March 12, 2003: The Islands Trust continues to hear from angry residents of Salt Spring Island regarding the efforts by Sablefin Hatcheries Ltd. to build a large industrial hatchery in a environmentally sensitive area and in conflict with the Official Community Plan.  At a March 8 meeting to the Islands Trust Council the following resolutions were passed:

• That the Islands Trust Council request:
  • 1. the Trust Programs Committee to consider community concerns regarding on-land aquaculture, including the proposed resolutions from Woodward and Company in their letter of March 6 2003, and develop recommendations for Trust Council in June, 2003, pending consideration of already scheduled work program items; and
  • 2. the Islands Trust Council request the Executive Committee to take other actions to address this issue before June, 2003, if it feels this is necessary.
• That the Islands Trust Council request the Chair to communicate the Trust Policy Statement policies, precautionary principle and island community concerns regarding on-land aquaculture to the appropriate provincial and federal ministries and responsible agencies.
• That the Islands Trust Council request the Chair to seek a suspension of on-land aquaculture application processing pending the development of siting criteria and the establishment of an Aquaculture Protocol with the Province, concerning due diligence, community consultation and environmental assessment.