Fishery Notice

Wet storage is defined in the Pacific Shellfish Aquaculture Conditions of 
Licence as "the temporary storage of live shellfish from approved sources, 
intended for market, in containers or floats in natural bodies of seawater, or 
in tanks containing natural or synthetic seawater". It is the temporary storage 
of harvested bivalve shellfish from a licensed wild commercial fishery or from 
another licensed aquaculture facility (other than the approved receiving 
aquaculture facility). Wet storage of harvested product shall not exceed 60 
days on a licenced aquaculture facility. 

Prior to January 15, 2019, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) provided 
letters of authorization for wet storage activities upon recommendation from 
Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) and Environment and Climate Change Canada. As 
of January 15, 2019, DFO is the lead authorizing agent for wet storage 
approvals on licensed shellfish aquaculture facilities. All previous wet 
storage approvals issued by CFIA are no longer valid. Wet storage of harvested 
bivalves without the appropriate authorizations from DFO may result in 
prosecution, fines and seizure of product.

As outlined previously in the Fisheries and Oceans Fishery Notice FN0607 
(https://notices.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fns-sap/index-eng.cfm?
pg=view_notice&DOC_ID=210730&ID=all), the current shellfish aquaculture 
condition of licence (section 3.1) allows for transfers of wild Pacific Oyster 
to aquaculture sites. However, the conditions do not authorize such movements 
of wild Manila Clams or other shellfish; therefore all wet storage activities 
also require a separate Introductions and Transfers licence issued under 
section 56 of the Fishery (General) Regulations. Any unauthorized movements of 
live fish are subject to enforcement action and could result in seizure of fish 
and prosecution.

Pacific shellfish aquaculture licence holders may request that their existing 
shellfish aquaculture licence be amended to incorporate a site-specific 
condition authorizing wet storage activities.

In order to request an amended to authorize wet storage activities, please 
contact Aquaculture Management staff: Shellfish.Aquaculture@dfo-mpo.gc.ca. 
Introductions and Transfers application can be obtained by contacting the 
Introductions and Transfer Committee: ITC@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.


FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Aquaculture Management staff: Shellfish.Aquaculture@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN0073
Sent January 30, 2019 at 1041

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Visit Fisheries and Oceans Canada on the Web at http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca
Printed from the Pacific Region web site on November 13, 2025 at 1812