Terms of Reference

Provision of advice related to the sampling of fish carcasses for the Aquaculture Activities Regulations Aquaculture Monitoring Standard

National Science Response Process - National Capital Region

July 2014, via teleconference

Co-chairpersons: Jay Parsons and Corina Busby

Context

Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s Aquaculture Management Directorate (AMD) is developing the Aquaculture Activities Regulations (AAR) under section 35 (fisheries protection) and section 36 (deposit of deleterious substances) of the Fisheries Act to manage potential impacts to fisheries and fisheries habitat resulting from aquaculture activities (i.e., the deposit of deleterious substances including drugs, pathogen and pest treatment products and the deposit of Biochemical Oxygen Demanding (BOD) matter).

The AAR Aquaculture Monitoring Standard (Standard) is being developed by AMD to support the implementation of the AAR. The Standard will be incorporated by reference and the procedures and methods contained within will be enforceable. Typically, the Standard will be used by aquaculture licence holders, their employees, and agents throughout Canada to meet monitoring requirements related to the deposit of deleterious substances as set out in the AAR.

AMD is requesting science advice to provide direction on the protocols to be followed when collecting carcasses of fish¹ for analyses for chemotherapeutants following an unusual mortality or morbidity event. A comprehensive science review of the AAR or the associated Standard was not requested and is not within the scope of this current advisory response.

Objective

The AAR Aquaculture Monitoring Standard will provide direction on the procedures to be followed for the collection of wild fish at aquaculture sites for analysis following the observation of an unusual fish morbidity or mortality event (as per AAR s 3.(i)). Specifically, science advice is requested on the procedures to be followed for the collection of wild fish carcasses for chemical analyses of the active ingredients found in anti-sea lice chemotherapeutant products.  The recommended procedures should, at a minimum, address how aquaculture staff should collect the morbid or dead fish, where applicable, the number of fish to be collected, handling and preservation of the collected samples, timeframes for collection and preservation and how to ship the samples for analysis.  Advice is also requested on limitations associated with the collection of fish samples for analysis considering the analytical request could target active ingredients from any and all anti-sea lice chemotherapeutants currently used in Canada.

Expected Publications

• Science Response

Participation

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) (Ecosystems and Oceans Science and Ecosystems and Fisheries Management sectors)
• Academics
• Others