Review Process

Application is made by the proponent using Form B. The committee reviews each application and provides a ruling or a request for additional information to the applicant within 10 working days.

Key questions considered by the committee for a release or transfer of the fish are:

• Is the request in keeping with the proper management and control of fisheries?
• Do the fish have any disease or disease agent harmful to the conservation and protection of local fish stocks?
• Will the fish introduction or transfer have an adverse effect on local fish stocks?

In this regard each application undergoes a Risk Assessment, which reviews three main categories:

• Ecological: Effects on the distribution or abundance of local species resulting from alterations in relationships such as predation, prey availability and habitat availability.
  
  
• Disease: Effects on the prevalence, distribution and/or impact of disease on local species.
  
  
• Genetic: Effects on the capacity of local species to maintain and transfer to successive generations its current genetic identity and diversity.

From this review the committee makes its recommendations and may identify potential mitigation requirements (e.g. egg disinfection, treatment of effluent, quarantine holding) as a condition of license.