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Aquaculture
The following is meant solely to help the reader understand the main features of primary regulations governing this activity, and not meant in any way to provide a legal interpretation.
Aquaculture operations require the use of a variety of natural resources and therefore, various permits are necessary. Because of this, there may be a delay between the conceptualization of a project and its implementation.
Any person engaged in the growing or cultivation of fish or aquatic plants for commercial purposes in B.C. must hold a valid aquaculture licence. Aquaculture facilities will be required to meet the requirements of the Aquaculture Regulation, including development of an escape prevention plan and compliance with escape prevention standards set out in schedule 2 of the Regulation
The Aquaculture Licensing and Compliance Branch issues licenses for finfish and, in conjunction with Integrated Land Management Bureau, shellfish aquaculture.
Fisheries Act; Fish Inspection Act:
The Fisheries and Aquaculture Licensing and Compliance Branch (FALCB) administers the following acts and regulations:
- Fisheries Act (BC) - fisheries act regulations and aquaculture regulation
- Fish Inspection Act (BC) - fish inspection regulation
A key function of the branch is the responsibility to receive, adjudicate and issue commercial seafood licences and permits for the following:
- finfish aquaculture operations and hatcheries, including freshwater operations;
- commercial seafood activities, including fish buying stations, fish and marine plant processing and cold storage facilities; fish vendors and fish brokers;
- commercial harvests of marine plants and wild oysters.
The Fisheries and Aquaculture Licensing and Compliance Branch also has the responsibility to:
- monitor, inspect and report on commercial fisheries, and, in addition to this Ministry?s regulatory provisions, conduct inspections on behalf of other government agencies (the Ministries of Sustainable Resource Management, Water, Land and Air Protection, and Integrated Land Management Bureau) for the finfish and shellfish aquaculture industries.
Primary Contact:
Ministry of Agriculture and Lands
Aquaculture Licensing and Compliance Branch
2500 Cliffe Avenue,
Courtenay, BC V9N 5M6
Tel: (250) 897-7540 (General Enquiries)
Toll Free: 1-800-663-7867
(250) 897-7523 (Aquaculture Licensing)
(250) 897-7542 (Commercial Fisheries Licensing)
Fax: (250) 334-1410
http://www.al.gov.bc.ca/fisheries/
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