Today, the federal Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard Joyce Murray, announced she will not renew licences for 15 open-net pen fish farms in the Discovery Islands, upholding the previous direction that former minister Bernadette Jordan established but was set aside – a ruling based on procedural fairness – by a federal judge. In response, Georgia Strait…
Read more »Press Category: Species Protection
Georgia Strait Alliance responds to the phasing out of all 19 fish farms in the Discovery Islands
Today, the federal government committed to phase out all 19 fish farms in the Discovery Islands, which is a critical migration route for wild salmon, by June 30, 2022. During the 18-month transition period, industry is to complete the harvesting of existing fish, while no new fish of any size can be introduced into open net-pens in this region. In…
Read more »Seismic survey threatens endangered whales
Image by Rachael Merrett. As the oceans become quieter amidst the global pandemic, an application for seismic surveys off the West Coast of Vancouver Island threatens the recovery of endangered Southern Resident killer whales. This week, in response, a coalition of conservation groups has written to the federal minister of Fisheries and Oceans to inform her…
Read more »Denman Island Chocolate releases new organic Orca Bar, partners with GSA
Image by GSA. To raise awareness and funds for the plight of endangered Southern Resident orcas, Canada’s original organic chocolate company Denman Island Chocolate has created a brand new Orca Bar for Orca Action Month in June. Made with dark, organic, fair trade chocolate and shredded coconut, the Orca Bar is available at hundreds of retailers from…
Read more »Terminal 2 expansion threatens orcas, salmon and climate action
Photo: Rachael Merrett-GSA. Orca sharing salmon. Tomorrow, conservation groups will present three main concerns with the proposed Terminal 2 expansion at Roberts Bank in Delta to the federal review panel. Groups will raise concerns about the effects of underwater noise and pollution on marine mammals, fish and fish habitat, and greenhouse gas emissions. The David Suzuki…
Read more »Conservation groups take ministers to court to protect endangered killer whales
Six conservation organizations are launching a new lawsuit aimed at protecting endangered Southern Resident killer whales. The suit comes less than a month after a killer whale mother carried her deceased calf for an unprecedented 17 days, drawing worldwide attention to the imminent threats facing the genetically unique population of whales. Ecojustice lawyers asked the Federal Court to review the…
Read more »Conservation organizations respond to Province’s fish farm announcement
It's too long for wild salmon
Vancouver, B.C.—In response to the B.C. government’s announcement this week to introduce new rules for renewing fish farm leases beginning in 2022, conservation groups Georgia Strait Alliance, Watershed Watch and Living Oceans have issued the following statement: “Yesterday’s policy announcement by the Province is a significant step towards defending wild salmon against the threats posed by open net-pen salmon farms.…
Read more »Groups applaud feds’ fisheries announcement
Renew call for killer whale emergency order
Conservation groups are applauding today’s announcement from Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Dominic LeBlanc and Minister of Environment and Climate Change Catherine McKenna that endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales face “imminent threats” to their survival and recovery. Prompted by this assessment, the Ministers also announced immediate fisheries closures in key Southern Resident foraging areas. Faced with declining populations of Chinook…
Read more »Community-business-Indigenous leaders launch ‘Declaration in Defence of Wild Salmon’
Asks BC-ers to support removal of open net-pen fish farms
Today in Vancouver, a diverse group of B.C. community, Indigenous, and business leaders announced the launch of the “Declaration in Defence of Wild Salmon”. The declaration seeks to draw together the growing number of voices calling on the B.C. government to take action on salmon farming by refusing to renew fish farm leases when they expire in June, 2018. The…
Read more »Conservation groups put ministers on notice over Southern Resident killer whale protections
Without action, extinction is near
VANCOUVER – Conservation groups are putting Minister of Environment and Climate Change Catherine McKenna and Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Dominic LeBlanc on notice as the groups race to secure protection for endangered Southern Resident killer whales. In an April 4 letter sent on behalf of David Suzuki Foundation, Georgia Strait Alliance, Natural Resources Defense Council, Raincoast Conservation Foundation and…
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