Book 2, Tab C7 - Aquaculture in Canada

Purpose

To provide an introductory overview of the aquaculture sector and aquaculture management across Canada.

Context

Aquaculture is the farming of fish, shellfish, and aquatic plants in fresh or salt water. In Canada, it was first used to enhance natural stocks. It is now a large-scale commercial industry across the country. It provides direct and indirect economic benefits to many local and regional economies.
Aquaculture can take place in a variety of environments – in the ocean (in coastal areas and offshore), in fresh water (in lakes), and on land (in tanks).
Cage aquaculture, also referred to as “net pen” aquaculture, is used to grow finfish in freshwater and marine environments.

Aquaculture in Canada

45 different species of finfish, shellfish, and marine algae cultivated commercially; finfish accounts for most production (mainly salmon).

The value of finfish production in 2020 was $954M. Due to COVID-19, shellfish production fell dramatically, down 30.5% from 2019.

Total export value in 2020 for aquaculture was $870M, with a total production value of $1.0B. Exports represent 92% of production value.

Industry provides well-paying, year-round jobs to thousands, many in remote coastal and Indigenous communities.

Aquaculture management in Canada

Aquaculture management in Canada is a shared responsibility.
Constitutional authorities and legal rulings have resulted in three different aquaculture management regimes in place across the country.
DFO is the lead regulator in BC and PEI; elsewhere, the provinces are the primary regulators.
Through the Canadian Council of Fisheries and Aquaculture Ministers, DFO engages with provinces and territories on aquaculture management.

How fish farming is managed in Canada

Fish farming is managed by federal, provincial and territorial governments.

How it’s managed varies across provinces and territories.

Table 1 - How fish farming is managed in Canada
Activities	BC	Rest of Canada	PEI
Site approval Determining where a farm can be located	Shared	Provincial	Shared
Land management Overseeing the land (seabed) where a farm is located	Provincial	Provincial	Shared
Day to day operations and oversight Monitoring of farm activities	Federal	Provincial	Federal
Introductions and transfers Managing the planned movement of live eggs and fish	Shared	Shared	Shared
Drugs and pesticides approvals Determining which drugs and pesticides are approved for use	Shared	Shared	Shared
Food safety Monitoring and ensuring the safety and quality of fish harvested and sold in Canada and international markets	Federal	Federal	Federal

Federal regulatory responsibilities

Aquaculture activities are managed through DFO regulatory responsibilities and nine other federal statutes and their respective regulations.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Fisheries Act
- Aquaculture Activities Regulations
- Fishery (General) Regulations
- Management of Contaminated Fisheries Regulations
- Marine Mammal Regulations
- Pacific Aquaculture Regulations

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Agriculture and Agri-Food Act

Environment and Climate Change Canada

Canadian Environmental Protection Act

Health Canada

Food and Drugs Act

Pest Management Regulatory Agency

Pest Control Products Act

Transport Canada

Canada Shipping Act
Canadian Navigable Waters Act

Canadian Food Inspection Agency

Feeds Act
Health of Animals Act
Safe Food for Canadians Act

DFO and Aquaculture Management

The Department uses a number of tools to support aquaculture management: regulations, policies, scientific research, monitoring, enforcement, engagement, and collaboration.

Regulatory framework and legislation

Federally, aquaculture is primarily regulated under the Fisheries Act and associated regulatory authorities.
The Department is working on new legislation (i.e., federal aquaculture act) to reflect the distinct context and requirements associated with aquaculture management in Canada.
The Department has been pursuing the development of a new set of federal regulations, the General Aquaculture Regulations (GAR), to streamline and improve aquaculture-specific regulatory provisions.
The Department is working on proposed amendments to the Aquaculture Activities Regulations to monitor the deposit of deleterious substances.

Key programs support delivery of legislative responsibilities for aquaculture management

Sustainable Aquaculture Program
B.C. Aquaculture Regulatory Program
Fisheries and Aquaculture Clean Technology Adoption Program (FACTAP) (2017-2023)
National Aquatic Animal Health Program – co-delivered by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (lead) and DFO Science, which is responsible for diagnostic testing and research on aquatic animal diseases to support the health of aquatic resources and market access for all Canadian seafood.
Introductions and Transfers Program - live fish are intentionally moved for many purposes. DFO coordinates with the CFIA, provinces, and Yukon to issue transfer licences based on an assessment of ecological, disease, and genetic risks.

Governance and collaboration

Federal-Provincial-Territorial coordination via bilateral MOUs and through the Canadian Council of Fisheries and Aquaculture Ministers and its Strategic Management Committee on Aquaculture.
Indigenous and Multi-stakeholder Advisory Body and Technical Working Groups (Fish Health, Area-based Management).

Role of aquaculture science

The regulatory regime is based on and informed by comprehensive science research, monitoring, and advice:

Under the Sustainable Aquaculture Program, DFO Science conducts priority aquaculture research to support decision making.
The Competitive Science Research Fund Aquaculture Science Theme supports research projects to address research priorities. Research focus areas include aquaculture interactions and aquaculture fish health.
The Aquaculture Collaborative Research and Development Program teams industry with DFO researchers to undertake collaborative research activities in areas that support departmental objectives for sustainable management. Current national research priorities include pest and pathogen management for cultured stocks, ecosystem interactions, and environmental sustainability.

Aquaculture science research informs science advice produced through the DFO Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat (CSAS). This comprehensive review process includes the peer review of aquaculture research and risk assessments by experts. The science advice is generated by consensus and is published on the DFO Science CSAS website.

Taken together, these and other Science programs, such as the Aquaculture Monitoring Program, provide the scientific underpinning for regulatory decision making.

Canadian Aquaculture considerations

Public expectations for robust, science-based aquaculture management have increased in recent years.

Balancing economic development and environmental sustainability
Ensuring meaningful Indigenous engagement and involvement in aquaculture management
Accounting for an evolving regulatory and legislative environment
Recognizing and respecting federal, provincial and territorial relationships and responsibilities
Government priorities on aquaculture
Support public confidence and understanding of DFO’s science results through transparency and peer review

Snapshot of issues in British Columbia

Vocal public opposition

Views on aquaculture are polarized.
There is ongoing and sustained opposition to marine salmon aquaculture from some First Nations communities, segments of the public, and environmental non-governmental organizations.
Negative public perception of aquaculture in B.C. is impacting aquaculture development and is creating a risk to investor confidence in the sector, both in B.C. and the rest of Canada.

Finfish site closures: Broughton, discovery islands

In 2018, B.C. signed a letter of understanding with First Nations in the Broughton Archipelago, requiring all aquaculture operators to have agreements with local First Nations by June 2022. The process resulted in closure of 17 sites.
Additionally,19 sites in the Discovery Islands area were closed on June 30, 2022.
Combined, the sites account for a significant portion of B.C.’s 2019 annual production of farmed salmon.

Net-Pen transition

In June 2022, the Minister announced next steps towards development of a plan for transitioning from open-net pen salmon aquaculture in B.C., as well as two-year renewal of licences for marine finfish aquaculture facilities outside of the Discovery Islands.
On July 29, 2022, DFO released a discussion framework which outlines a proposed vision for transitioning from open-net pen salmon aquaculture in British Columbia. Engagement on the discussion framework will run until early 2023.
DFO is working with the Province of British Columbia and Indigenous communities to create a responsible plan to transition from open net-pen salmon farming in coastal B.C. waters by 2025.

Atlantic provinces are concerned that these issues, especially net-pen transition, may shape the future of aquaculture in Canada

Date modified:: 2023-02-28

Language selection

Search