Canada’s aquaculture management framework

Governance and collaboration

Our focus on governance and collaboration will support Canada as a global leader in sustainable aquaculture by creating a cooperative environment for responsible growth.

This pillar means collaborating across jurisdictions for strong coordination of regulatory roles to eliminate regulatory overlaps and minimize administrative burden on businesses.

As part of this work, we’re:

• developing a new aquaculture act
• looking into area-based management, which will:
  • enhance collaboration between federal, provincial and Indigenous partners
  • improve information sharing, collective planning and ongoing aquaculture monitoring and management
  • ensure that all partners consider Indigenous knowledge and unique environmental, social and economic conditions
• focusing on greater Canada-U.S. cooperation
• creating the general aquaculture regulations to:
  • make a single set of regulations
  • consolidate and amend current regulations
  • improve aquaculture management in Canada
  • provide greater clarity and enable innovation
• renewing our commitment to the Aquaculture Development Strategy through the Strategic Management Committee on Aquaculture under the Canadian Council of Fisheries and Aquaculture Ministers

Healthy fish and ecosystems

We’re working with partners to protect fish and ecosystem health by:

• developing frameworks for:
  • reducing aquaculture risks posed to the environment
  • risk management for cases where there is scientific uncertainty which will explain how the precautionary approach can be applied to sustainably manage aquaculture
• exploring best practices for managing sea lice
• investing in science for sustainable fish and ecosystems management
• creating a joint policy with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency on emerging aquatic animal diseases

Innovation for responsible growth

Our view on innovation for responsible growth in aquaculture focuses on investment and support. We’re working on:

• containment and siting protocols
• an aquaculture technology study
• the Aquaculture Development Strategy
• the Fisheries and Aquaculture Clean Technology Adoption Program

Transparency and accountability

We’re focused on providing clear information on aquaculture science and decision making.

We’re working on:

• reporting results on a new public facing webpage which will link to comprehensive data for aquaculture operations across Canada, obtained through the regulations
• publishing aquaculture decisions and related scientific research in an accessible manner
• establishing the Departmental Science Advisor and External Advisory Committee on Aquaculture to provide advice on longer-term science priorities and mechanisms to better inform decision making