William Shatner Speaks up for Wild Salmon, Tells farms to F*Off

Pacific Wild teams up with William Shatner to demand that the Canadian government do better and ban open-net pen salmon farming without delay.

We’re sorry we swore, but someone had to say it. 

After months of speculating whether the federal government would live up to its promises to phase out open-net salmon farms by 2025, Diane Lebouthillier, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, announced on June 19th 2024 the intention to grant a  five-year license extension to the remaining open-net pen salmon farms operating in coastal British Columbia. This means a ban won’t come into effect until  June 30, 2029, ten years since Trudeau’s initial promise to get open-net pen farms out. Wild salmon don’t have 5 more years.

Irrefutably, open-net fish farms threaten wild salmon, and the majority of First Nations and Canadians support the removal of open-net salmon farms.

  •  120 first nations  support a transition away from open-net pen salmon farming
  • A 2024 newspaper  poll shows over  85%  of people are against open-net pen salmon farms 
  • B.C. Assembly of First Nations calls for end to BC salmon farms (2020) Press release
  • UBCIC letter to Minister (2024) Letter
  • Resolution from the First Nations Summit HERE
  • Resolution from the UBCIC HERE

On June 20th, one day after DFO’s announcement, Pacific Wild  teamed up with iconic Canadian actor and long-time wild salmon advocate William Shatner, hockey legend Kirk McLean, and Cowichan director and performer Mary Galloway to turn up the heat in the debate over open-net pen salmon farms. We released a bold, but cheeky video on social media, and it went viral.  With this message we are urging  Canadians to ditch their signature politeness and raise their voices to tell open-net salmon farms to f**k right off.

*This website contains strong language that may be upsetting to some viewers.

Unbleeped version available here.

“This very un-Canadian campaign reflects the urgency of the issue we are facing today in having to defend Pacific wild salmon against profit-focused multinational priorities. Timing matters and after years of broken government promises, Canadians have had enough. It’s time for leaders to hear Canadians’ voices as raw and real as they are, and to respond with meaningful action now.”

The response has been phenomenal.  The video has been seen over 7 million times.

"Wild salmon are central to First Nations' culture and traditions, and we welcome all of the Canadian voices that are joining in the fight to protect them. A win for Pacific wild salmon can only come from collective efforts to speak out and compel action.”

Robert Chamberlin is chairman of the First Nation Wild Salmon Alliance, a group which has identified over 120 First Nations across the province who support the transition of open-net pens out of our coastal waters. He previously served 14 years as chief councillor for Kwikwasutinuxw Haxwa’mis First Nation, and nine years as vice-president of the Union of British Columbia (B.C.) Indian Chiefs. He has long been a champion for the Pacific wild salmon, working as a spokesperson in Canada with all levels of government to express the urgency of removing the open-net pens from B.C. waters and work toward sustainable economic and environmental solutions. 

When the campaign went viral, Canadian media approached him to get his take.

“We look to anyone that’s going to amplify this critical issue to do so…It’s just time that we ensure the government is clear that we make sure that wild salmon is looked after.”

“The language used might not be used by everybody, but I’ll tell you… it’s used by most everybody.”

Over 900 news stories have been released across North America, on television, radio and in print. Here’s a sample of some of the best:

Please go to www.foff.ca to join the thousands of supporters who have already sent what is probably the most unCanadian letter of their lives to their elected representatives.  And then share it with your friends.

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Thank you for everything you do to support us as we fight for Pacific wild salmon.

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