LOCATION AT PRINCESS ROYAL ISLAND

VICTORIA - The Ministry of Agriculture and Lands has issued two finfish and two shellfish aquaculture licences.

The two finfish licences have been issued to Marine Harvest and are located at Lime Point and adjacent Sheep Passage near the village of Klemtu on the central coast of B.C. In a separate statutory approval, the ministry approved the offering of two Crown land tenures to Kitasoo Aqua Farms Ltd. for these sites.

Numerous parties were consulted on these applications, including the Canadian Coast Guard, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Environment Canada, the First Nations groups in the area, the Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine, the Raincoast Conservation Society and the public.

In support of licensing decisions for Sheep Passage and Lime Point, Marine Harvest and Kitasoo have advised the ministry they will be relinquishing the tenure and aquaculture licence at Arthur Island, located south of Jackson Passage, and the pursuance of licensing the site offered at Oscar Pass.

Shellfish licences have been approved for an operation located at McBride Bay in Smith Sound on the central coast and another operation based on private land in Langley.

The McBride Bay shellfish operation is a combination deepwater and beach culture site for Pacific oyster, Japanese scallop, Manila clam, butter clam and Nuttall's cockle and lies within the traditional territory of the Gwa'sala-'Nakwaxda'xw First Nation (GNFN).

The Langley shellfish operation will convert a vacant greenhouse into a state-of-the-art closed containment facility raising tropical shrimp. Cultured shrimp are the largest commodity in global aquaculture and this site has the potential to bring this sustainable and proven industry to B.C.

The ministry is currently reviewing the recommendations from the Special Legislative Committee on Sustainable Aquaculture, which, combined with recommendations from the Pacific Salmon Forum, may ultimately lead to policy changes as part of the Provincial Aquaculture Strategy.

All decisions on aquaculture licences in British Columbia are based on the following principles: fairness; transparency; efficiency; accountability; protection of public health and safety; protection of the environment; and sustainable economic development.