Fishery Notice

BC shellfish aquaculture licence holders may request authorization for the 
collection of oyster spat, permitted only in the four historic areas identified 
for harvest (Pendrell Sound, Hotham Sound, Nesook Bay and Pipestem Inlet). Per 
the Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) policy: "Access to Wild aquaculture resources as 
it applies to aquaculture (AWAR)", wild resources collected for aquaculture 
purposes must be licensed under the authorization of an Access Licence.  The 
AWAR policy can be found on the DFO website here: 
www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/Aquaculture/ref/AWAR_e.pdf

For anyone applying for an Access Licence for oyster spat, DFO would like to 
remind the applicant of the importance of adhering to the Conditions of Licence 
outlined on the licence.

Fishery General Regulations and Conditions of Licence require that fishing 
gear, including infrastructure being used for the collection of wild resources 
under the AWAR be clearly labelled following tagging requirements. A set of 
standard conditions for an oyster spat access licence that considered placement 
and removal of infrastructure, use of machinery and equipment, infrastructure 
management and site-specific considerations, was developed to mitigate the 
identified risks associated with this activity. 

Collecting spat or otherwise accessing wild oysters without a valid access 
licence is unlawful. 

Officers will be conducting patrols in areas where spat is commonly collected 
and instances of unlicensed access fishing will result in enforcement action. 
Consequences may include seizure of anything used in the commission of an 
offense (e.g. all gear, vessels, vehicles, supporting infrastructure, etc.) and 
prosecution with significant court-imposed penalties, imprisonment, forfeiture 
of seized items, and court imposed conditions or prohibitions. To report 
unlawful fishing activity in relation to wild oyster access or any other 
fishery, please call the toll-free DFO Observe Record Report phone line at 1-
800-465-4336.

More information can be found at the following: 

ITC general website: 
http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/aquaculture/management-gestion/licen-permi-eng.htm

General information on requirements for Access to Wild Stocks: http://www.dfo-
mpo.gc.ca/aquaculture/protect-protege/wild-stocks-sauvages-eng.html 

Both application forms can be downloaded here: 
http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/aquaculture/bc-cb/intro-trans/itc_application-
demande_it-eng.html

All questions regarding Access Licenses should be directed to the British 
Columbia ITC: ITC@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
 

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

British Columbia Introductions and Transfer Committee: ITC@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN0401
Sent May 2, 2019 at 1327

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Printed from the Pacific Region web site on August 15, 2026 at 1600