BC coastal First Nations are urging Ottawa to reverse plans to phase out open-net salmon farms, warning the move could cost jobs, investment, and worsen food insecurity in rural and remote communities.

At a news conference on Parliament Hill, leaders with the First Nations Finfish Stewardship Coalition said the federal government needs to act quickly, as companies are already scaling back operations ahead of the planned 2029 ban on net-pen salmon aquaculture.

They say the impact is already being felt, with fewer employment opportunities and growing pressure on food security in coastal and Indigenous communities.

Coalition leaders argue reversing the policy would unlock hundreds of millions of dollars in new investment, while supporting affordable, locally produced food and long-term economic participation for First Nations.

The group also unveiled a five-point plan aimed at increasing Indigenous ownership and leadership in the aquaculture sector.

That includes transforming an existing aquatic health sciences centre into an Indigenous-led facility combining western science and traditional ecological knowledge, creating a stewardship fund supported by industry contributions, and expanding First Nations equity stakes across the aquaculture supply chain.

The plan also calls for First Nations to begin issuing salmon aquaculture licences starting in 2029.

Leaders say the timeline is critical, with the next salmon production cycle set to begin in June of this year.

Without policy clarity, they warn companies may either halt production entirely, leading to immediate job losses, or continue operations only to destroy millions of fish when the ban takes effect.

BC’s salmon aquaculture sector currently generates more than $1.1 billion in annual economic activity and supports over 4,000 jobs, with a significant portion of the workforce made up of young people and more than 1,000 First Nations workers.