Siting and Relocation

Farm Relocation Initiative

Potential impacts to the marine environment can be reduced and the health of farmed fish protected by properly locating fish farms. Good water quality, physical protection for farm structures and distance from sensitive marine areas will help protect farmed salmon, wild fish and their habitat.

As part of the Salmon Aquaculture Policy Framework, (news release and backgrounder) the B.C. government has identified 11 salmon farms to be relocated to more socially, environmentally and economically suitable sites.  A second round of 25 farms to move was identified in Fall 2001. These relocations will ensure compliance with new environmental standards and reduce impacts on wild fish, marine mammals, birds and other wildlife.

As of November 2001:

of the first 11 sited queued for relocation:

  • 7 sites have been approved and relocated;

  • 1 relocation application is nearing completion; and,

  • 3 relocations have not yet commenced, either because proponents have not been yet able to identify a suitable site, or because earlier applications did not meet relocation requirements.

  • The second list of 25 more farms to relocate has been prepared and released.

Government is also:

  • developing and implementing new, stricter siting criteria to protect environmental, recreational and other resource values;

  • working with coastal communities and First Nations to ensure relocated farms have community input and support

  • improving siting criteria, based on the recommendations of the EAO; and

  • consulting with communities located near potential farm sites in the early stages of farm site review in order to get input from local residents and businesses.

A comprehensive Guide for completing Site Applications is being developed. The guide, to be released in early 2002, will incorporate stricter, and more explicit siting, monitoring and reporting requirements for new and existing farms.

Meanwhile, provincial agencies and Fisheries and Oceans Canada are continuing to coordinate siting requirements and approval processes.