Fish Sampling/Collection Permits

Collection Licences are issued pursuant to Part VII of the General Fisheries Regulations, Section 51: “No person shall fish for experimental, scientific, educational or public display purposes unless authorized to do so under a licence.” Typically this includes fish collection or relocation as part of project activities (e.g. fish surveys; temporary stream flow isolation or diversion; fish salvage operations).

Applications for a licence must be made in writing and received by DFO at least ten business days before work is to commence.

Information on how to apply for Fish Collection / Scientific Licenses varies by DFO Area.

Yukon / Transboundary Area

For Yukon see www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/yukon/archive/licensingscience.htm

British Columbia

North Coast Area

Contact:

Sandra Davies (shellfish)	250-627-3007
Doug Wilson	205-627-3448

BC Interior Area

Contact:

Terri Young

250-851-4863

Lower Fraser Area

Contact:

Bridget Ennevor	604-666-6390
Barb Mueller	604-666-2370

South Coast Area

Contact:

Freshwater
Wynona Adams	250-756-7270
Steve Baillie	250-756-7227
Marine
Mike Kattilakoski	250-756-7315
Jeffrey Radford	250-756-7277

NOTE: Scientific licenses do not authorize the collection of bivalves in Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (red tide), Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning (domoic acid) and bacterial contamination closure areas. For permits issued under the Management of Contaminated Fisheries Regulations, contact the DFO Parksville office:

Fisheries & Oceans Canada
457 E. Stanford Ave.
Parksville, B.C.
V9P 1V7
Phone: (250) 954-2676
Fax: (250) 248-6776

Additional Information

• Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks (Fisheries branch) gives Fish Collection Permits for the collection of fresh-water fish captured in British Columbia.
• Check the B.C. Ministry of Agriculture and Lands website for information about scientific or commercial harvest of marine plants (e.g. seaweed and algae), application forms, and contact information. You can also phone (250) 897-7540.
• A Section 56 Fishery (General) Regulations Permit is required for the transfer of live specimens between marine areas, or to holding tanks that discharge to marine waters. Check the Federal/Provincial Introductions and Transfers Committee website for application forms and contact information.