Reporting on Introductions and Transfers

In 2021, Introductions and Transfers Committees received 980 applications to intentionally move live aquatic organisms across Canada. Of these, 946 applications were approved, representing more than 736 million live aquatic organisms of more than 635 different species.

Origin

Introductions and transfers may occur within a province, between provinces, and into Canada from another country. Of the total number of approved applications, approximately:

• 68% were for movements within a province
• 21% were for movements between provinces
• 11% were for movements into Canada from another country

Purpose

Of the total number of approved applications:

• 51% were aimed at aquaculture operations
• 21% were aimed at research
• 12% were aimed at enhancement
• 5% were aimed at public display or education
• 3% were aimed at cultural release
• 2% were aimed at processing
• 6% were aimed for other purposes

Types of aquatic organisms

Of the total number of approved applications, approximately:

• 38% were for freshwater finfish
• 29% were for marine finfish
• 27% were for marine molluscs
• 4% were for various species
• 2% were for crustaceans, echinoderms and other invertebrates

In 2021, Alberta’s Introductions and Transfers Committee received 28 applications to intentionally import live aquatic organisms to fish rearing facilities or fish bearing waters. All applications were approved, representing nearly 2.1 million live aquatic organisms of 6 different species.

Origin

Introductions and transfers may occur within a province, between provinces, and into Canada from another country. The Alberta Introductions and Transfers Committee does not review applications for movements of organisms within that province as risks for these movements are addressed by conditions of license under diverse provincial authorizations. Of the total number of approved applications in Alberta, approximately:

• 54% were for movements from another province
• 46% were for movements into Alberta from another country

Purpose

Of the total number of approved applications in Alberta, approximately:

• 57% were aimed at research
• 43% were aimed at aquaculture operations

Types of aquatic organisms

Of the total number of approved applications in Alberta, approximately:

• 92% were for freshwater finfish
• 4% were for marine finfish
• 4% were for crustaceans and echinoderms

Most proposed movements were for Rainbow Trout and Tilapia.

In 2021, British Columbia’s Introductions and Transfers Committee received 354 applications to intentionally move live aquatic organisms to fish rearing facilities or fish bearing waters. Of these, 351 were approved, representing approximately 521 million live aquatic organisms of 557 different species.

Origin

Introductions and transfers may occur within a province, between provinces, and into Canada from another country. Of the total number of approved applications in British Columbia, approximately:

• 83% were for movements within the province
• 14% were for movements into British Columbia from another country
• 3% were for movements from another province

Purpose

• 41% were aimed at aquaculture
• 23% were aimed at research
• 12% were aimed at enhancement
• 7% were for aimed for spiritual or cultural reasons
• 6% were aimed at education and public display
• 10% were aimed for other purposes

Types of aquatic organisms

Of the total number of approved applications in British Columbia, approximately:

• 34% were for freshwater finfish
• 34% were for marine finfish
• 18% were for marine molluscs
• 12% were for various species
• 2% were for crustaceans & echinoderms

Most proposed movements were Rainbow Trout.

More information:

• Shellfish and finfish transfers to and from British Columbia aquaculture sites
• Managing transfers and fish health at British Columbia salmon farms

In 2021, Manitoba’s Introductions and Transfers Committee received 28 applications to intentionally move live aquatic organisms to fish rearing facilities or fish bearing waters. All applications were approved, representing approximately 357,000 live aquatic organisms of 35 different species. These totals do not include fish that were moved as part of the provincial stocking program, which are considered routine, low risk movements that are not reviewed by the Committee.

