It's been a tough few days for the fish farm business.
Fish farming has come under the spotlight after a spill a week ago which saw an unknown number of Atlantic Salmon escape from a collapsed holding net in Puget Sound.
That was followed by the occupation of Marine Harvest salmon farm on Swanson Island in B.C. Friday.
Sunday, Washington Governor Jay Inslee put all permits for new net pens on hold in that State.
Jeremy Dunn Executive Director, BC Salmon Farmers Association says the BC government expects a report on the future recommendations for new sites in our province by the end of 2017.
"A Minister's advisory committee is meeting on fin fish aquaculture that is meeting and is expected to report on what recommendation would be for, if and how new sites would occur in B.C."
Dunn says Marine Harvest has reached out to BC's elected Chiefs to begin a dialogue about the occupation and Chief Ernest Alfred's health and safety concerns. "The fish on that farm (Marine Harvest) go through very rigorous and regular testing."
Testing is conducted by veterinarians managed by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.
Dunn says every farm raised salmon spends the first part of its life in a land based facility before being moved to ocean nets.