Applying for an Introductions and Transfer Licence for the Yukon

Proponents wishing to transfer or release live fish into Yukon Territory waters must undertake the following steps:

• Submit an application to Yukon Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment Board (YESAB) outlining the proposal. The YESAB application may be single- or multi-year. The proposal is then made available for public and agency review and comments. The comments and recommendations are collated by the YESAB secretariat and posted on the YESAB website. The comments and recommendations are then reviewed by the transplant committee and initiates the decision making process. The two activities that trigger YESAA are:
  1. Release of live fish into a fish habitat.
  2. Transfer of live fish into a facility for the natural or artificial propagation of fish.
• Submit an application to DFO-Whitehorse requesting a licence to transfer fish (gametes) and release fish(fry). Letters or reports justifying the proposal in terms of technical merit and compliance with section 56 are recommended. The transplant committee will accept the application but not proceed with it until the YESAB review is concluded.

Upon receipt of the concluded YESAB review, or within a reasonable time frame, the Transplant Committee will discuss the proposal guided by section 56 of the General Fishing Regulations and YESAB review results. The committee will, as appropriate, seek input from experts as required in regards to the technical merit of the proposal and whether the release of the fish will have adverse effects on indigenous fish stocks. There is no set time period or schedule for review, and it is, therefore, prudent to provide the transplant committee with adequate time to review and adjudicate on the application.

Questions? Contact the Introductions and Transfers Committee.