Roles and Responsibilities

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Government of Canada

Within the federal government, there are 17 departments and agencies have a direct influence on aquaculture development. The federal role in aquaculture encompasses:

• Research
• Technology Transfer
• Training and Development
• The Regulatory Framework
• Environmental Sustainability and Interaction
• Product Safety and Inspection
• Foreign Market Intelligence and Trade Services
• Access to Financing
• Communications

Click here for more information on the specific responsibilities and activities of the 17 federal departments and agencies with respect to aquaculture.

Provincial governments are generally responsible for:

• Issuing licenses and permits
• Regulating farm activities, including escapes, waste management, and aspects of aquatic animal health that are of provincial concern.

DFO's Role

DFO is the lead federal agency for aquaculture. DFO is responsible for administering, monitoring and enforcing compliance with its regulations relating to conservation and protection, environment and habitat protection (Fisheries Act - sections 35 (1) (2); 36) and aquatic animal health (Fish Health Protection Regulations) in a clearly defined and consistent manner.

DFO is also responsible for helping to improve the business climate for aquaculture by:

• ensuring that DFO's laws and regulations relating to aquaculture are clear, efficient, effective, consistently applied and relevant to the sector;
• investing in aquaculture science and research development;
• working in partnership with the provinces and territories to develop a proactive process for site approvals; and
• considering support for industry development programs consistent with DFO's mandate and objectives.

In addition to actions relating to its departmental mandate, as lead federal agency for aquaculture, DFO's role also includes:

• co-ordinating and bringing increased coherence to federal aquaculture policy and program development; and
• helping to brand Canada as a world leader in sustainable aquaculture development.

DFO Management Structure for Aquaculture

To fulfil its responsibilities as lead federal agency for aquaculture DFO has developed an organisational framework aimed at effectively co-ordinating DFO's involvement in sustainable aquaculture development and engaging other federal departments, provincial and territorial governments, and industry and aquaculture stakeholders.

Aquaculture Management Directorate

The Aquaculture Management Directorate (AMD) manages the aquaculture file at the national level. AMD's mandate is to bring departmental focus and strategic direction to the aquaculture file.

The AMD Mission:

To create the conditions for a vibrant and innovative Canadian aquaculture industry -- one that is environmentally and socially responsible, economically viable and internationally competitive for the benefit of all Canadians.

Specifically, AMD's mandate includes:

• Coherent Policy Framework: Lead the development and implementation of the Aquaculture Policy Framework and supporting operational policies for DFO, with a view to ensuring broad regional and sectoral integration/co-ordination; working towards ensuring there is strong integration of the aquaculture file into the department's plans and priorities and other policy frameworks.
• Improved Regulatory Framework: Development of an enabling regulatory framework for aquaculture, including:
  • clarification of DFO's laws and regulations respecting aquaculture development;
  • harmonisation of DFO's laws and regulations respecting aquaculture development with those from provinces and territories; and
  • leadership with regard to improving/amending federal regulations relating to aquaculture development.
• Program Development & Co-ordination: Implementation of the Program for Sustainable Aquaculture ($15 million annually) and the identification and development of other targeted industry development programs, such as the National Aquatic Animal Health Program (NAAHP).
• Federal-Provincial Harmonization: Leadership, through the Canadian Council of Fisheries and Aquaculture Ministers (CCFAM) Aquaculture Task Group and other federal-provincial mechanisms, in establishing a harmonised federal-provincial policy and regulatory approach to aquaculture development.
• Effective Communications: Establishing mechanisms to reach aquaculture stakeholders, listening to and acting on their concerns, and contributing to an informed public dialogue by providing factual information about aquaculture challenges and opportunities.
• International Leadership: Participation in key international aquaculture policy and research fora with a view to sharing Canadian expertise and values and maintaining Canada's leadership in sustainable aquaculture development.

Regional Aquaculture Co-ordination Offices

Regionally, aquaculture issues are managed by Regional Aquaculture Co-ordination (RAC) offices. The RACs provide a regional focal point for DFO staff, provinces, industry and other stakeholders on a range of aquaculture issues. The RAC officers are responsible for:

• Co-ordinating the site application process, including liasing with industry proponents, provinces, non-government environmental organisations and the general public;
• Regional policy and program development, administration and evaluation, including the implementation of the Program for Sustainable Aquaculture, and the Aquaculture Policy Framework;
• Advice to senior DFO management; and,
• Stakeholder liaison.

Click here to find the name and contact information of the RAC in your region.

DFO Sectors

Each departmental sector has some role to play in facilitating the department's interests in aquaculture. Some of the key sector roles include:

Science

The mission of Aquaculture Science is to conduct research and to transfer the latest technologies to the rapidly growing aquaculture industry. DFO scientists monitor and carry out research on the interactions between wild and cultured finfish and shellfish stocks. They are also responsible for implementing regulations and carrying out inspections to ensure the health of Canada's wild and cultured fisheries resources.

Oceans (Habitat Management Branch)

Within the Oceans Sector, Habitat Management Branch reviews proposals for the establishment of salmon farms to determine and address potential impacts on fish and fish habitat, as per section 35 of the Fisheries Act and DFO's Policy for the Management of Fish Habitat. During the course of these reviews, if impacts to fish habitat are likely and these cannot be avoided through relocation, redesign and mitigation, proponents will be required to obtain an authorisation under subsection 35(2) of the Fisheries Act or have their applications rejected. DFO determines whether an authorisation should be issued based upon acceptability of the impacts to fish habitat and acceptability of the fish habitat compensation.

Fisheries and Aquaculture Management

Fisheries Resource Managers play an important role when considering the use of fisheries resources. In relation to aquaculture, these considerations include conservation of the wild fish resource, sustainable harvesting practices, potential impacts on socio-economic aspects of fisheries (such as access to an area for fishing or the allocation of fish in a given area), and access to potentially contaminated sites under the Canadian Shellfish Sanitation Program (CSSP).

The role of Fisheries Resource Managers is also to ensure a fully integrated approach to managing all fisheries.

Policy

The Policy Sector at DFO provides leadership and support across the department in the areas of strategic planning, economic and policy analysis, legislative and regulatory matters, intergovernmental relations, and Cabinet and Parliamentary Affairs. Taking this corporate perspective, the Policy Sector is gradually shifting away from dealing with sector-specific policy concerns and is placing a greater emphasis on issues that involve several departmental sectors. Aquaculture is a prime example of such a file.