Cermaq Canada and the Ahousaht Nation have signed a new five-year protocol to guide salmon farming practices in that part of British Columbia.

May 26, 2022

Cermaq Canada operates in Ahousaht Territory under the Ahousaht Protocol Agreement and through the governance process of the Ahousaht Ha'wiih (hereditary chiefs) as represented by Maaqtusiis Hahoulthee Stewardship Society (MHSS). Respect and recognition of Ahousaht governance, territory, and position as a rightsholder is central to the protocol.

The renewed protocol agreement builds upon a strong foundation of previous protocol agreements, which addressed operational plans, environmental stewardship, wild salmon protection and conservation, economic development opportunities, benefits sharing, employment and emerging business opportunities.

New to this latest protocol is a further focus on reconciliation and wild salmon, area-based management, innovation, MHSS specific standards and broader environmental monitoring in recognition of changing ocean conditions, climate change and potential salmon farming impacts and opportunities.

“It has been an exciting time for our business and for the Ahousaht Nation as we embark on the future of farming in Ahousaht Territory. Projects such as the feasibility study of a new semi-closed containment system, a focus on GHG reduction and improved sea lice management innovation have all been possible due to the guidance of Ahousaht leadership. We have also faced working through a global pandemic and found ways to mutually support one another through such a difficult time for our local communities and for our business,” said David Kiemele, managing director Cermaq Canada, in a press release.

“As we look to the next five years of farming within Ahousaht Territory we are aware of the standards that must be met in order to continue our business and we are committed to a high degree of transparency and welcome the oversight and insight that the Nation provides to us as invited users of their resource.”

Click here to see more...

Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.