Aquaculture in the Pacific Region

About the Program

The role of the Government of BC in Aquaculture (external site)

The B.C. Aquaculture Regulatory Program (BCARP) is a new program within Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) that has been developed to manage, administer and regulate aquaculture in B.C. and govern the activities of the aquaculture industry on the West Coast, including finfish, shellfish and freshwater operations. 

Implemented under the new Pacific Aquaculture Regulations conditions of licence and the Fisheries Act, BCARP is designed to ensure that aquaculture in B.C. is sustainable, and that it is conducted in a manner that minimizes the risks to wild fish stocks. 

The program includes an enforcement component, as well as ongoing public reporting of relevant data and information on the environmental performance of the industry.

Under BCARP, DFO staff will be responsible for:

• Reviewing licences and management plans,
• Liaising with First Nations, stakeholders, and other governments,
• Reporting publicly on the performance of the aquaculture industry,
• Developing operational policies and Integrated Management of Aquaculture Plans (IMAPs),
• Conducting compliance evaluations for fish health and environmental performance,
• Reviewing and analyzing environmental and compliance data, and
• Evaluating the effectiveness of the management regime.

A Conservation and Protection unit has been created whose primary role is to enforce compliance with the new Pacific Aquaculture Regulations. 

DFO fishery officers will conduct investigations and take enforcement actions based on information from the public and inspection visits by other DFO staff.

DFO offices and aquaculture staff

To support the expanded federal role in aquaculture in B.C., DFO will staff 54 new positions: 11 in Vancouver and 43 on Vancouver Island.   

The areas and responsibilities of DFO’s new aquaculture staff include:

About aquaculture enforcement

Roles and responsibilities of DFO and the Province of B.C. in the management of aquaculture in B.C. 

Frequently Asked Questions about DFO and aquaculture in B.C.