A First Nations hereditary chief is protesting the Marine Harvest salmon farm on Swanson Island off the east coast of Vancouver Island.
Chief Ernest Alfred and a group of First Nations say they will continue to peacefully occupy the operation until the province cancels the farm's licence and forces it to leave their territory.
"Over the past week, I boarded salmon farms and shot underwater footage in the pens. The sheer amount of disease and wild herring in the pens is out of control! We have no food fish again this year, our wild salmon runs are collapsing and the salmon farming industry is a herring fishery that no one knew about! Enough! To Marine Harvest: call in your transport vessels and get these Atlantic salmon out of my territory."
The small group aboard the farm are committed to peaceful action, there will be no damage done to the farm. Ernest Alfred has asked the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society research vessel, Martin Sheen, to stand by the farm and provide support.
Alfred says the group is concerned that salmon farms are harming wild fish by spreading disease and pests.
Ernest states he stands in solidarity with his neighbours in Kingcome Inlet, whose territory covers the Broughton Archipelago.
The Musgamagw Dzawada'enuxw have said no to salmon farms for over 30 years, served the industry with multiple eviction notices and were sued by Marine Harvest for boarding a nearby farm last August. Marine Harvest dropped all charges against them when three hereditary leaders filed an affidavit contesting Marine Harvest's right to be in their territory.
"I am not moving until my chiefs are satisfied that this salmon farm Licence of Occupation has been canceled," Says Alfred, "I am fighting for my life"