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Province Issues Decisions on Three Aquaculture Licences

Ministry of Agriculture and Lands
Government of BC
August 29, 2007

VICTORIA - The Ministry of Agriculture and Lands has issued one new finfish aquaculture licence to Grieg Seafood for a site in Nootka Sound. An amendment to an existing aquaculture license at Middle Point in Campbell River has been approved to allow the use of containment bag technology. An application for culturing geoduck in Open Bay off Quadra Island has been rejected.

The licence issued to Grieg Seafood applies to a site in Nootka Sound on the southwest shore of Gore Island, King Passage. In a separate statutory approval, the ministry also approved Crown land tenure for this site.

The aquaculture site is within the asserted traditional territory of the Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation (MMFN). The land tenure and aquaculture application were referred to the MMFN for consideration and input. This approval is consistent with the outcome of discussions held between the Province and the MMFN.

Numerous other parties were consulted on this application, including: the Canadian Coast Guard, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Forests and Range, the Comox-Strathcona Regional District, Archaeo Research Ltd and the Friends of Clayoquot Sound. The decision is based on the technical merits of the application, the appropriateness of the site and the consultation records. The original application for Gore Island was received in April 2003.

In a separate decision, the ministry has approved an amendment to Middle Bay Limited Partnership's previously approved management plan for solid-wall fish containment structures and a waste recovery system at Middle Point near Campbell River. The amendment allows Middle Bay to proceed with developing other closed containment technology with its general partner, Agrimarine Industries Ltd.

The Middle Bay facility will be located on an existing Crown land tenure for which aquaculture is an approved use. Two phases are planned for amendments to the management plan. Phase one, which has been approved, involves the installation and operation of the containment bag as a smolt entry system. The containment bag is flexible and made of heavy polyester.

Phase two, which involves installation and operation of grow-out containers, has not been fully developed or approved at this time and will require further assessment and First Nations consultation. The two phase approach allows industry to move forward on the development of closed containment technology.

In another decision, the minister has rejected an application from Discovery Diving Ltd. for geoduck aquaculture in Open Bay off Quadra Island. Following a comprehensive biological review, public, stakeholder and First Nations consultations the ministry concluded sub tidal geoduck aquaculture is not the best use of the site.

The proposed site is located in an area used for recreational moorage, pleasure boat anchorage and recreational shellfish harvesting. The site is also highly exposed to southeast winter storms and the substrate on the ocean floor at this location is not optimal for growing geoduck.

The ministry is currently reviewing the recommendations from the Special Legislative Committee on Sustainable Aquaculture, which, combined with recommendations from the Pacific Salmon Forum may ultimately lead to policy changes as part of the Provincial Aquaculture Strategy.

All decisions on Aquaculture licenses in British Columbia take into account the following principles: fairness; transparency; efficiency; accountability; protection of public health and safety; protection of the environment; and sustainable economic development.