Back to the Land

Back to the Land

From The Salmon People by Canada's National Observer

January 5, 2026 · 27 min · Season 4 · Episode 18

About this episode

The episode discusses the future of salmon farming in British Columbia as multinational corporations face a government deadline to leave ocean farms by 2029 due to climate change challenges.

In British Columbia where multinational corporations have controlled salmon farms for decades – they are now under a deadline to leave. The Canadian government has told them to get out of the ocean by 2029.   Many people can’t believe they even want to stay. Climate change is causing all sorts of problems – warm water spawning algae growths, rampant sea lice infestations and diseases. Some farms have lost hundreds of thousands of fish in die offs. John Holder has been designing land-based fish farms all over the world for twenty-five years. He doesn’t believe the ocean open-net farms have a future anywhere. “The climate is going to force them off the ocean”, Holder said. The companies – Mowi – Cermaq and previously Grieg - say they can’t move because there is no available land, no reliable sources of water and electricity in B.C. But John Holder with his partner Rob Walker have found land and are developing two land-based farms in the province. Walker says land-based farms are operating all over the world growing salmon, trout, arctic char, tilapia and more. They provide food and a small income to family growers.  In Canada Holder says he is helping…

People in this episode

Guest: John Holder

Topics covered

  • salmon farming
  • climate change
  • land-based fish farms
  • First Nations
  • British Columbia
  • sustainable agriculture

Keywords

  • salmon farms
  • climate change
  • land-based farming
  • sea lice
  • First Nations
  • fish die-offs
  • sustainable practices

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Mowi, Cermaq, Grieg

Places: British Columbia, Canada, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario

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