February 14, 2014
In December 2010, Fisheries and Oceans Canada assumed primary responsibility for the regulation and management of the aquaculture industry in British Columbia, including the licensing of marine finfish, shellfish, and freshwater/land-based aquaculture sites, as well as enhancement facilities.
Under the B.C. Aquaculture Regulatory Program, Fisheries and Oceans Canada is committed to the development of an aquaculture industry that is both ecologically sustainable and economically viable. Departmental staff are regularly monitoring and inspecting aquaculture sites in B.C. for compliance with the aquaculture licence conditions under the Pacific Aquaculture Regulations, the Fishery General Regulations and the Fisheries Act. These regulations are in place to safeguard the environment and wild fish stocks today and for future generations.
Since December 2010, and marking its third anniversary in B.C., the departmental regulatory program has successfully completed the following:
- Issued and renewed of over 700 aquaculture licences in B.C. with specific Conditions of Licence for each licensed sector, designed to ensure the environmental sustainability of the aquaculture industry in B.C.
- Reviewed and revised the Conditions of Licence for each aquaculture sector to strengthen environmental management, as well as to streamline regulatory and reporting requirements.
- Licensed approximately 160 departmental and community-based salmon enhancement facilities in B.C. to support conserving and rebuilding Pacific salmon stocks.
- Established two integrated Aquaculture Management Advisory Committees to engage and seek input from First Nations, the aquaculture industry and stakeholders regarding the management of shellfish and finfish aquaculture in B.C.
- Developed the Finfish Integrated Management of Aquaculture Plan (IMAP) outlining the goals and objectives for the sustainable management of the sector. The Shellfish IMAP is expected to be completed in 2014 and the Freshwater/Land-based IMAP in 2015.
- Worked collaboratively with the Province of B.C. and Transport Canada to establish a “single window” harmonized application and review process for aquaculture in B.C., available through FrontCounter B.C.
- Made significant progress toward the establishment of licence fees for aquaculture in B.C. under the federal User Fee Act. Public comment on the proposed licence fees recently concluded and the Department is reviewing the feedback in an effort to move this process forward.
- Oversaw aquaculture industry compliance with departmental conditions of licence, the Pacific Aquaculture Regulations, the Fishery General Regulations and the Fisheries Act through carrying out the following activities:
- more than 760 conditions of licence inspections and fishery officer compliance inspections at marine finfish, shellfish and freshwater aquaculture operations;
- a total of 414 marine finfish site fish health audits (including sea lice audits);
- approximately 60 seabed environmental audits at operational marine finfish farm sites; and
- fifteen comprehensive surveys of rivers and lakes to monitor for the presence of escaped farmed salmon. No established Atlantic salmon populations were found.
- Supported increased transparency of the environmental and regulatory performance of the aquaculture industry in B.C. as a key component of the department’s regulatory program.
- Since 2010, the Department has posted 86 quarterly reports, 11 annual reports, and nine other regional reports online. These reports include information on marine mammal interactions, effects of aquaculture on the sea floor, sea lice levels, incidental catch, salmon egg imports, and more.
- Continued reliance on scientific advice to inform regulatory decision-making, maintain aquatic animal health, and validate new tools to support decision making. Research continues to improve our understanding of the interactions of farmed and wild fish and shellfish, as well as the environment upon which these species depend.
The aquaculture industry is key to meeting the growing global demand for fresh fish and seafood. Nearly 50 per cent of the world’s seafood is produced through aquaculture. In British Columbia, the industry remains an important employer in rural and coastal communities by creating jobs and other opportunities.
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