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by Jennifer Dart
The Westerly News
May 2, 2007
The Central Region Board has approved 20-year tenure renewals for nine
fish farm sites in Clayoquot Sound belonging to Mainstream Canada.
At their Apr. 26 meeting, the board unanimously approved reccommending
the renewals to the provincial government after the Chief Councilor of
the Ahousaht First Nation backed the application.
Ketih Atleo attended the meeeting to back the company that is operating in his band's traditional territory: "We want to be partners with Mainstream. It's benefitting our community and we're willing to work with them with fish farming and other ventures."
Atleo said the band has a protocol agreement with Mainstream, part of which includes having a representative, George Frank, who was also at the meeting, on their board of directors.
Dave Weir, of the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands, said the province was willing to accept "up to 20 years" as the renewal terms, and even five years for one site, East Bedwell, where there have been concerns over waste management.
In 2001, licenses for fish farms were limited to five years, until the farms could show compliance with new waste management regulations. The intent was to allow for longer tenures following this trial period.
"We applied for a 20-year renewal because as a company we have moved forward tremendously," said Alistair Haughton, Mainstream's deputy managing director.
He listed $36 million in site level improvements, as well as ISO certification, as proof of these strides.
Haughton said relations with local communities have improved from the time when "no one could believe a word we said." Now, the company is using biodiesel fuel and "moving away" from using copper-based paint for its nets, he said.
Mainstream is a subsidiary of Norwegian aquaculture company Cermaq. In total the company has 14 farm sites in Clayoquot Sound, at least two of which are inactive.
Robert Mundy, of the Ucluelet First Nation, moved to approve the tenures. His motion was seconded by Mike Kokura, a provincial representative from Port Alberni.
Before the board voted, Al Anderson, a provincial representative from Tofino, urged the company to focus more on the local region. "I appreciate that you've come a long way and it had to happen," he said. "But I'd like to see fish farms benefit the local community and benefit the local economy more."
Anderson said he was glad to see an agreement had been reached with Ahousaht, but he said "people who live day to day with the farms" need to see more benefits from them.
Provincial representative Roland Arnet of Tofino raised concerns about fish farms waste he'd seen at the local landfill. "It was maybe not you, but it came from fish farms for sure. There should be a different way of addressing waste," he said.
A campaigner associated with a local environmental group thinks the province is acting prematurely on tenure renewals.
"The government should not be processing long-term renewals for salmon farms just as the Special Committee on Sustainable Aquaculture is about to issue recommendations on how to deal with BC's problematic open net-cage salmon farming industry," said Dom Repta, aquaculture markets campaigner for the Friends of Clayoquot Sound.
The Central Region
Board is the body where both First Nations and local viewpoints are brought
to bear on resource and land use decisions until treaties are finalized.
The board is asked to comment on applications such as Mainstream's, prior
to the province's decision on the matter.
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or in part, is illegal without the written consent of The Westerly News
(westnews@ukeecable.net). The Westerly News is published each Wednesday
in Ucluelet. Phone: 250 726-7029
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