Pacific aquaculture regulations - gear identification

To comply with shellfish aquaculture conditions of licence*, licence holders must ensure that their gear/equipment is identifiable. Marking gear is an important component of tracing lost equipment and reduces the likelihood of abandoned gear from impacting wild fish and fish habitat.

Marking your equipment

• Order pre-marked gear from a wholesaler or manufacturer.
• Use a custom plastic heat branding iron created with your licence holder and facility information.
• Only use tags when gear cannot be imprinted and purchase highly durable tags from a DFO-approved tag supplier. Contact DFO.AQSF-AQMC.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca for a list of DFO approved tag manufacturers.
• DFO-Approved equipment identification plans can be applied for at DFO.AQSF-AQMC.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca which will facilitate gear shifting between facilities.

Impact on wildlife and environment

Licence holders are still accountable for their gear, even if it travels off their tenure or facility.

Lost gear can end up in sensitive fish habitat, causing harm.

Lost gear can be a hazard to navigation and marine wildlife.

Enforcement

Failure to comply with a condition of licence can result in a costly violation ticket or charges, resulting in a formal court process.

Shellfish aquaculture conditions of licence (2025) relating to gear identification

11. Gear and equipment identification

11.1 The licence holder shall ensure all gear and equipment listed in Appendix VI be identified in a manner that is:

1. legible, block letters without ornamentation, durable, long lasting and waterproof; and
2. branded or otherwise imprinted with identification. If the nature of the gear or equipment makes this impossible the licence holder shall use a gear identification tag; and
3. maintained to ensure legibility.

11.2 Starting May 1, 2030, and for the remainder of the term of this licence, the licence holder shall ensure all plastic tube or pipe, including polyvinyl chloride (PVC), is identified as outlined in Section 11.

11.3 Identification shall include:

1. licence holder name; and
2. DFO Facility Reference number or BC Land File number.

11.4 All netting stored or in use at a facility shall be identified with a minimum of:

1. one (1) gear identification tag when the length of netting is less than 12 metres; or
2. two (2) gear identification tags when the length of netting is 12 metres or greater.

11.5 Unless otherwise authorized by DFO in an approved equipment identification plan as part of this licence, any identification on gear or equipment transferred between facilities shall:

1. be updated to reflect the current licence holder name, and the current BC Land File number or current DFO Facility Reference number; and
2. only have the current licence holder and current facility information visible.

11.6 Gear identification tags shall be pre-approved by DFO and only supplied to licence holders by an approved manufacturer; or by an approved aquaculture industry association as outlined in Appendix VI.

Appendix VI: Equipment or gear identification

The following types of equipment or gear must be clearly identified:

1. Plastic containers used for culturing
   • oyster trays and baskets (both sections of two piece gear types, if applicable)
   • pouches, including vexar pouches and floatation pouches
   • mesh or vexar bags used for the growing of shellfish or used in the collection of oyster spat
   • pearl, scallop, lantern nets
2. Types of floatation materials
   • air-filled billets/floats
   • foam filled or encased foam billets/floats
   • plastic buoys
   • round plastic floats
3. Bivalve predator exclusion
   • netting, all forms and types
4. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and other types of plastic pipe or tube

Format for identification

“Licence Holder Name” followed by the “BC Land File number” or “DFO Facility Reference number”, unless otherwise outlined in a DFO approved equipment identification plan attached to this licence.

Example:
GENERAL SHELLFISH CO LF#555555
GENERAL SHELLFISH CO FACILITY#1111

Licence holders are not eligible to become a DFO approved tag supplier. Aquaculture associations may request approval to become a DFO approved tag supplier by contacting: DFO.AQSF-AQMC.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Refer to the Shellfish Aquaculture Licence for all of the conditions of licence

For more information, please contact DFO.AQSF-AQMC.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.