British Columbia Aquaculture Regulatory Program
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Service standards
Performance against this standard will be tracked, measured and reported to Treasury Board and the public annually using existing processes. The target for achieving the service standard is 90%.
Consistent with the Harmonized Application Process, we will be considered to have met our service standard when the relevant signing authority has made a decision on the outcome of an application. Additional decisions may be required by other federal or provincial partners before an aquaculture licence can be issued or amended.
Time required for us to seek additional information from applicants, meet obligations related to Indigenous consultation, or harmonize decision-making with other government partners through the Canada-British Columbia Harmonized Licensing Process will not count toward tracking and performance against the 365-day service standard.
Applications are submitted through FrontCounter BC. The service standard applies from the time we have determined that the application is complete and initiate our assessment process. Upon receipt of a fully completed application,, we will make a decision regarding new sites or major technical amendments within 365 calendar days.
Types of services
New sites and major technical amendments
In addition to new site applications, the service standard applies to applications for major technical amendments. we typically consider an amendment to be “major” when it requires:
- formal assessment of potential environmental impacts
- consultation with Indigenous communities and/or
- review by other partner agencies in the harmonized licensing process
Examples of major technical amendments include:
- freshwater/land-based and marine finfish: increases to production
- freshwater/land-based: changes to the management plan which include
- changes to infrastructure within 30 meters of water; and
- increases to discharge flow and/or concentration to natural waters
- freshwater/land-based, marine finfish and shellfish: addition of species (except for certain common species which have been pre-approved for all shellfish aquaculture licences in British Columbia)
- marine finfish: changes to infrastructure where a comprehensive assessment of potential impacts to fish and fish habitat is required
How to apply for new sites and major technical amendments
While licences for aquaculture operations in British Columbia are issued by Fisheries and Oceans Canada, the provincial government and other federal departments continue to play a role in the licensing process. Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Transport Canada and the Province of British Columbia work together in a harmonized application process. All applications for new sites and major technical amendments to existing sites for freshwater/land-based, shellfish and marine finfish aquaculture operations are submitted through FrontCounter BC.
Additional information regarding the harmonized licensing process for aquaculture in British Columbia is available on our website.
Administrative amendments
Examples of administrative amendments include:
- changes to the name of a licence holder (licence assignment)
- removal of a species from a licence
Upon receipt of a fully completed application, we will process administrative amendments to a licence within 30 calendar days.
Minor technical amendments
We typically consider an amendment to be “minor” when a decision can be reached without the need for a rigorous review and assessment process, or the involvement of outside parties.
Examples of minor technical amendments include:
- addition or removal or modifications to site‐specific conditions
- freshwater/land-based (lake net pen sites only) and marine finfish: decreases in production (unless in conjunction with an amendment for a corresponding increase at another site, in which case the application may be classified as a “major technical amendment”)
- freshwater/land-based: changes to infrastructure in a management plan which are greater than 30m from a watercourse
- marine finfish: changes to infrastructure that are likely to have a neutral or decreased impact on fish and fish habitat
Upon receipt of a fully completed application, we will process minor technical amendments to a licence within 120 calendar days.
Performance target
For each category, the target for achieving the corresponding standard is set at 90%.
| Service Standard | |
|---|---|
Marine finfish applications including:
|
Decision by Fisheries and Oceans Canada within 365 calendar days |
Shellfish applications including:
|
Decision by Fisheries and Oceans Canada within 365 calendar days |
Freshwater/land-based applications including:
|
Decision by Fisheries and Oceans Canada within 365 calendar days |
In addition to the above service standards, we strive to meet the following timelines when processing administrative or minor technical amendments.
| Service delivery guidelines | |
|---|---|
| Administrative amendments | Processed by Fisheries and Oceans Canada within 30 calendar days |
| Minor technical amendments | Processed by Fisheries and Oceans Canada within 120 calendar days |
Contact us
Questions regarding the application process should be directed to: DFO.AQLicensing-AQPermis.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.
Concerns regarding our ability to achieve our service standards or service delivery guidelines should be submitted to the email address for the relevant sector:
- Land-based and enhancement aquaculture: DFO.AQFW-AQFW.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
- Marine finfish aquaculture: DFO.AQFF-AQFF.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
- Shellfish aquaculture: DFO.AQSF-AQMC.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
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