Reporting on introductions and transfers

In 2020, Introductions and Transfers Committees received 1,002 applications to intentionally move live aquatic organisms across Canada. Of these, 944 applications were approved, representing more than 2.3 billion live aquatic organisms of more than 636 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:

• 66% were for movements within a province
• 21% were for movements between provinces
• 13% were for movements into Canada from another country

Purpose

Of the total number of approved applications:

• 52% were aimed at aquaculture operations
• 19% were aimed at research
• 15% were aimed at enhancement
• 4% were aimed at public display or education
• 4% were aimed at processing
• 2% were aimed at cultural release
• 4% were for other purposes

Types of aquatic organisms

Of the total number of approved applications, approximately:

• 35% were for freshwater finfish
• 32% were for marine finfish
• 27% were for marine shellfish
• 4% were for various species
• 2% were for other invertebrates

In 2020, the Alberta Introductions and Transfers Committee received 67 applications to intentionally import live aquatic organisms to fish rearing facilities or fish bearing waters. All applications were approved, representing approximately 1.6 million live aquatic organisms of 13 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:

• 64% were for movements from another province
• 36% 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
• 9% were aimed at enhancement
• 3% were aimed at processing

Types of aquatic organisms

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

• 82% were for freshwater finfish
• 9% were for marine finfish
• 6% were for crustaceans and echinoderms
• 3% were for other invertebrates

Most proposed movements were for Rainbow Trout.

In 2020, the British Columbia Introductions and Transfers Committee received 327 applications to intentionally move live aquatic organisms to fish rearing facilities or fish bearing waters. Of these, 311 were approved, representing approximately 1.85 billion live aquatic organisms of 535 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:

• 80% were for movements within the province
• 17% were for movements into British Columbia from another country
• 3% were for movements from another province

Purpose

Of the total number of approved application in British Columbia:

• 44% were aimed at aquaculture
• 21% were aimed at enhancement
• 18% were aimed at research
• 5% were for aimed for spiritual or cultural reasons
• 4% were aimed at education and public display
• 8% were aimed for other purposes

Types of aquatic organisms

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

• 52% were for marine finfish
• 19% were for marine shellfish
• 17% were for freshwater finfish
• 12% were for various species

Most proposed movements were for Pacific Salmon, Rainbow Trout 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

In 2020, the Manitoba Introductions and Transfers Committee received 22 applications to intentionally move live aquatic organisms to fish rearing facilities or fish bearing waters. All applications were approved, representing approximately 235,000 live aquatic organisms of 19 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:

• 64% were for movements within the province
• 32% 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:

• 32% were aimed at research
• 18% were aimed at enhancement
• 18% were aimed at education
• 14% were aimed at aquaculture
• 18% were for other purposes

Types of aquatic organisms

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

• 77% were for freshwater finfish
• 18% were for crustaceans and echinoderms
• 5% were for other invertebrates

Most proposed movements were for Rainbow Trout.

In 2020, the New Brunswick Introductions and Transfers Committee received 143 applications to intentionally move live aquatic organisms to fish rearing facilities or fish bearing waters. Of these, 136 applications were approved, representing more than 55 million live aquatic organisms of 20 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:

• 93% were for movements within the province
• 4% were for movements from another province
• 3% 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
• 22% were aimed at enhancement
• 17% were aimed at research
• 2% were aimed at education

Types of aquatic organisms

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

• 60% were for freshwater finfish
• 36% were for marine finfish
• 3% were for marine shellfish
• 1% were for plants and algae

Most proposed movements were for Atlantic Salmon.

In 2020, the Newfoundland and Labrador Introductions and Transfers Committee received 109 applications to intentionally move live aquatic organisms to fish rearing facilities or fish bearing waters. All 109 applications were approved, representing nearly 44 million live aquatic organisms of 61 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:

• 56% were for movements within the province
• 42% were for movements from another province
• 2% 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
• 6% were aimed at research
• 1% was aimed at education

Types of aquatic organisms

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

• 61 % were for marine finfish
• 31 % were for marine shellfish
• 8 % were for freshwater finfish

Most proposed movements were for Atlantic Salmon and Blue Mussel.

