DFO announces new rules for aquaculture in B.C.

July 13th, 2010
Globe and Mail

The federal Fisheries Department unveiled new rules Monday to take over the licensing of fish farms in British Columbia.

But the proposed regulations will only apply in B.C., where a court ruling last year forced the provincial government to relinquish that jurisdiction to Ottawa.

Under the new rules, the province will continue to grant the leases for fish farms, but the Fisheries Department will be the licensing authority in the province.

“The court decision that gave rise to the regulation applies uniquely and solely in British Columbia and so this regulation is built for British Columbia aquaculture and applies only in British Columbia,” said Trevor Swerdfager, director general of fisheries and aquaculture management for the department.

“It is very much a B.C.-oriented exercise and the federal government has no plan — no plan whatsoever — to expand the implementation or the application, rather, of this regulation outside British Columbia.”

Mr. Swerdfager said the industry will continue to be regulated by provincial and territorial governments in the other nine provinces and in the Yukon. Nunavut and the Northwest Territories do not have aquaculture activity, he said.

The new rules will take effect in mid-December, following public consultations.

Read the full story in the Globe and Mail

Read related stories:

• The Province; July 16, 2010; "Biologist looks forward to feds overseeing fish farms"
• Courier Islander; July 16, 2010; "Federal aquaculture regulations unveiled"
• Prince Rupert Daily News; July 15, 2010; "New federal regulations for fish farms"
• Campbell River Mirror; July 13, 2010; "More federal fisheries officers expected to patrol aquaculture sites"
• Nanaimo Daily News; July 13,2010; "Aquaculture takeover may be Nanaimo jobs windfall- Roughly 50 new positions will be created on Vancouver Island to regulate industry"
• Vancouver Sun and Times Colonist; July 13th, 2010; "DFO plans new rules to police salmon farming - Fisheries department adding 50 staff in new $8-million section"