Origin

Introductions and transfers may occur within a province, between provinces, and into Canada from another country. Of the total number of approved applications in Manitoba, approximately:

• 57% were for movements within the province
• 39% were for movements from another province
• 4% were for movements into Manitoba from another country

Purpose

Of the total number of approved applications in Manitoba, approximately:

• 29% were aimed at research
• 21% were aimed at education
• 18% were aimed at enhancement
• 14% were aimed at aquaculture
• 18% were for other purposes

Types of aquatic organisms

Of the total number of approved applications in Manitoba, approximately:

• 71% were for freshwater finfish
• 11% were for marine finfish
• 7% were for marine molluscss
• 4% were for crustaceans and echinoderms
• 7% were for other invertebrates

Most proposed movements were for Rainbow Trout.

In 2021, the New Brunswick Introductions and Transfers Committee received 130 applications to intentionally move live aquatic organisms to fish rearing facilities or fish bearing waters. Of these, 123 applications were approved, representing more than 58 million live aquatic organisms of 12 different species.

Origin

Introductions and transfers may occur within a province, between provinces, and into Canada from another country. Of the total number of approved applications in New Brunswick, approximately:

• 76% were for movements within the province
• 22% were for movements from another province
• 2% were for movements into New Brunswick from another country

Purpose

Of the total number of approved applications in New Brunswick, approximately:

• 37% were aimed at aquaculture
• 25% were aimed at enhancement
• 20% were aimed at research
• 6% were aimed at education and public display
• 12% were aimed for other purposes

Types of aquatic organisms

Of the total number of approved applications in New Brunswick, approximately:

• 64% were for freshwater finfish
• 25% were for marine finfish
• 9% were for marine molluscs
• 2% were for crustaceans and echinoderms

Most proposed movements were for Atlantic Salmon.

In 2021, Newfoundland and Labrador’s Introductions and Transfers Committee received 102 applications to intentionally move live aquatic organisms to fish rearing facilities or fish bearing waters. Of these, 100 applications were approved, representing approximately 63 million live aquatic organisms of 7 different species.

Origin

Introductions and transfers may occur within a province, between provinces, and into Canada from another country. Of the total number of approved applications in Newfoundland and Labrador, approximately:

• 31% were for movements from another province  
• 68% were for movements within the province
• 1% were for movements into Newfoundland and Labrador from another country

Purpose

Of the total number of approved applications in Newfoundland and Labrador, approximately:

• 93% were aimed at aquaculture
• 5% were aimed at research
• 2% were aimed at enhancement, public display and education

Types of aquatic organisms

Of the total number of approved applications in Newfoundland and Labrador, approximately:

• 62% were for marine finfish
• 35% were for marine molluscs
• 3% were for freshwater finfish

Most proposed movements were for Atlantic Salmon.

In 2021, Nova Scotia Introductions and Transfers Committee received 135 applications to intentionally move live aquatic organisms to fish rearing facilities or fish bearing waters. Of these, 127 applications were approved, representing approximately 31 million live aquatic organisms of 16 different species.

Origin

Introductions and transfers may occur within a province, between provinces, and into Canada from another country. Of the total number of approved applications in Nova Scotia, approximately:

• 51% were for movements within the province
• 41% were for movements from another province
• 8% were for movements into Nova Scotia from another country

Purpose

Of the total number of approved applications in Nova Scotia, approximately:

• 77% were aimed at aquaculture
• 10% were aimed at enhancement
• 10% were aimed at research
• 3% were for other purposes and public display

Types of aquatic organisms

Of the total number of approved applications in Nova Scotia, approximately:

• 40% were for marine finfish
• 34% were for marine molluscs
• 24% were for freshwater finfish
• 2% were for crustaceans and echinoderms

Most proposed movements were for Atlantic Salmon.

In 2021, Ontario’s Introductions and Transfers Committee did not receive any applications to intentionally import live aquatic organisms to fish rearing facilities or fish bearing waters. This reporting does not include fish that were moved as part of the provincial stocking program, which are considered routine, low risk movements that are not reviewed by the Committee.

In 2021, Prince Edward Island’s Introductions and Transfers Committee received 125 applications to intentionally move live aquatic organisms to fish rearing facilities or fish bearing waters. Of these, 114 applications were approved, representing over 53 million live aquatic organisms of 8 different species.

