Despite Canada benefitting from the longest coastline in the world, it continues to lag behind other countries.
Red tape and regulatory burden are among the main causes for this situation. This sector is currently being regulated by ten different federal acts.
A modernised regulatory environment will be designed to allow Canada to take advantage of the global demand for fish and seafood products that continues to rise.
It will improve coherence, simplicity and accountability while maintaining strong environmental standards, the fisheries ministry said.
“Our Government is committed to job creation, economic growth and long term prosperity. Canada benefits from the longest coastline in the world and a growing aquaculture sector can provide jobs to rural, coastal and Aboriginal communities. Today we are taking further steps to enable the aquaculture industry to thrive and create much needed jobs, while being sustainable and environmentally sound,” said Gail Shea, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans
Earlier this year the Government has announced a C$54 million investment for the renewal of the Sustainable Aquaculture Program, which includes an aquaculture regulatory reform agenda. Today’s announcement clarifies the role of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans on the deposit of substances in water for the purposes of aquaculture.
As the next step of this process, new proposed Aquaculture Activities Regulations will be pre-published in early July, 2014 in the Canada Gazette, Part I, for a 60-day public comment period.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada has been working with its regulatory partners to develop the proposed Regulations to ensure they build on existing provincial and federal regulatory regimes. When finalised, the proposed Regulations would resolve uncertainties in the application of various federal Acts, eliminate overlap and duplication issues and reflect the unique circumstances of aquaculture.
