The press communiqué of the British Columbia Supreme Court (BCSC) revealed that the current management regime and regulatory framework governing the aquaculture industry in B.C. will remain in effect until December 18, 2010. This will allow the federal government additional time to develop and implement a new federal regulation and regulatory framework under the Fisheries Act.
It is said that last year the BCSC held that the activity of finfish aquaculture is a fishery and falls under the jurisdiction of the federal government under the Constitution Act, 1867. According to the BCSC the existing largely provincially-managed aquaculture regulatory regime be maintained until February 10, 2010.
It is told that the BCSC imposed a restriction on the extension and ordered that the Province of B.C. issue no licences for new fish farms in B.C. and that they not extend the areas within which licensed fish farms are permitted to operate (as of February 9, 2010). The Honourable Gail Shea, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans said that the Government of Canada is committed to the development of a sustainable, well-regulated and environmentally-friendly aquaculture industry in B.C.