Origin

Introductions and transfers may occur within a province, between provinces, and into Canada from another country. Of the total number of approved applications in Prince Edward Island, approximately:

• 70% were for movements within the province
• 20% were for movements from another province
• 10% were for movements into Prince Edward Island from another country

Purpose

Of the total number of approved applications in Prince Edward Island, approximately:

• 58% were aimed at aquaculture
• 23% were aimed at research
• 17% were aimed at processing
• 2% were aimed at enhancement

Types of aquatic organisms

Of the total number of approved applications in Prince Edward Island, approximately:

• 74% were for marine molluscs
• 24% were for freshwater finfish
• 2% were for marine finfish

Most proposed movements were for Blue Mussels.

Quebec has two Introductions and Transfers Committees: one for marine applications and the other for freshwater. The marine committee is chaired by Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the freshwater committee is chaired by the Department of Forests, Wildlife, and Parks of the Province of Quebec.

Marine Introductions and Transfers

In 2021, Quebec’s Marine Introductions and Transfers Committee received 26 applications to intentionally move live aquatic organisms to fish rearing facilities and fish bearing waters. Of these, 24 were approved, representing over 3 million live aquatic organisms of 14 different species.

Origin

Introductions and transfers may occur within a province, between provinces, and into Canada from another country. Of the total number of approved marine applications in Quebec, approximately:

• 54% were for movements originating within the province
• 46% were for movements from another province

Purpose

Of the total number of approved marine applications in Quebec, approximately:

• 67% were aimed at research
• 29% were aimed at aquaculture
• 4% were aimed at public display

Types of aquatic organisms

Of the total number of approved marine application in Quebec, approximately:

• 63 % were for marine molluscs
• 29 % were for crustaceans and echinoderms
• 8 % were for marine finfish

Most proposed movements were for American Oyster.

Freshwater Introductions and Transfers

In 2021, Quebec’s freshwater Introductions and Transfers Committee did not receive any applications to intentionally move live aquatic organisms to fish rearing facilities and fish bearing waters.

In 2021, Saskatchewan’s Introductions and Transfers Committee received 25 applications to intentionally import live aquatic organisms to fish rearing facilities or fish bearing waters. Of these, 24 applications were approved, representing nearly 2 million live aquatic organisms of 6 different species. These totals do not include fish that were moved as part of the provincial stocking program, which are considered routine, low risk movements that are not reviewed by the Committee.

Origin

Introductions and transfers may occur within a province, between provinces, and into Canada from another country. Of the total number of approved applications in Saskatchewan, approximately:

• 54% were for movements from another province
• 46% were for movements into Saskatchewan from another country

Purpose

Of the total number of approved applications in Saskatchewan, approximately:

• 54% were aimed at aquaculture
• 38% were aimed at research
• 8% were aimed at enhancement

Types of aquatic organisms

Of the total number of applications approved in Saskatchewan, approximately:

• 92% of the movements were for freshwater finfish
• 8% of the movements were for other invertebrates

Most proposed movements were for Rainbow Trout.

In 2021, Yukon’s Introductions and Transfers Committee received 23 applications to intentionally move live aquatic organisms to fish rearing facilities or fish bearing waters. All applications were approved, representing approximately 461,000 live aquatic organisms of 5 different species.

Origin

Introductions and transfers may occur within a province or territory, between provinces or territories, and into Canada from another country. Of the total number of approved applications in Yukon, most were for movements within the territory, and only one application was for movements from another province.

Purpose

Of the total number of approved applications in Yukon, approximately:

• 65% were aimed at enhancement
• 26% were aimed at education
• 9% were aimed at research and public display

Types of aquatic organisms

Of the total number of approved applications in Yukon, all were for freshwater finfish.

Most proposed movements were for Chinook Salmon.