Miami, Florida, U.S.A.-based Blue Star Foods has criticized the actions of Steven Atkinson, the owner of the land that its Taste of B.C. Aquafarms (TOBC) recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) farm is on in Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada.
Former TOBC Founder Steve Atkinson and his wife, Janet Atkinson, landlords of the property, terminated TOBC’s lease on 15 July after notifying the company on 8 July that the company would have to vacate the premises.
Atkinson told SeafoodSource Blue Star rarely paid its rent on time since it acquired TOBC in 2021, failed to maintain insurance, and failed to perform regular maintenance and upkeep on the facility.
On 16 July, TOBC filed a petition in the Supreme Court of British Columbia seeking a declaration that its leases remain valid and that it should be permitted to remain in possession of the property.
In a 17 July press release, Blue Star condemned Atkinson for “his egregious actions that have disrupted farm operations and violated rights as lessee under the land lease agreement.”
TOBC applied to have the petition heard on an urgent basis, but the Atkinsons wrote to TOBC to confirm they will not be taking any steps to reenter the property without first providing adequate notice, according to the press release. The lawyers said the Atkinsons will not change the locks or otherwise prevent TOBC from accessing the lands in any way without giving adequate notice to the company.
Additionally, the lawyers for the landlord confirmed that all rents have been paid to date.
“As a result of these statements, the Supreme Court of British Columbia determined that the matter was no longer urgent. The court declined to set an accelerated schedule for the hearing of the petition. It will be heard in the ordinary course,” TOBC said.
Blue Star Foods complained in its release of Atkinson’s recent behavior violating his promises not to interfere with the farm’s operations.
“Steve Atkinson engaged in a series of hostile acts, including unauthorized entry onto the property, refusal to allow TOBC's security personnel access, and verbal aggression toward TOBC personnel, security staff, and maintenance contractors,” Blue Star said. "Furthermore, Atkinson resorted to vandalism by forcibly removing TOBC's security cameras and ordering the killing of fish on the farm, prompting TOBC to immediately report the incident to the B.C.'s Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals ... and safeguard TOBC’s fish biomass.”
Blue Star said despite the “unwarranted disruptions,” it will ...
