Another Province proclaims problems with aquaculture red tape
There was no mistaking the key message delivered to this committee when it visited British Columbia earlier this spring; the fish and shellfish farmers there want a much more streamlined and practical approach to aquaculture regulations. The ultimate solution to current problems with uncertainty and impracticality of the current rules would be a specific law that would specifically apply to the activity of aquaculture. And as Brandon Anstey of NL News Now reported last week, industry insiders in Newfoundland share these concerns and urge the powers-to-be to cut some red tape;
It was an echoing concern heard by the Standing Senate Committee on Fisheries and Oceans during a meeting with industry insiders on May 27 in Gander – the over-regulation of the province’s aquaculture industry. The duplication of services is putting a damper on the growth of the aquaculture industry in Newfoundland and Labrador, Dr. Laura Halfyard, general manager of Sunrise Fish Farms, and other presenters, told the committee of seven senators. “From the point of view of the industry and where it is, the most frustrating thing that comes across my desk every day is the duplication of services,” said Halfyard. “I have to fill out one piece of paper for one agency, another piece for another agency, and another piece of paper that says the same thing just in slightly different font, and a different way. So, you get a duplication of services.”
Miranda Pryor, executive director of Newfoundland Aquaculture Industry Association (NAIA), agreed with Halfyard, saying there’s an urgent need for a federal aquaculture act. “Aquaculture is a modern industry that requires a modern legislative framework to be at least competitive,” said Pryor. “On the federal side, the industry is managed by an antiquated piece of legislation called the Fisheries Act. It makes no mention of aquaculture, and is designed to protect wild fish only. Numerous sections of the Act are invoked to regulate aquaculture activities and are simply not used in a fish farming context.”
Halfyard agreed, saying a federal act would allow for better management of farming sites. “NAIA is a member of the Canadian Aquaculture Industry Alliance (CAIA) that continues to lobby for legislation that is current and fairly represents the aquaculture industry,” she said. “As highlighted by the CAIA, the Fisheries Act fails to recognize aquaculture as a farming activity, not wild fish or hunting, thus the management under the act is often not reasonable.”
According to Pryor, that discrepancy in regulation has provincial stakeholders calling on the federal government to act swiftly. “The Newfoundland industry is advocating for a federal act to regulate the aquaculture industry – one that is enabling, and allows for statutory regulation of the sector without competing interests. There is also a strong need for consistency between provincial and federal regulations regarding site markings both within NL and in comparison to other jurisdictions.”
Issues with site bonding highlight the over-regulation of the industry and the duplication of services, said Halfyard. “Right now, we’re going through an issue with the province about site bonding requirements,” she said. “They are not required in any other fishery sector or agriculture sector. It’s something coming under the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, but it’s already covered under Crown Lands of the province. It’s already covered under remediation, regulations under Transport Canada and its federal requirements for site licensing.”
According to Halfyard, over-regulation strains the ability to manage farming sites. “So, there are duplications between federal, between DFA, Crown lands, marine water protection, and federally of what’s required under Transport Canada and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. We don’t have enough people to do all these things, so we need to remove some of the duplication to be more efficient in the regulations that we do have, both provincially and federally.”
Key focus
Fabian Manning, chair of Standing Senate Committee on Fisheries and Oceans, said over-regulation of the industry is a standout issue, and will be a key focus during the review of its fisheries and aquaculture study. “If I were to take a couple of things, number one is the lack of a cohesive regulation regime,” said Manning. “We talk about we don’t have an aquaculture act here in Canada, and that’s one thing we’ve heard almost everywhere we’ve travelled, and from the people who’ve came to Ottawa to meet with us. It’s an industry that seems to have an immense amount of rules and regulations. If I were to look at the number one thing it’s the lack of an organized regulation system.”
Presentations from industry insiders and outsiders were a part of the committee’s ongoing national study on the challenges and opportunities facing the aquaculture industry. “We believe as a committee that there’s great opportunity in the aquaculture industry in Canada and here in Newfoundland and Labrador,” said Manning. “We hope to be able to provide some guidance and recommendations to the minister and to DFO on what we believe as a committee would be some positive direction in this industry. That’s why we’re hearing from researchers, politicians, scientists, municipal leaders, people who are involved in the industry itself, and people who are involved in the service industry. The purpose is to take a good look at an industry that has a lot of potential.”
The committee began its study in January of this year and is expected to produce a report in June of 2015, with recommendations to the federal government.
