Marine Harvest Canada is asking the B.C. Supreme Court for an injunction to remove protesters from a salmon farm east of Port Hardy. File Photo.
A fish farm company will ask the B.C. Supreme Court for an injunction to remove protesters from its site east of Port Hardy.
Marine Harvest Canada, which runs the farm 50 kilometres east of Port Hardy in the in the Broughton Archipelago, want protesters to leave the Midsummer Island farm due to concerns about the safety of both staff and protesters, and about the welfare of the fish.
A company spokesman says structures have been built on the facility’s narrow walkways, making it difficult for employees to do their work.
But the protesters who have been at the farm for more than two months plan to stand their ground despite the court action to have them forced out.
Protesters say the company doesn’t have the permission of the local First Nation to operate in the area and they’re concerned about the impact of fish farms on wild salmon.
They intend to not leave the farm until Marine Harvest Canada removes all of its fish from its territorial waters.
A rally in support of the protesters will be held outside the Vancouver courthouse before the hearing begins at 9:45 a.m.
The government has not issued any licences for new fish farms since 2015 while a review of aquaculture policy and licensing is underway.
With files from the Canadian Press.
Andy Neal
