Salmon farming centre belonging to Marine Harvest. (Photo: Marine Harvest Canada)

Court prevents protesters from approaching Marine Harvest's farms

A British Columbia Court granted Atlantic-salmon farming company Marine Harvest an interim injunction to prevent both specific protesters and members of the public from getting too close to more than 30 of its sites.

According to the British Columbia Court documents, the only exception is for Alexandra Morton, an independent biologist, who will be allowed to continue taking samples near the fish farm pens, as long as she conducts her work in a boat that is no longer than 2.6 metres, The Star informed.

The injunction creates a no-go zone between salmon farm pens and the buoys surrounding them and Morton showed satisfaction because the court’s decision acknowledges the value of the science she is doing.

“Fortunately, I’ve done most of the sites,” said Morton, who collects fish waste, including feces and tissues, as its flows out of fish farm pens and has it tested for viruses associated with the salmon-farming industry globally.

While Morton will be allowed to finish her sampling work, the injunction does prevent named defendants, including two hereditary chiefs, and members of the public from coming within the buffer zone.

Noah Ross, the lawyer representing Ernest Alfred, a hereditary leader from the ‘Namgis First Nation and Karissa Glendale, a member of the Dzawada’enuxw First Nation, said he is disappointed with the decision.

Much of the territory covered by the injunction is unceded, Ross said, but the federal and provincial governments have allowed fish farms to operate in the First Nations’ traditional territory despite opposition from the communities.

However, the Judge in charge of the case, Justice Miriam Maisonville, considers that Marine Harvest continues to “suffer irreparable harm” because of trespass on its sites, interference with its operations, the risk of damage to the company’s property, and the distress the defendants’ actions caused for Marine Harvest employees.

For his part, Jeremy Dunn, a spokesperson for the company said: “Marine Harvest applied for the injunction after activists boarded several farms last year, creating an unsafe work environment for employees, and occupied Marine Harvest buildings on Swanson Island.”

Dunn added that Marine Harvest and other salmon farming companies have engaged a Campbell River firm CVI to “provide health and safety support so that our employees can concentrate on caring for their fish.”

 
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