This morning, a press release from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, announced that Hon. Lana Popham and the Ministry of Agriculture will be permanently phasing out fur farms across British Columbia, by way of a five-month, multi-step process. The announcement will designate British Columbia as the first Canadian Province to institute a complete fur farm ban.
Citing concerns around several outbreaks on fur farms, the Ministry of Agriculture will be closing down all existing fur farms, primarily in response to the fourth wave of COVID-19 surging throughout British Columbia. Fur farms currently operating will be offered financial support through the AgriStability fund, to aid them in their transition from the fur industry into another agriculture sector. The Ministry press release indicates that the decision was made out of a concern for public safety amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, and a need to prioritize the wellbeing and health security of the general public.
Over the past year, hundreds of outbreaks of COVID-19 have occurred on fur farms globally, with many nations taking decisive action to end fur farming in their jurisdictions. Between December 2020 and May 2021, several outbreaks occurred at fur farms in the Fraser Valley. A June report from the OIE (World Organization for Animal Health) revealed that the last outbreak in the Fraser Valley was not only passed through human to animal transmission, but that it was a “triple mutant” variant detected: B.1.618. This is a highly transmissible SARS-CoV-2 variant that is MORE resistant to antibodies, making it all the more infectious. This is particularly concerning when it comes to mink farms as their cages are out in the open, increasing reservoir size and the spread of viruses to surrounding wildlife.
Dutch virologist Marion Koopmans has confirmed the possibility that COVID-19 may spread from farm-to-farm, through insects and birds. “The propagation,” explains Koopman, ” is an enigma.” Her team has addressed the possibility that insects and birds can carry COVID-19 variants from farm-to-farm, and potentially other animals. The carriers may not catch it, but they can pass it, especially given their easy access to fur farms, which often contain a number of open buildings with outside, accessible entry points for insects and birds.
BFFBC states that, ” we have been waiting for the Provincial government to both acknowledge, and act on the problematic nature of the relationship between fur farms and the COVID-19 pandemic. The phase-out is a significant announcement, which will not only strengthen the economy, benefit the animals, public health, and Fraser Valley environment; however it shows that the government is truly prioritizing public health, and working to shift away from an industry that has been greatly compromising that for over one year.”
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