Roy L Hales / Cortes Currents - In what at least one First Nation leader describes as a challenge to Aboriginal rights, Mowi Canada West and Cermaq Canada are seeking a judicial review to overturn the DFO’s decision to phase out fish farms in the Discovery Islands.

This is unceded territory, which has belonged to First Nations for countless generations.

When she announced the decision to phase out the fish farms by June 30th, 2022, Fisheries Minister Bernadette Jordan explained, “These facilities are some of the oldest sites on the West Coast and are located on the traditional territory of the Holmalco, Klahoose, K’omoks,  Kwiakah,  Tla’amin, We Wai Kai and Wei Wai Kum First Nations. Consultations with the seven First Nations in the Discovery Islands area provided important guidance to the Minister and heavily informed the decision. This approach also aligns with the Province of British Columbia’s land tenure commitment that all aquaculture licenses as of June 2022 require consent from local First Nations.”

David Kiemele, Managing Director for Cermaq Canada, issued a press release stating the judicial review focuses “on the conduct of DFO and the Minister of Fisheries …”

“We respect the opinions and the rights of the First Nations in the Discovery Islands region. As a supporter of United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), and the reconciliation process, Cermaq recognizes the inherent Indigenous rights and title of the local First Nations in whose territories we operate. The judicial review brought by Cermaq is meant to allow time for Cermaq to engage with these local First Nations regarding our operations in their territories,” he wrote.

Chief Darren Blaney of the Homalco First Nation told the Campbell River Mirror that Cermaq’s statement is “hollow… just words, no action.”

“If they (aquaculture industry) want to reinstate the farms they will have to consult with First Nations going all the way up to the end of the Fraser and every other person who gets impacted on the B.C. coast,” he said.