New Fish Farm Waste Regulations in B.C.
The B.C. Ministry of Environment (MOE) is presently reviewing the Finfish Aquaculture Waste Control Regulations with the goal of amending the regulation. The review process is "intended to draw on understanding of current finfish aquaculture industry practices and scientific knowledge concerning wastes associated with the industry- in order to amend the regulation in a manner that supports protection of human health and the environment, good stewardship practices and effective compliance measures".
The current regulation apply primarily to sites with soft-bottom substrates, and is designed to ensure that any measurable impact on the environment around salmon farms is limited to the immediate area around the farm, and that such impact is reversible. Impacts must be reduced to a minimum before new fish can be stocked following harvest.
The new regulation was developed in order to incorporate a monitoring regime for hard-bottom sites. Criteria for the establishment of new finfish aquaculture sites in B.C. state that fish farms can not be located close to sensitive fish habitat. Fish farmers in B.C. insist that any monitoring regime must be practical, cost effective and performance based.
