First Nations

The Governments of Canada and British Columbia are committed to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). The declaration outlines the importance of building productive, durable relationships with Indigenous partners and sets a higher standard than the process that has governed issues between industry and First Nations in the past.

BC salmon farmers agree this marks a significant opportunity to build meaningful relationships with local First Nations and is a tremendous step forward in the spirit of reconciliation. It is the industry’s intent to continue to nurture established partnerships and build on newly formed relationships and goodwill.

Strong cooperative partnerships enable the production of a high-quality food product, ensure protection of the environment and wild salmon and provide economic and social benefits to First Nations.

• Twenty BC First Nations have partnership agreements for farming salmon in their territory.
• 78% of all salmon farmed in the province is under a beneficial partnership with a First Nation.
• About 20% of salmon farming jobs are held by people of First Nations’ heritage.
• Every new farm proposed in the last decade has been in partnership with First Nations