Sustainable Aquaculture in British Columbia

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Aquaculture is the farming of aquatic organisms in marine or freshwater

The Canadian aquaculture industry in 2003 produced 155 metric tonnes of seafood, valued at $585 million. British Columbia is the country's largest aquaculture producer, employing more than 1,200 people. Values are noted in the box below:

BC Aquaculture Harvests and Values

Species	Harvest ('000 tonnes)	Farm gate Value ($millions)
Salmon	72.7	255.8
Shellfish	8.6	15.9
Trout	0.1	0.5
Total	81.4	272.2

Farmed Species

In 2004 there were 128 marine salmon farm sites in British Columbia, which is the fourth largest producer of farmed salmon in the world after Norway, Chile, and the United Kingdom. Atlantic salmon and chinook, a Pacific salmon species, are the predominant salmon species farmed in B.C.

Primary shellfish species cultured in B.C. include Pacific oysters, Manila clams and scallops. Other species currently being cultured in limited or experimental quantities include Arctic char, sablefish, sturgeon, mussels and geoduck clams.

Supporting Scientific Innovation

Responsibility for ensuring aquaculture is sustainable is shared between the federal and provincial governments. Fisheries & Oceans Canada (DFO) is the lead federal agency for aquaculture. The aquaculture-related activities of the Department range from scientific research in support of development to enforcement actions against operators who are not in compliance with federal regulations. Some of DFO's activities are:

• Conducting research into new species diversification.
• Developing and testing methods for predicting and measuring the effects of aquaculture on the ocean floor.
• Reviewing proposals for the establishment of fish farms to determine and address potential effects on fish and fish habitat.
• Conducting screenings under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act to determine all potential impacts of fish farm operations.
• Working with industry to develop new fish health protocols and tools, including more sensitive tests and vaccines.
• Studying the interactions and impacts of escaped fish.
• Acting as a point of contact for the industry.
• Developing policies to better manage the industry.

BC Regulations

The Province of BC is responsible for:

• Issuing operating licences and granting the tenures for site occupation
   
• Regulating farm activities such as:

  • escape prevention

  • fish health

  • new technology development

  • compliance and enforcement of regulations

  • improved farm sitting and relocation, waste management, research and development

  • waster discharges

  • conducting on site inspections

Safeguarding the Environment

The Government of Canada is committed to ensuring that the aquaculture sector develops in an environmentally sustainable manner and is working with BC to create the policy and regulatory conditions necessary to achieve this objective.

All aquaculture operations are subject to rigorous environmental review under a number of federal and provincial acts and regulations, to ensure that they meet high standards of environmental sustainability.

Industry is also taking responsibility through the development of Codes of Practices for both finfish and shellfish operations. These codes meet or exceed international health and safety standards. Industry also invests in scientific research and monitoring to better understand the interactions between aquaculture operations and the environment.

Shared Responsibilities

It is recognized that governments, private sector organizations, public interest groups and individual citizens all have a role to play in sustainable development. In the aquaculture context, this means maintaining and enhancing the quality of life and that of the environment for present and future generations.