New regulations for British Columbia
A set of draft regulations for aquaculture in B.C. was posted in the Canada Gazette by the Fisheries Department on Friday, inviting the public to provide comments within the next 60 days. In a statement to regional staff in B.C., Fisheries and Oceans Canada stated; “The proposed Pacific Aquaculture Regulations are designed to provide a legal framework consistent with the Department’s mandate to manage fisheries and protect wild fish and fish habitat. They allow for the setting of specific management requirements, such as fish health management plans and escape prevention requirements, which will be set out in aquaculture licence conditions”.
The basis of the draft Pacific Aquaculture Regulations is that anybody culturing fish in B.C. must have a licence, to be issued by the federal Minister of Fisheries and Oceans. The Minister may then specify certain conditions in that licence, including matters such as
- Species, sex, size and quantities of fish to be cultivated
- Composition and storage of fish feed, equipment to be used
- Measures taken to control and monitor pathogens and pests i both the fish being cultured as well as wild fish near the farm
- The records to be kept and information to be reported
- The notice that must be given to the Minister before
- A substance is used to treat fish for pathogens or pests
- Fish are transferred to the aquaculture facility, or
- Fish are harvested
Most of the conditions listed have been in place in the current regulatory regime established by the province of B.C. What will be a likely change is the amount of details required to be included in the reporting requirements. According to the posting, “Management plans and supporting operational policies and guidelines, greater visibility of compliance efforts, increased public reporting of compliance end environmental performance data, and commitment to improving environmental performance would be expected to contribute to improved public confidence in the sector. This in turn would improve the investment climate, and may contribute to increased economic opportunities for disadvantaged communities through growth in the sector.”
The new regulations also contemplate the use of observers at aquaculture sites, such as the existing program for First Nation Fisheries Guardians. And fish caught incidentally must be released unless the operator is authorized to keep such fish. Deleterious substances such as fish feed and feces may be deposited by authorization by the Minister as long as fish or fish habitat is not harmed or affected adversely.
The proposed regulatory regime is expected to reduce the administrative regulatory burden by consolidating approvals and avoiding some of the current duplication of documentation. The implementation and management of the new regulations is expected to cost Canadian taxpayers an additional $ 2.3-2.7 Million (~€1.76-2.06 million). A new MOU will be negotiated with the Province.
