The Federal Role in Achieving Sustainable Aquaculture - Presentation to: Special Committee on Sustainable Aquaculture

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Paul Sprout, Regional Director General of DFO's Pacific Region, delivered this presentation to the Province of British Columbia's Special Committee on Sustainable Aquaculture on February 1, 2006. It outlines the federal role in achieving sustainable aquaculture in British Columbia. Any further reports departmental officials deliver to the Special Committee will be posted to this website.

The text version of the presentation is available below. The PowerPoint presentation, complete with speaking - Notes, is available as a Microsoft PowerPoint file (*.ppt) by following this link.

Slide 1 - The Federal Role in Achieving Sustainable Aquaculture - Presentation to: Special Committee on Sustainable Aquaculture - February 1, 2006

Slide 2 - Purpose of Today's Presentation

• Outline DFO's mandate and role in managing aquaculture in the Pacific Region.
• Highlight the key principles and objectives guiding the federal approach to aquaculture.
• Note examples of actions for supporting sustainable aquaculture.

Slide 3 - Current Operating Context

• Aquaculture is represented by multiple species across diverse locations, however, salmon aquaculture in B.C. has become a highly polarized issue.
  • Various groups have strongly held, and frequently divergent, views on the merits of salmon aquaculture.
     
• Current issues centre primarily around the potential for impacts on wild salmon:
  • sea lice and disease impacts
  • the effects of farm waste on the environment, and
  • the expansion of farming
     
• There is increased public scrutiny of the industry and government actions to mitigate any impacts.
   
• Governments, federal and provincial, are often criticized for appearing to either:
  • promote aquaculture at the expense of the environment, or conversely,
  • be overly conservative and hinder development through regulatory burden.

Slide 4 - Current Operating Context

• The industry has grown to become an important economic driver in coastal communities; at the same time the value of the commercial salmon harvest is declining.
   
• In the past decade, production from salmon aquaculture in B.C. has expanded threefold, and the value of farmed salmon now exceeds that of commercial salmon fisheries.
  
• In the global context, aquaculture is expected to continue to expand as traditional capture fisheries reach their limit of sustainability.

Slide 5 - Fisheries and Oceans Mandate

• DFO is responsible for developing and implementing policies and programs in support of Canada's scientific, ecological, social and economic interests in oceans and fresh waters.
   
• This mandate operates within broad Government of Canada direction and is supported by:
  • Legislation
    • Fisheries Act
    • Oceans Act
    • Canadian Environmental Assessment Act
    • Species at Risk Act
  • Policies
    • Habitat Policy
    • Aquaculture Policy Framework
  • Strategies
    • 2005-2010 National Strategic Plan - "Our Waters, Our Future"

Slide 6 - DFO Vision and Principles for Sustainable Aquaculture

Aquaculture Policy Framework (2002)

Vision - Aquaculture should benefit Canadians through the culture of aquatic organisms while upholding the ecological and socio-economic values associated with Canada's oceans and inland waters.

Principles - Which emphasize:

• Supporting development that is consistent with ecosystem and integrated management
• Addressing public concerns in a fair and transparent manner
• Respecting constitutionally protected Aboriginal and Treaty rights
• Recognizing that aquaculture is a legitimate use of the marine resource
• Supporting responsible development of aquaculture
• Working with other governments and departments to coordinate policy development, integrate regulatory frameworks and improve service delivery

Slide 7 - DFO Objectives for Managing Aquaculture

Environmentally Sustainable
Supported by a science-based management approach and decision-making.

Socially Responsible
Based on clear management protocol that recognizes aquaculture as a legitimate user of the marine resource.

Economically Viable
Foster an internationally competitive industry that is robust, diverse, self-reliant and contributes to the economic base of coastal communities.

Slide 8 - Jurisdiction for regulation of aquaculture is shared between federal and provincial governments

DFO Pacific Region's Role in Aquaculture:

	Screen proposed farm sites under Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA); enforce regulations under the Federal Fisheries Act to protect habitat; licence the movement of fish into pen sites; and monitor habitat impacts.
	Provide scientific advice that supports management of the industry consistent with the department's role as science-based organization.
	Manage aquaculture as a legitimate user of the resource and coordinate our efforts with provincial agencies.
	Obtain views from public and other interests and increase awareness and understanding of government's role in managing aquaculture.

Slide 9 - Examples of Actions in Support of Aquaculture

• Incorporate new science-based tools. E.g. DEPOMOD - a computer model to predict waste deposition for more precise regulatory reviews of new farm sites.
   
• Standardize environmental assessment methods to ensure each review of new farms is done in a scientifically-sound and objective manner.
   
• Conduct risk assessments for the development of new aquaculture species.

Slide 10 - Examples of Actions  in Support of Aquaculture

• The department conducts a variety of developmental and ongoing research programs to inform its management decisions, specifically to:
   
  • determine the environmental interactions of aquaculture
  • study the eco-system effects of aquaculture and better assess cumulative impacts
  • improve the competitiveness and sustainability of the industry through findings from leading-edge and developmental studies
     
• E.g. The Pink Salmon Action Plan for the Broughton Archipelago to provide the necessary information for better industry management.

Slide 11 - Examples of Actions in Support of Aquaculture

• Manage the industry consistent with the standards and approaches applied in other habitat development activities.
   
• Support the Aboriginal Aquaculture Association and its efforts to coordinate First Nations' interests in aquaculture.
   
• Collaborate with provincial agencies to develop regional guidelines for developmental aquaculture.

Slide 12 - Examples of Actions in Support of Aquaculture

• Increase public awareness of DFO's role in managing aquaculture through public activities.
   
• Redesign the federal aquaculture website to provide greater access to information on key issues and background on the industry.
   
• Meet with community, aboriginal and environmental organizations to consider issues and discuss how they may be addressed.

Slide 13 - Where to From Here - Moving Forward

• Put emphasis on greater cooperation and coordination in determining priorities for scientific research in support of sustainable aquaculture.
   
• Establish more efficient and harmonized governance arrangements to facilitate management of the industry.
   
• Encourage more collaboration among interests to improve understanding and, to the extent feasible, reconcile divergent views and perspectives.
   
• Improve public understanding of aquaculture management and processes through more transparent and open communications.

Slide 14 - In Summary

• The aquaculture industry provides important benefits to B.C. communities, yet aspects of the industry, particularly related to salmon, are highly controversial.
   
• DFO direction is informed by key legislation and policies, under-pinned by science, to better manage and protect the resource.
   
• As governments working together, DFO supports exploring ways to enhance transparency, increase harmonization, and conduct more collaborative science programs.
   
• Regardless, our overarching objective must be to ensure that the industry is managed in an environmentally sustainable manner, and that we have the strategies and programs to achieve this end.

Slide 15 - Possible Topics for Future Presentations