They’ve been calling on the federal government to phase out ocean-based farming for some time now and this is why.

Some 20,000 non-native salmon have escaped into the waters off Vancouver Island, causing concerns over the possible ecological impacts on struggling wild salmon stocks.

Bob Chamberlin, a former First Nations chief, says open net pen farms in the ocean pose too many risks to wild species.

“Regardless of what industry you want to talk about, whether it’s mining, whether it’s logging, whether it’s oil and gas, whether it’s fish farms, every industry evolves.  And it’s time for this industry to evolve out of the ocean.  There are far too many questions about the impacts to the environment of wild salmon.  And, it’s time.”said Chamberlin.

The feds have promised to phase out open net-pen salmon fishing on the BC coast by 2025, but some environmental advocates say that’s not soon enough.