In 2009, several requests have been received from the oyster culture industry in eastern New Brunswick to put the necessary measures in place to allow the conduct of off-lease maintenance activities during shellfish biotoxin and sanitary closures. The guidelines allow for routine maintenance activities to be carried out by an aquaculturist while ensuring appropriate control measures are in place for the proper management and control of both the commercial fishery and the aquaculture activity. In the interim, the Management Guidelines for Off-lease Maintenance Activities for Farmed Oysters were developed and implemented as a pilot project in the PEI Area only since July 2006. These regulations need to be amended to include a maintenance category. In addition, the Management of Contaminated Fisheries Regulations (MCFR) do not contain any provisions authorizing activities other than fish for food purposes, fish for the purpose of scientific investigation or fish for the purpose of obtaining bait during a closure due to contamination. The oyster fishing regulations still apply to both the fishery and aquaculture sectors. Amendments were made to the Maritime Provinces Fishery Regulations (MPFR) over a decade ago to exempt all farm species from the regulations, with the exception of Part VIII - Oysters. Regulatory measures under the Fisheries Act allow the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) to properly control the fishery and manage populations of wild stocks, applying the same measures to oyster aquaculture activities is more difficult given the private ownership of farmed oysters. Regulations legally restrict oyster growers from conducting harvesting activities. Moreover, these guidelines will also clearly identify the application procedures, assessment criteria and applicable conditions required to make such a determination. The purpose of these guidelines is to review the proposed activities by an oyster grower and determine that the proposed activities are not fishing activities but rather maintenance activities off-lease for closed or open status areas. ( Canadian Shellfish Sanitation Program) 1. Status: describes whether shellfish harvest is permitted and is independent of the classification of the area. Open status oyster lease: located in any classified area where shellfish harvest is authorized. Coastal area/facilities: shore, port facility, shed, boat, platform Land facilities: shed, garage, plant, vehicle Licence: refers to a licence for Introduction and Transfer of fish and/or a licence to fish for shellfish in a contaminated area. Closed status oyster lease: located in any classified area where shellfish harvest is not authorized. November 2011 Definitions: Authorization: by means of the letter of approval issued by DFO to conduct off-lease maintenence activities for farmed oysters. Fisheries Oceans Canada should be consulted for all purposes of interpreting and applying these quidelines. Annex 2 - Management Measures Related to Oyster Aquaculture Activities Such as Harvesting, Relay Fishing and Spat CollectionĪll persons making use of this document are reminded that it has no official sanction and its content may change without prior notice.Annex 1 - List Of Aquaculture Maintenance Activities.Control Measures for Off-Lease Maintenance Activities for Farmed Oysters The provincial Department of Environment said it was notified of Arsenault's complaints and handed the investigation over to DFO. "Northern will continue to work with local government and surrounding communities to support a healthy, sustainable environment." DFO investigating "Leading experts believe that peat moss may provide a unique environmental condition that is beneficial to oysters," Daley said in the statement. It went on to say that the peat moss plant "has always been in compliance with local and national regulations" and that "there is no data to support claims that oysters are impacted by peat moss." Department of Environment to maintain and preserve a healthy environment." In a statement sent to CBC, Northern Peat's managing director Paul Daley said, "Northern Peat and its employees work closely with the Department of Fisheries and the P.E.I. Last year, only about 20,000 seeds were collected. This is our source of oyster seed that we collect here," he said.Īccording to Arsenault, yearly oyster seed collection by the association is typically within the millions. Shellfish mandate is to enhance public oyster beds on P.E.I. The East Bideford River is the main source of oyster spat collection on P.E.I. The agency says it is currently investigating the issue. Officers with DFO were on-site Monday to collect samples from the river.
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