PRINCE RUPERT— Robin Austin, MLA for Skeena, was in Prince Rupert on Saturday for the presentation of the Special Committee on Sustainable Aquaculture’s final report to the hereditary chiefs of Kitkatla. The report was presented at a feast which featured several types of wild caught salmon.

“I am honored to present the committee’s aquaculture report to the hereditary chiefs of Kitkatla,” Austin said. “I think it emphasizes the popular will that is behind the push to protect British Columbia’s wild salmon.”

The feast, at the fishermen’s hall in Prince Rupert, was sponsored by friends of wild salmon, and open to everyone. Members from many nations attended and spoke favorably of the report, including the Wet’suwet’en, Gitxsan, and Nisga'a.

“The people of the northwest have said they don’t want fish farms,” said Austin, “and I’m determined to ensure that their voice is heard in the legislature.”

A representative of the Musgamagw Tsawataineuk people, whose traditional territories in the Broughton Archipelago have already been negatively impacted by Atlantic salmon aquaculture, gave moving testimony of the destruction fish farms have wreaked on their land.

“We have to protect the north coast from the predation of fish farms,” said the MLA for Skeena, “the future of wild salmon, and the economies, ecosystems and traditions that depend on them, is at stake.”

Also in attendance was Gary Coons, another member of the Committee for Sustainable Aquaculture, and the MLA for the North Coast, which includes Prince Rupert.