Response Letter Minister of Fisheries & Oceans

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Minister of 
Fisheries and Oceans 
Ministre des 
Peches et des Oceans 
Ottawa, Canada K1A OE6 
FEB 0 6 2018 
Mr. Peter Luckham 
Chair 
Islands Trust Council 
< pluckham@islandstrust.bc.ca > 
Dear Mr. Luckham: 
Thank you for your correspondence 
of January 2, 2018, regarding the Integrated Geoduck 
Management Framework (IGMF) and potential environmental impacts related to geoduck 
aquaculture. I appreciate you raising these concerns and the proposed research on behalf 
of 
the Islands Trust Council. 
The development 
of the IGMF included more than two years of engagement with 
First Nations, the public, industry, the Province 
of British Columbia and local governmental 
agencies. As you note, the Framework is  intended to balance expanded opportunity for 
subtidal geoduck aquaculture in British Columbia while maintaining the economic prosperity 
and long-term sustainability 
of the wild geoduck fishery. Fisheries and Oceans Canada 
(DFO) is implementing geoduck aquaculture under the Framework's four core principles: 
• Conservation; 
• Obligations to First Nations; 
• Economic Prosperity and Sustainable Use; and 
• Transparency. 
The IGMF website outlines licence conditions for shellfish aquaculture and monitoring 
measures for geoduck aquaculture. Many 
of these licence conditions are aimed at mitigating 
potential risks to the environment resulting from geoduck aquaculture. 
Prior to approval 
of the IGMF, extensive research was conducted in relation to potential 
disease and genetic and ecological risks associated with geoduck aquaculture. These studies 
included research by DFO Science on the effects 
of geoduck harvest on the seabed. It was 
determined that benthic impacts 
of small-scale geoduck out-planting and small-to large-scale 
harvesting were relatively minor and limited in duration and scale. This research and several 
other studies on geoduck aquaculture can be found at Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat 
and Aquaculture Collaborative Research and Development. 
.. ./2 
Canada 

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The IGMF includes new siting guidelines for subtidal (deep water) culture only. Applications 
for intertidal geoduck aquaculture have always been accepted for review by DFO. That said, 
the combination 
of challenges related to geography, the suitability of British Columbia 
beaches and the current level 
of aquaculture production in Baynes Sound, means the 
Department does not anticipate an increase in applications for intertidal geoduck aquaculture. 
More broadly, DFO is  committed to being open and transparent in its regulation and 
management 
of aquaculture in British Columbia. Information on advisory processes that 
support public engagement and consultation is  available at http://www.pac.dfo-
mpo.gc.ca/consultation/aquaculture/index-eng.html. 
If the Islands' Trust has concerns 
relating to aquaculture policy, management or additional proposals for research, you may 
wish to bring these concerns to the Aquaculture Management Advisory Committe

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