Reporting on introductions and transfers

In 2019, Introductions and Transfers Committees received 1120 applications to intentionally move live aquatic organisms across Canada. Of these, 1068 applications were approved, representing more than 3.2 billion live aquatic organisms of more than 237 different species.

*  Note: These figures do not include Manitoba. They will be updated at a later date.

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:

• 64% were for movements within a province
• 21% were for movements between provinces
• 15% were for movements into Canada from another country

Purpose

Of the total number of approved applications:

• 54% were aimed at aquaculture operations
• 19% were aimed at research
• 13% were aimed at enhancement
• 5% were aimed at public display or education
• 4% were aimed at processing
• 2% were aimed at cultural release
• 3% were for other purposes

Types of aquatic organisms

Of the total number of approved applications, approximately:

• 36% were for marine finfish
• 29% were for marine shellfish
• 28% were for freshwater finfish
• 2% were for other invertebrates
• 5% were for other various species

In 2019, Alberta’s Introductions and Transfers Committee received 81 applications to intentionally import live aquatic organisms to fish rearing facilities or fish bearing waters. Of these, 78 applications were approved, representing nearly 4.10  million live aquatic organisms of ten 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 licence under diverse provincial authorizations. Of the total number of approved applications in Alberta, approximately:

• 55% were for movements from another province
• 45% were for movements into Alberta from another country

Purpose

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

• 60% were aimed at research
• 28% were aimed at aquaculture operations
• 10% were aimed at enhancement
• 2% were aimed at education

Types of aquatic organisms

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

• 78% were for freshwater finfish
• 9% were for marine finfish
• 13% were for crustaceans and other invertebrates

Most proposed movements were for Rainbow Trout.

In 2019, British Columbia’s Introductions and Transfers Committee received  419 applications to intentionally move live aquatic organisms to fish rearing facilities or fish bearing waters. Of these, 398 were approved, representing nearly 2.66 billion live aquatic organisms of 110 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:

• 78% were for movements within the province
• 20% were for movements into British Columbia from another country
• 2% were for movements from another province

Purpose

Of the total number of approved application in British Columbia:

• 45% were aimed at aquaculture
• 20% were aimed at enhancement
• 16% were aimed at research
• 7% were aimed at education and public display
• 5% were for aimed for spiritual or cultural reasons
• 7% were aimed for other purposes

Types of aquatic organisms

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

• 37% were for marine finfish
• 30% were for freshwater finfish
• 26% were for marine shellfish
• 7% were for various species

Most proposed movements were for Pacific Oyster, and Atlantic Salmon.

More information:

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

* This section will be updated when the data from Manitoba becomes available

In 2018, Manitoba’s Introductions and Transfers Committee received 29 applications to intentionally move live aquatic organisms to fish rearing facilities or fish bearing waters. 28 applications were approved, representing approximately 1 million live aquatic organisms of 7 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:

• 71% were for movements within the province
• 29% were for movements from another province

Purpose

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

• 46% were aimed at research
• 14% were aimed at enhancement
• 13% were aimed at aquaculture
• 10% were aimed at education
• 7% were aimed at public display
• 10% were for other purposes

Types of aquatic organisms

ll applications approved by the Manitoba Introductions and Transfers Committee were for freshwater finfish.
Most proposed movements were for Arctic Char.

In 2019, the New Brunswick Introductions and Transfers Committee received 136 applications to intentionally move live aquatic organisms to fish rearing facilities or fish bearing waters. Of these, 125 applications were approved, representing more than 114 million live aquatic organisms of 103 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:

• 82% were for movements within the province
• 16% 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:

• 59% were aimed at aquaculture
• 21% were aimed at enhancement
• 14% were aimed at research
• 6% were aimed at public display

Types of aquatic organisms

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

• 75% were for marine finfish
• 22% were for freshwater finfish
• 3% were for marine shellfish

Most proposed movements were for Atlantic Salmon.

In 2019, Newfoundland and Labrador’s Introductions and Transfers Committee received 151 applications to intentionally move live aquatic organisms to fish rearing facilities or fish bearing waters. All 151 applications were approved, representing more than 10 million live aquatic organisms of 44 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:

• 75% were for movements within the province
• 25% were for movements from another province

Purpose

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

• 91% were aimed at aquaculture
• 5% were aimed at research
• 4% were aimed at education or public display

Types of aquatic organisms

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

• 55% were for marine shellfish
• 38% were for marine finfish
• 4% were for freshwater finfish
• 3% were for other crustaceans and other invertebrates

Most proposed movements were for Atlantic Salmon and Blue Mussel.

