11/25/11 Overview Background Update and Next Steps re: Development - PDF document

11/25/11 Overview • Background Update and Next Steps re: Development of • DFO Aquaculture Management Framework the BC Aquaculture Management Framework – Integrated Management of Aquaculture Plans Meeting with the Association of Vancouver Island – Conditions of Licence Coastal Communities (AVICC) – National Management Approaches & Policies November 23, 2011 • Areas for discussion in 2012 Courtney, BC 1 2 Background DFO Aquaculture Organization • February 2009: BC Supreme Court decision rules that only the federal government • Aquaculture Management elements in 3 DFO Branches has the authority to regulate the fisheries aspects of aquaculture. – Fisheries Management • November 2009 - March 2010: DFO & BC begin negotiations on MOU; DFO granted extension to December 18, 2010 to implement new regime. • Aquaculture Management Division – Aquaculture Programs • April-July 2010: Pacific Aquaculture Regulation (PAR) drafted and published July » AIMAP, Governance, Aboriginal Engagement, Ecosystem Approach 9 th ; DFO receives Cabinet direction for new Program following functions of BC with – Aquaculture Resource Management enhanced focus on: Enforcement, Information Management and Public Reporting. » Finfish, Shellfish & Freshwater industry engagement and management • September-November 2010: 4 classes of licence developed and posted: shellfish, » First Nations Consultations marine finfish, freshwater and enhancement with applications sent to all previous – Aquaculture Environmental Operations provincial licence holders. » Fish Health, Finfish, Shellfish and Freshwater assessments • December 2010: Canada Gazette Part II: Publication of Aquaculture Regulation; – Conservation and Protection DFO – BC MOU signed; applications reviewed and licences issued. – Communications 3 4 DFO Aquaculture Management The new DFO regulatory regime for aquaculture has provided: Pacific Region Offices Marine Finfish • Streamlined regulatory • Improved transparency requirements • Increased reporting requirements • Vancouver • Enhanced oversight & – Regional DFO Headquarters enforcement • Nanaimo - Island Diesel Way • Enhanced benthic assessment – Resource Management and C&P • Courtenay Shellfish • Harmonization of requirements • Incorporation of “ Introductions – Fish Health Lab and Shellfish / and Transfer ” requirements into • Increased reporting requirements FW assessment licence. • Enhanced field presence of DFO • Campbell River – Finfish Assessment, Licensing and C&P Freshwater • Improved transparency • Enhanced field presence of DFO • Port Hardy Enhancement • Licensing of federal and provincial – Resource Management & Finfish facilities salmonid enhancement operations Assessment. 5 6 1

11/25/11 IMAP - Overview Aquaculture Management Framework • IMAP = Integrated Management of Aquaculture Plan. • Pacific Region is supporting development of a new • Modelled after Integrated Fisheries Management Plans for fisheries. Management Framework for Aquaculture in BC • IMAPs will be both a process and a document; multiple “scales” • The Framework has three key components: • Will set out the plans for conservation and sustainable use of resources related to aquaculture (e.g. goals, management approaches) – Integrated Management of Aquaculture Plans (IMAPs); • Tool to enhance First Nations, industry, and stakeholder engagement in – Conditions of Licence; and planning and management (e.g. priorities, reporting, adaptive – National Management Approaches / Policies. management approaches). • Plan to prepare a core IMAP and more detailed Background document • Consultation and engagement will inform the development • Proposed timeline: Marine finfish (2012), shellfish (2012) and of all three elements freshwater (2013). 7 8 IMAP - Potential Outline / Format IMAP Timelines & Engagement Fall 2011 • Potential IMAP outline includes: • Initial discussions with First Nations, industry, other levels of government and – Sector overview and context (species, methods, governance, advisory processes); stakeholders regarding general approach, potential IMAP format and content, – Policy framework; governance options and approaches, timelines – Science; Spring 2012 – Social, culture, and economic importance of aquaculture; • Engage in more detailed discussions regarding – Management issues; – Governance and advisory processes – General objectives; – Area-Based Management – Ecosystem-based management measures; – Ecosystem Approaches – Industry and stakeholder commitments; – Priority Management Issues – Inspection, compliance, and enforcement plans; and Summer / Fall 2012 – Performance review. • Draft IMAPs which would include these elements 9 10 Conditions of Licence (CoL) Conditions of Licence – Status & Next Steps • Conditions of Licence are: • Initial marine finfish licences were issued for one year – Explicit and enforceable ‘rules’ for conducting aquaculture; period and expire on December 18, 2011. – Normally are valid for the period of the licence; • Shellfish licences were issued for 14 – 16 months and – Attached to licence issued and form part of the licence; expire Feb 28, March 31 and April 30, 2012. • Conditions can be: • Freshwater licences expire June 18, 2012. – For the proper management and control of the fishery; – Fishery-wide and apply to all sites; • DFO limited the duration of current licences in order to – Specific to species or species groups under culture; allow for evolution of licences in alignment with – Site specific. development of the aquaculture Management Framework. 11 12 2

11/25/11 Conditions of Licence – cont’d Transparency • Generic Conditions of Licence for Marine Finfish, Shellfish, and Freshwater are available on the Internet. • Some technical and administrative changes to conditions of licence are expected to be made this year. • Future management changes recommended by First Nations, industry, and stakeholders, will be vetted through the IMAP advisory processes (currently under development). • Much of the information generated through increased reporting requirements is already being posted to the internet on the DFO Pacific aquaculture website: • http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/aquaculture/index-eng.htm 13 Management Approaches / Policies Management Approaches – cont’d • Policies/ Management Approaches are being developed in • The Pacific Aquaculture Regulations are broad, and the following 4 broad categories: require management guidance to implement. – Conservation, Ecosystem and Sustainable Use Policies; • In 2010 the CoLs reflected implicit policy choices. – Economic and Governance Policies; • CoLs are the legally enforceable expression of – Planning and Monitoring; and – Operational Implementation. policies. • The IMAP process will provide a mechanism for input and • The broad DFO policy approach is being set out in further development of the national policies/ management a Sustainable Aquaculture Fisheries Framework. approaches. 15 16 Discussion Questions • How do Vancouver Island municipalities see being engaged in aquaculture management moving forward? Questions? • What are the best mechanisms for DFO to engage BC municipalities? UBCM? AVICC? Broader multi-interest meetings? • What are some of the key issues or perspectives that have been identified by AVICC and/or individual municipalities around aquaculture management? 18 3