What is the role of the government of British Columbia in regulating the salmon aquaculture industry?

The success of the aquaculture industry depends on farms being environmentally sustainable and socially acceptable, as well as economically viable. Government’s role is to ensure that the aquaculture industry meets these objectives. Government sets the terms and regulates the activities of farms licensed by the province. The Ministry of Agriculture and Lands (MAL) is responsible for adjudicating aquaculture applications and for issuing aquaculture licences under the provincial Fisheries Act. Aquaculture operations are subject to the conditions of this act, and other provincial legislation, including: the Aquaculture Regulation, the Waste Management Act, the Finfish Aquaculture Waste Control Regulation, the Water Act, the Land Act, the Wildlife Act, the Right to Farm Act, and other relevant provincial, municipal and federal legislation. Regular inspections are carried out on farm sites by provincial enforcement staff in order to ensure compliance with the relevant standards and ...