’Na̱mg̱is, Stó:lō and allied First Nations applaud court ruling saying open-net salmon farm removals are legal

Posted: January 30, 2026

British Columbia, Canada — The ’Na̱mg̱is Nation, Stó:lō Tribal Council and many allied communities are applauding a Federal Court of Appeal ruling that upholds the federal government’s right to remove open-net salmon farms from British Columbia waters, saying the decision clears the path to removing all open-net salmon farms in the province.

Court Ruling Upholds Salmon Farm Removals

“Today’s ruling is a crucial step in ensuring the survival of wild salmon on our coast,” said ’Na̱mg̱is hereditary chief Ho’miska̱nis Don Svanvik. “It underscores that there is a clear path—morally, politically and legally—for the Liberal government to finish the job: to keep its promise to remove all open-net salmon farms from our coast by 2029, if not sooner.”

‘Na̱mg̱is Hereditary Chief Homiskanis (Don Svanvik). Photo: Emilee Gilpin Media (CNW Group/Namgis First Nation)

The ruling comprehensively dismissed an appeal by Mowi Canada West, a Norwegian-owned farmed salmon company, arguing that a decision by former Fisheries Minister Joyce Murray to order its and other farms out of the Discovery Islands area in June 2022 was procedurally unfair, unreasonable and based on poor science. The unanimous judgement rebuked the company for its poor arguments in appealing a lower court ruling that earlier found Murray had acted fairly. It awarded costs against Mowi.

Ecojustice represented Living Oceans Society, the David Suzuki Foundation, the Georgia Strait Alliance, Watershed Watch Salmon Society, and independent biologist Alexandra Morton in the case. Interveners in the earlier ruling that Mowi appealed included the ’Na̱mg̱is and Stó:lō Nations.

The court said today, “In light of the dire consequences that the declining stock of wild salmon in the Pacific could have for the rights of First Nations and, more broadly, for the economy and social fabric of British Columbia, it was understandable for the Minister to have a low level of tolerance for the risks posed by Atlantic salmon farms in the Discovery Islands. Considering the high level of deference that such an assessment warrants, I am satisfied that the Minister’s decision bears all the hallmarks of reasonableness.”

Impact on Wild Salmon and First Nations

Tyrone McNeil, President and Tribal Chief of the Stó:lō Tribal Council said, “I am pleased the court has upheld the decision of Minister Murray. We have seen far greater than predicted returns of salmon since the farms were removed from the Discovery Islands. With this decision, all salmon runs will continue to grow year over year to the benefit of First Nations and British Columbians alike.”

The ’Na̱mg̱is, Kwikwasut’inuxw Haxwa’mis, and Mamalilikulla First Nations themselves began removing open-net salmon farms from the Broughton Archipelago in 2019, with major closures occurring in 2022 and 2023. Last summer, sockeye salmon returned to the BC coastal and upriver communities in numbers that broke all projections, which many Nations believe is a clear signal to all British Columbians that wild salmon can recover when salmon farms are removed from open waters. The strong returns were celebrated across the province, including in Stó:lō territory along the Fraser River.

Swanson Island Occupation gathering, 2017, showing Ernest Alfred, Bob Chamberlain, and David Suzuki advocating for wild salmon.
Swanson Island Occupation gathering, 2017: Ernest Alfred, Bob Chamberlain, and David Suzuki, all who have played key roles in advocating for the protection of wild salmon. Photo: Emilee Gilpin Media

“I am a Stó:lō dry racker (someone who traditionally harvests and preserves salmon on racks) and have been since I was a child,” McNeil said. “It is critical that enough wild salmon return so that I can pass on teachings to my grandchildren. Those teachings and ways of being can only take place on the Fraser River with salmon in hand. Fish farms are a detriment to my ability to pass along ancient teachings as well the health and wellbeing of salmon people.”

’Na̱mg̱is and Allies’ Actions

Svanvik said, “The returns of the past two years have brought hope to our nation that wild salmon will nourish our bodies and the environment as they once did. When these salmon went out to sea they did not have to travel through a myriad of fish farms in the Discovery Islands and the Broughton Archipelago. Wild salmon have demonstrated that when we get out of the way they will come home.”

Sockeye salmon being counted by the ʼNa̱mg̱is Nation’s test boat at Ya̱lis in 2025. Photo by Emilee Gilpin.
‘Ya̱lis, 2025: ʼNa̱mg̱is Nation’s test boat counting the high populations of salmon now returning after fish farms were removed. Photo: Emilee Gilpin Media

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The Na̱mg̱is Accounting Office will be closed on the afternoon of Tuesday, March 31st, 2026.