Marine Finfish Aquaculture Application Guide
The Ministry of Agriculture and Lands has developed a new Guide to Information Requirements for Marine Finfish Aquaculture Applications. This manual provides guidance to aquaculture operators preparing an application for new finfish aquaculture sites and facilities. The guide outlines the information required by the provincial agencies responsible for licensing and regulating finfish aquaculture operations. This guide and the associated Management Plan Form replace older versions of the provincial "management plan," including the March 9, 2000 version of the Marine Commercial Finfish Aquaculture Management Plan.
The guide and form are now available for downloading in  format. Hard copies are available from the Aquaculture Development Branches in Victoria or Courtenay or from Integrated Land Management Bureau
Guide to Information Requirements for Finfish Aquaculture Applications
This guide applies to applications for:
- a new aquaculture licence and tenure;
- renewal of an existing Crown land tenure; or
- renewal of an existing aquaculture licence.
Full details on application requirements are provided in the Guide which can be downloaded in the following formats:
Colour versions
Black & White versions
Management Plan Form
A new Management Plan Form must be completed for each new site application. Completed forms and supporting information are to be submitted to Integrated Land Management Bureau. Submissions must be complete in order for the government review to commence. Refer to the guide or contact Integrated Land Management Bureau for more information on the submission process.
The Management Plan Form can be downloaded in the following formats:
The Management Plan Form can also be completed electronically using the  version.
Note: this form may not be submitted electronically. Upon completion, it must be printed and submitted along with the rest of the Management Plan to the Integrated Land Management Bureau address below.
Siting Criteria
The following document outlines the criteria currently used to ensure that new salmon farms are properly located, or “sited”. This list is provided for information purposes; applications are assessed by government based in part on conformance with these criteria, and on the professional judgment of government reviewers. Applicants are advised to verify that any proposed site meets these criteria.
All documents on this page, including the siting criteria, are subject to change. Operators will be informed and directed to this website if any changes are proposed or made to the application requirements or the farm siting criteria.
Where to Apply
The completed Management Plan and all accompanying documentation should be submitted together to:
Integrated Land Management Bureau
501 - 345 Wallace Street
Nanaimo, BC V9R 5B6
Federal Requirements
Although best efforts have been made to reflect the information requirements of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (FOC) in the above guide, this and other federal agencies may require information beyond that outlined in the guide. Anyone intending to apply for an aquaculture site is advised to also contact Fisheries and Oceans Canada prior to submitting an application to government for review in order to verify their information requirements.
Contacts
Any questions not addressed by the guide or the above documents may be directed to:
- Aquaculture Development Branch field office in Courtenay at: (250) 897-7540; or
- Integrated Land Management Bureau at: (250) 741-5667.
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