Territory

Namgis, Mamalilikala, Lowitsis, Musgamagw Dzawada'enuxw, Kwikwasut'inuxw Haxwamis and Gwawaenuk Nations

occupation

August 2017 - August 2019

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Musgamagw Dzawada'enuxw Cleansing Our Waters

Swanson Occupation

Musgamagw, Mamalilikulla, Nam'gis, and Kwikwasut’inuxw Haxwa’mis Nations are taking direct action to evict fish farms from their unceded territories.  We are supporting them with a vessel as well as logistical and financial support. 

Open net fish farms have been operating for 30 years in Musgamagw, Mamalilikulla, Nam'gis, and Kwikwasut’inuxw Haxwa’mis territory without their consent.  Over the same time period, wild salmon populations that spawn and migrate through this region have begun to collapse.

 Marine researchers have documented the risk posed by over-crowded, open-net salmon farms, specifically the likelihood of sea lice, piscine orthoreovirus, infectious salmon anemia (ISA), and heart and skeletal muscle inflammation (HSMI) being transmitted to wild salmon as they migrate past the farms. For example, a study published in 2016 reported that sea lice from fish farms killed up to 40% of juvenile wild salmon in Musgamagw Dzawada'enuxw territory.  

The Musgamagw Dzawada'enuxw, Mamalilikulla, Nam'gis, and Kwikwasut’inuxw Haxwa’mis have called for an end to fish farms in their unceded traditional territories and are taking a stand to protect the integrity of salmon-based ecosystems, assert their rights and title, and defend their community’s livelihood and culture.  They are taking direct action to stop fish farm operations in their territories by occupying both Swanson Island and  Midsummer Island fish farms.