In 2020, the Nova Scotia Introductions and Transfers Committee received 94 applications to intentionally move live aquatic organisms to fish rearing facilities or fish bearing waters. Of these, 83 applications were approved, representing 25 million live aquatic organisms of 15 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:

• 45% were for movements from another province
• 45% were for movements within the province
• 10% 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
• 11% were aimed at enhancement
• 8% were aimed at research
• 4% were for other purposes

Types of aquatic organisms

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

• 41% were for freshwater finfish
• 35% were for marine shellfish
• 22% were for marine finfish
• 2% were for crustaceans and echinoderms

Most proposed movements were for Atlantic Salmon.

In 2020, the Ontario Introductions and Transfers Committee received 2 applications to intentionally import live aquatic organisms to fish rearing facilities or fish bearing waters. Of these, 1 application was approved, representing approximately 1,000 live aquatic organisms of 1 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. The approved application in Ontario was from another province.

Purpose

The approved application in Ontario was aimed for research.

Types of aquatic organisms

The approved application in Ontario was for the movement of Zebra Mussels.

In 2020, the Prince Edward Island Introductions and Transfers Committee received 151 applications to intentionally move live aquatic organisms to fish rearing facilities or fish bearing waters. Of these, 134 applications were approved, representing over 963 million live aquatic organisms of 10 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:

• 75% were for movements within the province
• 20% were for movements from another province
• 5% were for movements into Prince Edward Island from another country

Purpose

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

• 44% were aimed at aquaculture
• 28% were aimed at processing
• 14% were aimed at research
• 14% 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
• 17% were for freshwater finfish
• 2% were for marine finfish

Most proposed movements were for Blue Mussel and American Oyster.

Quebec has 2 Introductions and Transfers Committees: 1 for marine applications and 1 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 2020, the Quebec Marine Introductions and Transfers Committee received 22 applications to intentionally move live aquatic organisms to fish rearing facilities and fish bearing waters. Of these, 20 were approved, representing over 4 million live aquatic organisms of 10 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:

• 55% were for movements from another province
• 45% were for movements originating within the province

Purpose

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

• 55% were aimed at research
• 45% were aimed at aquaculture

Types of aquatic organisms

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

• 85% were for marine shellfish
• 10% were for crustaceans and echinoderms
• 5% were for other invertebrates

Most proposed movements were for American Oyster.

Freshwater introductions and transfers

In 2020, the Quebec Freshwater Introductions and Transfers Committee received 4 applications to intentionally move live aquatic organisms to fish rearing facilities and fish bearing waters. Of these, 2 were approved representing 46,000 live aquatic organisms of 1 species.

Origin

Introduction and transfers may occur within a province, between provinces and into Canada from another country. Both approved applications originated from another province.

Purpose

The approved applications for Quebec freshwater were for aquaculture purposes.

Types of aquatic organisms

The approved applications for Quebec freshwater were for the movements of Arctic char.

In 2020, the Saskatchewan Introductions and Transfers Committee received 37 applications to intentionally import live aquatic organisms to fish rearing facilities or fish bearing waters. Of these, 36 applications were approved, representing nearly 2 million live aquatic organisms of 8 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:

• 61% were for movements into Saskatchewan from another country
• 31% were for movements from another province
• 8% were for movements from within the province

Purpose

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

• 50% were aimed at aquaculture
• 28% were aimed at research
• 14% were aimed at enhancement
• 8% were for other purposes

Types of aquatic organisms

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

• 90% of the movements were for freshwater finfish
• 5% of the movements were for marine finfish
• 5% were for other invertebrates

Most proposed movements were for Rainbow Trout.

In 2020, the Yukon Introductions and Transfers Committee received 26 applications to intentionally move live aquatic organisms to fish rearing facilities or fish bearing waters. Of these, 23 applications were approved, representing approximately 240,000 live aquatic organisms of 25 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, all were for movements within the territory.

Purpose

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

• 52% were aimed at education
• 31% were aimed at enhancement
• 13% were aimed at research
• 4% were for 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.