Salmon farming spawns aboriginal lawsuit against B.C. government
Last Updated: Tuesday, February 3, 2009 | 3:58 PM PT
The Canadian Press
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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