Marine Harvest Canada is suing biologist and environmental activist Alexandra Morton as well as a handful of others on the grounds of trespassing and nuisance after the group boarded the company’s facilities in August without permission.
The supplier filed a Notice of Civil Claim against Morton and others who accompanied her in August on 23 September. The document outlines the reason behind the charges: Morton and colleagues allegedly entered Marine Harvest’s facilities in British Columbia on a number of occasions in August without permission, refusing to leave and refusing to adhere to the company’s biosecurity procedures and protocol. Ultimately, the defendants’ occupation of the site amounted to trespassing and nuisance, said Marine Harvest.
"Our company has always been willing to provide tours of our facilities to interested public, and share information with our First Nation partners, conservation organizations, academia and government," said Managing Director of Marine Harvest Canada Vincent Erenst. "This said, we cannot stand by and allow individuals to ignore the law and trespass on our facilities."
Morton, alongside Pamela Anderson and Sea Shepherd kicked off a campaign, “Operation Virus Hunter,” against salmon farming in British Columbia in July 2016. Marine Harvest’s farms near Vancouver Island were stops on the campaign course; facilities owned and operated by Cermaq were also visited.
The campaign has drawn support from First Nations members, including those who are a part of the Musgamagw Dzawada'enuxw First Nation.