441-02423 (Fisheries)

Whereas:

• Migrating juvenile wild salmon stocks are under serious threat from pathogens, pollutants, and sea lice originating from open net-cage fish farms;
• Wild salmon support First Nations' cultural traditions, and complex ecosystems, including contributing to coastal forests, which produce the oxygen we breathe;
• In spite of the serious risk domestic Piscine Orthoreovirus (PRV) poses to the migrating juvenile wild salmon stocks, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans refuses to screen for domestic PRV and stop the transfer of farm fish known to be infected with PRV; and
• Pacific salmon runs on the British Columbia (BC) coast are in a state of emergency.

We, the undersigned, citizens and residents of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to:

Legislate the removal of open net-pen fish farms from BC waters by 2025, including with legislation aimed at:

a) Immediately stopping the transfer of PRV infected smolts into open net-pen fish farms; and

b) Completing the transitioning of open net-pen fish farms to land-based closed containment by 2025.