Tofino, BC, October 15, 2012 – The Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations is appalled to learn that on OCTOBER 9th, Department of Fisheries and Oceans issued a new aquaculture license to Mainstream Canada for an open net-pen salmon farm located in Fortune Channel near Plover Point. The new site will have negative impacts to our Wah-Na-Jus/Hilth-Hoo-iss (Meares Island) Tribal Park. In 1984, our Tla-o-qui-aht Hawiih (Hereditary chiefs) declared total preservation of Wah-Nah-Jus/Hilth-Hoo-iss Island based on title and survival of Indigenous way of life by protecting the ancient old growth with an intact ecosystem that is connected to the coastal waters. Our Tribal Parks Declaration clearly states that our seafood, shellfish, salmon streams, herring spawning areas and medical plants must be preserved for future generations.
“Fish disease outbreaks and pollution could devastate our already stressed salmon runs and shell fish sites near the Plover Point site, and put further constraints on our Tla-o-qui-aht strategic fishery planning. The Tla-o-qui-aht leadership has written several letters and voiced our opposition to Mainstream Canada, Ahousaht First Nations, DFO, Transport Canada, and BC, and our title and rights to the coastal waters have been clearly ignored. We will not allow governments and industry to run roughshod over our rights to clean water and sustainable fisheries. We are investigating legal options and will not rule out direct actions to stop Mainstream Canada’s Plover Point fish farm.” – Terry Dorward, Tla-o-qui-aht Elected Councilor.
For more information
Terry Dorward
Tla-o-qui-aht elected councilor
250-726-4162