The Kitasoo Xai’xais Nation has firmly rejected calls for external oversight of fish farms in British Columbia, following a push by the environmental group Wild First Canada.
Deputy Chief Councillor and CEO of Kitasoo Development Corporation, Isaiah Robinson, emphasized that decisions regarding fish farms should be made by those directly involved, not by activists.
“All remaining fish farms in British Columbia operate in partnership with First Nations, highlighting our commitment to sustainable stewardship,” Robinson said.
‘These are not scientists, They are activists with a vendetta’: Read the full letter here
His comments come in response to Wild First’s advocacy for independent monitoring of ocean-based salmon farms and their removal, which Robinson sees as an unnecessary intrusion.
The Kitasoo Xai’xais Nation operates fish farms in its unceded territory under agreements that Robinson says are a reflection of their right to self-governance.
“Respecting these partnerships is the only way the government will earn the trust of coastal First Nations,” he stated. The call for independent oversight, according to Robinson, undermines these agreements and ignores the sovereignty of the First Nations involved.
Robinson criticized Wild First’s founder, Tony Allard, accusing the group of using fish farms as a scapegoat to distract from more significant threats to wild salmon, including climate change and overfishing. “These are not scientists or veterinarians; they are activists with a vendetta,” he said, questioning the group’s credibility on the issue.
He also emphasized the improvements made in the sector, advocating for a focus on collaboration rather than external interference. “The focus should be on partnering with the Nations that know their waters, steward their resources, and have everything to lose if this industry—one that is rapidly improving—is unjustly dismantled,” said Robinson.
The debate comes amid broader discussions on the future of salmon farming in British Columbia, where concerns about the industry’s impact on wild salmon populations have led to calls for stricter regulations and the transition to land-based aquaculture. Robinson’s comments underscore the ongoing tensions between First Nations’ rights, environmental advocacy, and federal government policies.
The Kitasoo/Xai’Xais First Nation began farming and processing salmon in the late 1980s, forming a partnership for the business with Mowi in 1998. This was the first agreement developed by a salmon farming company and a First Nation in British Columbia.
Mowi operates six salmon farms in Kitasoo/Xai’Xais territory with an average annual harvest of 5,000 tonnes of salmon. The processing plant in Klemtu was recently converted to a smokehouse, and in December of 2021, Walmart Canada was announced as the exclusive retailer of Klemtu Spirit Hot Smoked Atlantic Salmon, a newly launched seafood product produced by the Nation.
Fish farming and processing is the main source of employment in Klemtu, generating more than 50 jobs for the small, remote community on the central coast of British Columbia.
