies at home and
abroad.
Benefits for British Columbians:
- Protect wild salmon and the environment
- Develop a world class, environmentally superior aquaculture industry
- Develop technology for export to the world
- Reduce conflict within coastal communities
- Respect First Nations rights and title
- Support coastal economic development
YOUR MESSAGE
Dear Premier Campbell:
I am writing to urge your government to create a $10 million fund to encourage closed containment salmon aquaculture projects. This is a great opportunity for the growth of an economically successful aquaculture industry that would also foster the survival of the wild Pacific Salmon and the natural capital that is the basis of our economy and quality of life.
Unfortunately, current production of salmon in open net-cages creates significant challenges for wild salmon. The impacts of open net-cage aquaculture are cause for growing concern amongst B.C. citizens. A March, 2007 poll found that over 80 percent of British Columbians would support a transition from current open net-cage practices to closed containment. In addition, there is growing awareness in business and financial circles that in order to maintain long term economic competitiveness, industries must not allow the negative costs of their operations to be borne by society or the environment.
This investment is consistent with the Government’s Five Great Goals for a Golden Decade; specifically to “Lead the world in sustainable environmental management” and to “Create more jobs, per capita, than anywhere else in Canada”. By providing matching funds to entrepreneurs to build and operate commercial-scale closed containment projects, your government would set the course for a greener future and facilitate competition and private investment in forward thinking, environmentally responsible development.
I strongly encourage your government to take advantage of this great opportunity to stimulate the growth of an economically successful and sustainable aquaculture industry that will help to secure the future for wild salmon and our children’s children.
