"The company is now reviewing the decision and is considering its legal options", was how Mowi concluded its statement following news of the Government of Canada's decision to close all salmon farms in the Discovery Islands. "We are very disappointed that Minister Murray has decided not to issue any salmon aquaculture licenses in the Laich-kwil-tach territory", said Dr. Diane Morrison, Managing Director at Mowi Canada West.
Mowi has asserted that Minister Murray's resolution is a further blow to British Columbia's largest agricultural export and to all of BC's coastal communities that rely on salmon farming as a major economic driver. "We had hoped today's announcement by the Government of Canada would correct the flawed previous decision and begin the path to recovery and certainty", said the release.
The Managing Director at Mowi Canada West, Diane Morrison, continued: "This decision, along with previous decisions, continues to raise serious questions about Canada's commitment to First Nations reconciliation, its food producers, and the health of coastal communities. Our company, along with the Wei Wai Kum and We Wai Kai First Nations had provided the Minister a very reasonable path forward that would help Canada achieve its stated vision for sustainable aquaculture and advance its Blue Economy Strategy. She has regrettably chosen not to accept this opportunity".
As noted, the Managing Director at Mowi Canada West said they are very "disappointed" with Murray's decision. Disappointment and science have been the most repeated words in the reactions following the decision by Canada's Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and Coast Guard, Joyce Murray, not to renew the licenses of fifteen open net Atlantic salmon aquaculture facilities in the Discovery Islands. As the news broke on Friday, at the moment Mowi is the only company that has issued a statement. However, the other two affected companies, Grieg Seafood British Columbia and Cermaq Canada have made statements on their social media profiles.
"Grieg Seafood BC is disappointed in the decision released earlier today by the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans, and the Canadian Coast Guard (DFO) Joyce Murray. The decision goes against DFO's own science and is a knee-jerk reaction to a complex and multi-layered issue", said the company on its Twitter account. "This decision once again is not based on science and harms so many farming families and small coastal communities", Cermaq Canada also stated on Twitter.