Reported by The Canadian Press through CBC News:
A Northern Vancouver Island First Nation is preparing a class-action
lawsuit against the B.C. government, alleging nearby salmon farms are
harming wild salmon stocks.
The Alert Bay natives will release details of the planned class-action lawsuit Wednesday at a press conference in Vancouver.
First Nations and environmental groups have long complained that
waste from the farms is dangerous to wild stock, and that farmed salmon
spread disease and contribute to higher concentrations of sea lice.
A spokeswoman for the B.C. Agriculture and Lands Ministry, which is
responsible for aquaculture in British Columbia, said the government is
aware of the legal action but isn’t prepared to make an immediate
comment.
The natives said the legal action will be the first class-action lawsuit in Canada launched to protect aboriginal treaty rights.
There are 29 salmon farms in the Broughton Archipelago near Alert
Bay, and the natives believe the farms have contributed to a drastic
decline in wild salmon stocks.
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For the original CBCnews.ca article go to:
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