Letter Minister Doug Donaldson, MLA

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200 - 1627 Fort Street, Victoria BC  V8R 1H8 
Telephone  (250) 405-5151    Fax  (250) 405-5155 
Toll Free via Enquiry BC in Vancouver 604.660.2421.  Elsewhere in BC 1.800.663.7867 
Email  information@islandstrust.bc.ca 
Web  www.islandstrust.bc.ca 
 
 
Bowen  Denman  Hornby  Gabriola Galiano  Gambier  Lasqueti  Mayne  North Pender  Salt Spring  Saturna  South Pender  Thetis 
December 9, 2019 
 
via e-mail: FLNR.Minister@gov.bc.ca 
 
File Number: 0400-30; 5020-30 
The Honourable Doug Donaldson 
Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and 
Rural Development  
PO Box 9352 Stn Prov Govt 
Victoria, BC V8W 9M1 
 
 
Dear Minister Donaldson: 
 
Re:  Request for more resources for enforcement of aquaculture tenure licences  
 
I am writing on behalf of the Islands Trust Council regarding long-standing concerns relating to shellfish 
aquaculture in Baynes Sound, British Columbia. We would like to request that the Ministry of Forests, 
Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development (FLNRORD) allocate more resources to 
ensure aquaculture tenure requirements can be enforced effectively. We also wish to express support 
for the Provincial Aquaculture Program’s efforts to increase the minimum security amounts to be paid 
by tenure holders and to require that debris management plans be adhered to prior to renewal or 
approval of new tenure applications.  
 
The Islands Trust, created through the provincial Islands Trust Act, is a federation of special-purpose 
local government bodies representing 26,000 people living within the Islands Trust Area and 
approximately 10,000 non-resident property owners. The Islands Trust Area is located within Coast 
Salish territory and is home to over 28,000 Coast Salish Peoples who have called this place home since 
time immemorial. The Islands Trust mandate is to preserve and protect the unique environment and 
amenities of the Islands Trust Area through planning and regulating land use, development 
management, education, cooperation with First Nations and other agencies, and land conservation. The 
area covers the islands and waters between the British Columbia mainland and southern Vancouver 
Island. It includes 13 major and more than 450 smaller islands covering 5,200 square kilometres. It is 
Trust Council’s policy that aquaculture is a valuable activity in the Trust Area if compatible with 
maintenance of ecosystems and community character. 
 
The 14
th
 annual Denman Island Community Beach Clean-up was held during the week of September 15-
22, 2019. The clean-up was organized by the Association for Denman Island Marine Stewards (ADIMS), 
and was joined by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), and the BC Shellfish Growers 
Association. ADMIS estimates the debris yield on Denman Island alone for 2018, was over six tons with 
ninety percent (90%) of the plastic debris originating from the shellfish aquaculture industry. Items 
included oyster trays, anti-predator netting, plastic f

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