Dozens of Indigenous leaders sign declarationagainst open-net pen fish farms
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
3 November, 2025
Nations from across British Columbia joined for historic signing of the Migratory Salmon Declaration to support the long-term health of the coast.
Port Alberni, BC, Unceded Territory of the Ḥupačasatḥ and Tseshaht First Nations — Hereditary chiefs and leaders from more than two dozen Indigenous Nations signed a declaration on Sunday, November 2, committing to “relentlessly work towards the immediate removal of all open-net pen fish farms, which is within our control and works to help Salmon return in abundance.”
The historic event was a rare coming together of senior Indigenous leaders to jointly demand that open-net fish farms be removed, a call uniting Nations from northern California to the Okanagan to Vancouver Island during a potlatch hosted by Ḥupačasatḥ Ḥawił Tsu Tsii In (Alton Watts) and Hesquiaht elder/artist Aniičačist (Tim Paul).
“Everyone was invited to come here, whether they’re pro fish-farm or not. I wanted it to be done in a good way… It’s something that had to be done; brought into the open,” said Tsu Tsii In Alton Watts.
The declaration is part of a growing call—by Indigenous and non-Indigenous people alike—for the federal government to recommit to its promise to remove all open-net fish farms by 2029. Despite the vast majority of British Columbians consistently saying they want the fish farms out, the fish-farm industry is both lobbying and suing the government to overturn its commitment to remove the farms, while the Carney government has not reaffirmed the promise of the previous government to do so. The Migratory Salmon Declaration underscores the wishes of many Nations across the province — and urges removal of fish farms as soon as possible.
Earlier this year, communities across the coast and upriver celebrated strong returns of sockeye salmon in British Columbia, which many Nations attribute to the closure of fish farms in key migratory areas. For example, the Na̱mǥ̱is, Kwikwasut’inuxw Haxwa’mis and Mamalilikulla closed all salmon farms in their territories, and have seen fish returns more than six times those expected by Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s pre-season forecasts.
The two-day potlatch in Port Alberni celebrated the strong returns of wild salmon in the summer, and demanded that all migratory pathways for wild salmon be cleared of open net pens to allow other wild salmon stocks to rebuild.
“We’re doing this for the youth. Not just for seven generations, but beyond that,” said tii’tii’tis’kin’is Rustee Watts, the emcee for the event. Multiple leaders underscored the importance of this action for the future of young people across the coast—and the potential for them to grow both culturally and economically when healthy wild salmon populations are restored. Participants across generations attended, with young dancers and singers performing throughout the two days and committing to continue this work.
“We need to know our place in this world. We think we can create and introduce invasive species that take away the natural world that we live in. Here, we have complete unity as we stand together, to put forward this declaration,” said Aniičačist Tim Paul.
The declaration signatories commit to:
Ensuring by all means necessary, that Salmon populations are thriving and continue to feed future generations.
Respect the hahuułi and sovereign inherent rights of all nations and we acknowledge that no one has a right to condemn a species to extinction.
Continue practicing our cultural responsibilities, sharing teachings, and preparing the next generation of Salmon stewards.
Relentlessly work towards the immediate removal of all open-net pen fish farms, which is within our control and works to help Salmon return in abundance.
Link to the Migratory Salmon Declaration
Photos Available Here: Credit Jeremy Mathieu
For further information, or to arrange interviews, contact:
Nicole Magas, Flux Strategy
media@fluxstrategy.co
