A federal Court has rejected a bid by two First Nations and salmon farm operators to review Ottawa害羞草研究所檚 decision to not renew licences for 15 open-net Atlantic salmon farms in the waters off British Columbia.

The written ruling from Judge Paul Favel says former fisheries minister Joyce Murray害羞草研究所檚 February 2023 decision not to renew the licences for farms around B.C.害羞草研究所檚 Discovery Islands met the 害羞草研究所渞equirement of the duty to consult害羞草研究所� and 害羞草研究所渄id not breach the operators害羞草研究所� rights of procedural fairness.害羞草研究所�

Favel also says the federal decision, which cited the uncertain risks posed by fish farms to wild salmon, was 害羞草研究所渞easonable.害羞草研究所�

The application for judicial review into the decision not to renew licences was launched by the Wei Wai Kum and We Wai Kai nations in the areas of Quadra Island and Campbell, some 200 kilometres northwest of Vancouver, as well as salmon farm operators including Grieg Seafood.

Court documents say the First Nations made the application with concerns about the federal minister害羞草研究所檚 duty to consult, while salmon farm operators applied to review procedural fairness in Murray害羞草研究所檚 decision.

In a written statement, open-net fish farming opponent group Wild First says the Federal Court decision is a 害羞草研究所渧indication害羞草研究所� for Murray害羞草研究所檚 move after 害羞草研究所渆xtensive consultation with the industry, First Nations and civil society.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淪he took the trouble to learn about the science that her department officials have been suppressing or ignoring and made the right call,害羞草研究所� said Wild First campaign chairman Tony Allard. 害羞草研究所淲e are indebted to her for taking decisive action to protect wild salmon.害羞草研究所�

Murray害羞草研究所檚 mandate letter from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tasked her with developing the plan to shift from open-net salmon farming in B.C. by 2025, and the message was repeated in a similar letter for current Fisheries Minister Diane Lebouthillier.

Neither the fisheries Department nor the minister have yet released final transition plans for 79 B.C. salmon farms.

The B.C. Salmon Farmers Association said an analysis showed the province could lose more than 4,700 jobs and up to $1.2 billion in economic activity annually if the licences are not renewed.

The Canadian Press