Documentary Reflection: Open Net Fish Farms
March 21, 2025 By: Jennifer R. Paulsen
As the Global News video linked below explains, the federal government has pulled the plug on BC’s open net fish farms. This news was greeted with a huge sigh of relief by myself and many others who have been concerned by the devastating impact of open net fish farms on wild salmon (and other fish such as herrings) populations. Despite the well documented negative ecological impacts of this industry, however, there is support for the industry from those who stand to benefit economically from the continued practice of open net fish farming.
The arguments for open net fish farming are based on preservation of jobs in the immediate future but fail to recognize the long-term impacts to the futures of both wild and farmed fisheries. These concerns have been voiced by Indigenous groups who have been protesting the destruction of their traditional waters for years. The articles linked below discuss these efforts.The decision to ban open-net fish farming in BC demonstrates that sound ecological reasoning can prevail over economic short-sightedness, and I hope this trend continues.
https://globalnews.ca/video/10577238/feds-pull-plug-on-b-c-open-net-fish-farms