In 2019, Nova Scotia Introductions and Transfers Committee received 102 applications to intentionally move live aquatic organisms to fish rearing facilities or fish bearing waters. Of these, 93 applications were approved, representing over 25 million live aquatic organisms of 19 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:

• 47% were for movements from another province
• 28% were for movements into Nova Scotia from another country
• 25% were for movements within the province

Purpose

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

• 72% were aimed at aquaculture
• 20% were aimed at research
• 4% were aimed at enhancement
• 3% were aimed at educations
• 1% were for other purposes

Types of aquatic organisms

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

• 65% were for marine finfish
• 30% were for marine shellfish
• 4% were for crustaceans and other invertebrates
• 1% were other species

Most proposed movements were for Atlantic Salmon, American Oyster, and Rainbow Trout.

In 2019, Ontario’s Introductions and Transfers Committee received three applications to intentionally import live aquatic organisms to fish rearing facilities or fish bearing waters. All applications were approved, representing approximately 40 live aquatic organisms of three different species.

This total does not include nearly ten million fish moved under the provincial stocking program which is conducted either by staff of the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry or is permitted by the Ministry.

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 Ontario, one was from outside of Canada and 2 were from another province.

Purpose

Of the total number of approved applications in Ontario, all were aimed at research.

Types of aquatic organisms

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

• 33% were freshwater fish
• 33% were for plants and algae
• 33% were for other species

In 2019, Prince Edward Island’s Introductions and Transfers Committee received 145 applications to intentionally move live aquatic organisms to fish rearing facilities or fish bearing waters. Of these, 138 applications were approved, representing nearly 389 million live aquatic organisms of 9 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:

• 72% were for movements within the province
• 24% were for movements from another province
• 4% were for movements into Prince Edward Island from another country

Purpose

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

• 54% were aimed at aquaculture
• 33% were aimed at processing
• 12% were aimed at research
• 1% were aimed at enhancement

Types of aquatic organisms

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

• 81% were for marine shellfish
• 15% were for freshwater finfish
• 4% were for marine finfish

Most proposed movements were for Blue Mussel and American Oyster.

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 2019, Quebec’s Marine Introductions and Transfers Committee received 17 applications to intentionally move live aquatic organisms to fish rearing facilities and fish bearing waters. 17 applications were approved, representing nearly 5 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 marine applications in Quebec, approximately:

• 47% were for movements originating within the province
• 53% were for movements from another province

Purpose

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

• 53% were aimed at aquaculture
• 47% were aimed at research

Types of aquatic organisms

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

• 53% were for marine shellfish
• 41% were for marine finfish
• 6% were for other species

Freshwater introductions and transfers

In 2019, Quebec’s freshwater Introductions and Transfers Committee received 4 applications to intentionally move live aquatic organisms to fish rearing facilities and fish bearing waters. All were approved representing 745,000 organisms of 3 different species.

Three of these applications came from outside of Canada, and one from outside of the province of Québec. All were freshwater fish for aquaculture purposes.

In 2019, Saskatchewan’s Introductions and Transfers Committee received 40 applications to intentionally import live aquatic organisms to fish rearing facilities or fish bearing waters. 39 applications were approved, representing approximately 1.6 million live aquatic organisms of 13 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:

• 56% were for movements from another province
• 33% were for movements into Saskatchewan from another country
• 11% were for movements from within the province

Purpose

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

• 56% were aimed at research
• 36% were aimed at aquaculture
• 5% were aimed at enhancement
• 3% were for other purposes

Types of aquatic organisms

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

• 97% of the movements were for freshwater finfish
• 3% were for other invertebrates

Most proposed movements were for Rainbow Trout.

In 2019, Yukon’s Introductions and Transfers Committee received 22 applications to intentionally move live aquatic organisms to fish rearing facilities or fish bearing waters. 22 applications were approved, representing close to 400,000 live aquatic organisms of six 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, approximately:

• 95% were for movements within the territory
• 5% were for movements from another province

Purpose

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

• 50% were aimed at enhancement
• 40% were aimed at education and public display
• 5% were aimed at research
• 5% were for other purposes

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.