Canadian First Nations leaders have urged the country's federal government to keep its promise to protect wild salmon in British Columbia.

Key points:

• Indigenous leaders have urged the Canadian government to fulfil its vow to move away from open net-pen salmon farming in British Columbia waters
• The leaders raised concerns about a lack of transparency, the absence of timelines, and indications that implementation efforts may have stalled
• “Significant concerns” have been raised by First Nations, scientists, and wild salmon advocates “over many years” regarding the risks posed by open net-pen fish farms to wild salmon populations

In a letter to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Minister of Fisheries Joanne Thompson sent Wednesday, the First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC), including representatives of First Nations Summit, the British Columbia Assembly of First Nations and the Union of BC Indian Chiefs, urged the government to "uphold and fully implement" the announced 2029 transition away from open net-pen salmon farming in BC waters.

"Wild salmon are foundational to the cultures, governance systems, economies, food security, and ways of life of First Nations throughout British Columbia," the leaders wrote.

"The protection and restoration of wild salmon populations remain a shared priority for many First Nations and continues to be advanced through numerous resolutions, advocacy efforts, and Nation-led stewardship initiatives across the province."

The letter, from First Nations Summit representatives Robert Phillips, Hugh Braker and Huy'wu'qw Shana Thomas, UBCIC leaders Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, Chief Councillor Linda Innes, and Chief Marilyn Slett, and BC Assembly of First Nations Regional Chief Terry Teegee, noted that "significant concerns" have been raised by First Nations, scientists, and wild salmon advocates "over many years" regarding the risks posed by open net-pen fish farms to wild salmon populations.

"These concerns have been consistently identified through federal review processes and scientific assessments," the leaders wrote.

"The 2012 Cohen Commission concluded that the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) must demonstrate that fish farm operations pose no more than minimal risk to Fraser River sockeye salmon, while the subsequent 2016 Auditor General report found that DFO had not sufficiently implemented these recommendations."

In the Discovery Islands decisions, the Canadian government applied the precautionary principle in determining not to reissue fish farm licences. Those decisions were subsequently upheld through judicial review proceedings, affirming the Minister's authority to act in protection of wild salmon where scientific uncertainty and risk remain present.

Most recently, the 2026 science statement released by the Pacific Salmon Foundation reaffirmed that the same core concerns regarding open net-pen fish farming continue to remain unresolved.

The FNLC said it acknowledged that the Canadian government announced in 2024 its intention to transition away from open net-pen salmon farming in British Columbia by 2029, but raised concerns about the process since.

"First Nations have participated in transition planning and engagement processes in good faith. However, there is increasing concern regarding the lack of transparency surrounding the outcomes of the final transition planning phase, the absence of timelines regarding consultation on future regulations and licensing frameworks, and indications that implementation efforts may have stalled," the Council representatives wrote.

The FNLC urged the government to publicly reaffirm its commitment to the 2029 transition away from open net-pen salmon farming in British Columbia and to provide clarity regarding the status of the transition planning process, including the release of the outstanding Phase 4 outcomes and reporting.

The FNLC further called on the Prime Minister and Minister to "continue engaging meaningfully" with First Nations regarding future regulatory frameworks, licensing conditions, and the development of closed containment approaches.

The FNLC noted concerns raised by the First Nations Wild Salmon Alliance regarding the potential for technology development initiatives or undefined transition approaches to effectively prolong open net-pen operations in British Columbia, "undermining both the intent of the 2029 transition and broader wild salmon rebuilding efforts", while continuing to uphold the precautionary principle in all decisions affecting wild salmon and their habitats.

The First Nations leaders said this work remains "critically important" to the long-term protection and rebuilding of wild salmon populations in British Columbia, and also "represents an important opportunity for Canada to demonstrate its commitment to reconciliation, environmental stewardship, and collaborative decision-making with First Nations".

The FNLC requested a meeting with Prime Minister Carney to discuss the implementation of the 2029 transition and opportunities to "collaboratively advance wild salmon rebuilding as a broader Nation Building project grounded in partnership with First Nations".