First Nation Protestors Rally For Fish Farm Evictions

Campbell River meeting comes as Morton video of farmed fish goes viral. [See video with original article - Alex Morton captured underwater video of farmed salmon during Musgamagw Dzawada’enuxw protest action. Photo from YouTube. ]

More than 50 First Nations protestors, including several hereditary chiefs, called for the eviction of multinational-owned fish farms from “unceded” territorial waters in Campbell River on Monday.

The protest in the Kwanwatsi Big House, a traditional meeting area designed to serve First Nations in the Campbell River area, appeared to signal a growing Indigenous movement against fish farms on the B.C. coast.

Speakers representing several coastal First Nations decried fish farms as either a “poison” or an environmental problem that harmed young wild fish, disrupted natural migration routes and spread disease.

The Musgamagw Dzawada’enuxw, who live in a remote part of the Broughton Archipelago, boarded two fish farms and gave eviction notices to nearly 30 farms operated by Cermaq and Marine Harvest in their territory two weeks ago.

“This fight is for our children and to make sure they have what we have today,” Moon told the crowd in the cedar-smoke filled long house.

Ernst Alfred, a Namgis and representative of hereditary chiefs in Alert Bay, told the crowd that he joined the protest “to support the chiefs kicking this industry out.”

Alfred said he’s angered by what the industry has done to his people and culture, and First Nations need to join together to protect the lifeblood of the coast — wild salmon.

Like many speakers, Alfred (also known as Kwakwabalas) thanked biologist and fish farm opponent Alex Morton and the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society for providing a platform for First Nations to meet and discuss their concerns about fish farms and “to help us take back control of our coast.”

Morton and the crew of the R/V Martin Sheen attended the meeting.

Many of the protestors, including Moon and Ernst, plan to visit Comox, Nanaimo, Victoria and Vancouver over the next week to gather more support for what appears to be a growing First Nation-led eviction movement.

Last week, four protestors from the Ahousaht Nation were arrested by the RCMP after they tried to stop a Cermaq/Mitsibushi barge from restocking smolts in a farm that had been previously closed due to disease. No charges have been laid.

Jeremy Dunn, executive director of the BC Salmon Farmers Association, dismissed the Campbell River protest as an activity “organized by Alex Morton and Sea Shepherd Society” and “a small group expressing an opinion.” He said the industry had 20 economic agreements with First Nations representing territories with 78 per cent of the farmed salmon production.

But the Musgamagw Dzawda’enuwx haven’t signed any agreement and remain adamant that they want the farms closed and removed from their territory.

Melissa Willie, a spokesperson for the Musgamaqw Dzawda’enuxw, said the nation had received a letter from Cermaq requesting a meeting.

“We are not doing that,” she said. “We want them out.”