Shellfish Aquaculture Licensing in the Pacific Region

• 2011 Annual Aquaculture Statistical Reports (AASR) form - Shellfish (Appendix VI of the Shellfish Aquaculture Conditions of Licence) [Excel] [PDF]


• Licence and Conditions of licence [PDF] designed to ensure the sustainable operation and development of shellfish aquaculture.

DFO has developed these lists of current shellfish aquaculture licence holders and maintains them on this website as part of its commitment to provide information to the public and other regulators on the status of federal shellfish aquaculture licences, as well as to provide additional assurance to shellfish processors that they are purchasing seafood from a legally licensed operation. These lists are updated regularly to reflect changes in licence status.

• Current Valid Shellfish British Columbia Aquaculture Licence Holders (For Processors) [HTML] [PDF]

Reference Notes:

• The Pacific Fishery Management Area Regulations describe the surf line and divide the Canadian fisheries waters of the Pacific Ocean into areas and sub-areas. The areas and sub-areas are often referenced when describing fishery openings and closures. Clicking on the area of interest will reveal a more detailed map illustrating the sub-areas.
• Any shellfish aquaculture licence listed is authorized to harvest Varnish Clams (Nuttallia obscurata) within the licensed area unless that area is closed by Prohibition Order.
• The Canadian Shellfish Sanitation Program (CSSP): The CSSP is delivered jointly by DFO, Environment Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, and contains measures to ensure that bivalve shellfish (i.e., oysters, clams, scallops and mussels) are safe for human consumption. Under this program, Conditional Management Plans are developed to allow shellfish harvesting in areas that may be periodically at risk for poor water quality. These plans clearly set out the circumstances which would trigger a temporary closure of the area to shellfish harvesting.
  
  In the Pacific Region, there are currently four Conditional Management Plans in effect. The first three cover harvest areas near wastewater treatment plants in Ladysmith, Chemainus and Crofton. In these areas, the Conditional Management Plans are in effect to manage the potential risk of the release/discharge of wastewater materials beyond the normal operations of the treatment plant.
  
  The fourth Conditional Management Plan applies to shellfish harvesting in Baynes Sound; the most active shellfish aquaculture region in B.C. In the sound, water quality may be adversely affected when substantial amounts of rainfall occur over a relatively short period of time, which may lead to runoff from the upland areas, increasing contamination levels in the marine environment. Baynes Sound is divided into different areas, with each having an established rainfall trigger amount for temporary shellfish harvesting closures.
• Shellfish Harvest Restriction Codes as they apply to shellfish aquaculture sites:
  • P CMP: Part of a tenure is under a Conditional Management Plan
  • CMP WWTP: the tenure is within a Waste Water Treatment Plant Conditional Management Area. Harvest in this Area is subject to restrictions based on the operating status of the Plant.
  • C: The tenure is within a year-round Closed-Restricted area. Special harvest restrictions apply to shellfish depuration or relay.
  • F: The presence of a floathome on site has resulted in a 125m harvest prohibition zone on the tenure.
  • FZD: Floathome on site with approved zero discharge management plan results in a 25m harvest prohibition around floathome.
  • PC: Partial Closure of a tenure due to a closed/restricted area. Purchasers should verify with licence holder that product is from open/approved portion of tenure.
  • PRO: Harvest from this site is prohibited due to identified pollution sources.
  • P PRO: Harvest from a portion of this site is prohibited due to identified pollution sources.
  • S: The tenure is within a Seasonally Closed/Restricted area during summer months (May 31 - September 30).
  • PS: The tenure is partially located within a Seasonally Closed/Restricted area during summer months (May 31 - September 30). Purchasers should verify with licence holder that product is from open/approved portion of tenure.
  • CMP A: Baynes Sound Conditional Management Plan Area 14.22A where harvest is subject to rainfall restrictions. The rainfall trigger in this Area is 35mm over a 24 hour period, in effect from January 1 to December 31.
  • CMP B: Baynes Sound Conditional Management Plan Area 14.22B where harvest is subject to rainfall restrictions. The rainfall trigger in this Area is 40mm over a 24 hour period, in effect from January 1 to December 31.
  • CMP C: Baynes Sound Conditional Management Plan Area 14.22C where harvest is subject to rainfall restrictions. The rainfall trigger in this Area is 40mm over a 24 hour period, in effect from May 1 to December 31.

DFO Contact

For general information about shellfish aquaculture licences please contact:
Shellfish.Aquaculture@dfo-mpo.gc.ca