WANT FISH FARMS OUT OF BC WATERS?
HERE’S YOUR CHANCE TO GET IT DONE.
The legal and constitutional defenders of the environment in Canada are the First Nations. Join us, in supporting this unstoppable strategy to save wild salmon!Our Goal is to raise $45,000 in donations – to help fund these legal actions:
Dzawada’enuzw First Nation (DFN)
Aboriginal Title Claim, Aboriginal Rights, Judicial Review, Injunctions Building on the landmark decision for the Tsilhqot’in First Nation, whom DFN council Jack Woodward also represented, the DFN have devised a multi-pronged legal strategy that is “unstoppable”.
“It will cost some money, but once we get this thing moving, there will not be fish farms in DFN territory,” Woodward assures. “I believe that this man can do it for us,” says Melissa Willie.
We will get fish farms out of our territory – we just need your support.”
The DFN’s success will create legal precedents and blaze a trail for others to follow, forcing the factory fish farming business to adapt and move onto land or go the way of the dodo. Thus, anyone who shares the DFN’s concerns for this industry can only benefit from getting behind their efforts.
ABORIGINAL TITLE
B.C. First Nation files title claim to challenge fish farms in traditional territory →
FISH FARM TENURES
First Nation files judicial review of provincial salmon farm tenure extensions → vowing to challenge B.C. government’s new approach to fish farm tenures →
‘Namgis First Nation
Judicial Review of DFO Policy Vancouver, BC, 2018-03-13: On Tuesday, March 6, ‘Namgis filed a Notice of Application in Federal Court seeking a judicial review of the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans’ policy not to test farmed Atlantic salmon for the blood virus, piscine reovirus (PRV), prior to transferring smolts from Marine Harvest Canada Inc.’s hatcheries into open-net pen fish farms in ‘Namgis territory.
press release →
“The Minister ignored findings of fact, barges ahead and issued the licence anyway… The Minister has not fulfilled the honour of the crown. He acted with complete disregard for our rights and interests. What little faith our community had in the honour of the Crown has been shattered.”
~ ‘Namgis Chief Don Svanvik (March 28 release)
While the court decided the application for interlocutory injunction to prevent restocking of smolts in March came too late, Justice Michael Manson issued a 41-page decision agreeing there is a “real and non-speculative likelihood of harm” to the ‘Namgis way of life from fish-borne disease. “Another hearing must consider the ‘Namgis application for the judicial review of federal policy on the testing of Atlantic salmon for diseases that could be passed to Pacific salmon”, Manson ruled.
His decision was critical of Fisheries and Oceans, finding it had failed to consult with the ‘Namgis about the policy and has no “supervisory control or objective criteria” regarding tests for disease in fish being transferred to open pens.
“It is my opinion that the underlying application for judicial review should proceed as expeditiously as possible,” Manson said.
‘Namgis to proceed with judicial review amid restocking →‘Namgis First Nation (website) →