Introductions and Transfers Committees

Following the National Code on Introductions and Transfers of Aquatic Organisms, each application is reviewed by Introductions and Transfers Committees established in each province and Yukon for three main risks:

• Genetic: effects on the capacity of native species to maintain and transfer their current genetic identity and diversity to successive generations
• Ecosystem: effects on the distribution and abundance of native species resulting from alterations in relationships such as predation, and food and habitat availability
• Disease: effects on the incidence, distribution and/or impact of pathogens and parasites on native species

During the review process, appropriate subject matter experts from Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), the province/territory, and academic research may be consulted for additional information or independent opinion during the adjudication process. Subject matter experts may include, but are not limited to, resource managers, stock assessment officers, biologists, habitat managers, and legal counsel.

Contacts by province or territory

*Introductions and Transfers Committees are not formally established in Nunavut or the Northwest Territories. The contacts provided will guide applicants on authorizations required to move live aquatic organisms within these territories.

Contact for British Columbia

The British Columbia Introductions and Transfers Committee (BC ITC) is a joint federal-provincial committee comprised of members from Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), the BC Ministry of Forests, and the BC Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship

DFO regulates the aquaculture industry in BC so that the introductions and transfers of fish and shellfish into and between facilities does not adversely affect the environment. The BC ITC is responsible for reviewing applications for introductions and certain transfers of live aquatic organisms into fish rearing facilities or fish bearing waters of British Columbia. The BC ITC does not review movements of amphibians, reptiles, live baitfish and live aquatic organisms for the table market, aquarium and pond trades, except where the species is prohibited under section 5 of the Pacific Fishery Regulations.

The Introductions and Transfers Committee in British Columbia is bound by existing government legislation and policies regarding movements of live fish into and within the Province of BC. Key regulations include:  

• Canada’s Fishery (General) Regulations, Part VIII
• British Columbia Freshwater Fish Regulation (261/83) under the provincial Wildlife Act
• Pacific Fishery Regulations, Section 5, Schedule VIII under the federal Fisheries Act (for biological information on these species, visit Fishbase)
• Controlled Alien Species Regulation under the British Columbia provincial Wildlife Act
• Comprehensive taxonomy list of fish under Schedule 3 and mussels under Schedule 4

British Columbia

General applications

• Email: DFO.BCITC-CITCB.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Salmon and marine finfish applications

• Email: DFO.salmonITC-CITsaumon.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca