432-00333 (Fisheries)

The Government is dedicated to working with the Province of British Columbia (BC) and Indigenous communities to transition marine net-pen salmon farming in coastal BC waters in an environmentally responsible, sustainable, and economically feasible way. Fisheries and Oceans Canada and our partners have a solid foundation of research to help inform the development of this transition, including: the State of the Salmon Aquaculture Technology Report; the recommendations of the Indigenous and multi-stakeholder advisory body and its three technical working groups; and the Senate Committee on Fisheries and Oceans’ report “An Ocean of Opportunities: Aquaculture in Canada.”

A strategic oversight committee has been created to guide the development of the transition. The committee will oversee a technical working group that will be responsible for advancing key components such as the development of an engagement strategy and identifying further areas for research. The group’s initial efforts will focus on developing a framework for meaningful engagement with First Nations and stakeholders starting in 2021. Moreover, as announced on November 12, 2020, Parliamentary Secretary Beech was tasked with engaging with First Nations in BC, the aquaculture industry, and environmental stakeholders on this initiative and to present the results in an interim report this spring.

The Parliamentary Secretary’s interim report will guide further engagement and research efforts by the strategic oversight committee and technical working group to inform the development of a responsible transition in BC. The Department will take the time necessary to ensure that broad consultations and research inform the basis of an environmentally responsible, sustainable, and economically feasible transition in BC.

Regarding legislation, the Department is moving forward in developing Canada’s first ever Aquaculture Act, as stated in the mandate letter. Federal aquaculture legislation will provide greater clarity and certainty as the industry develops across Canada, while respecting existing jurisdictions. The proposed Act would foster a nationally consistent and adaptable legislative framework, taking into account regional differences. The Aquaculture Act would also seek to establish a forward-looking licensing regime that captures new types of aquaculture, including new species, methods and locations. A second set of consultations was launched in August 2020 to build off of the consultation work undertaken in March to December 2019 to gather further advice and views from Canadians on provisions that could be addressed in a new Aquaculture Act.