How many fish farms or shellfish farms can be in an area?
The number of aquaculture operations permitted in a given area depend on siting guidelines (where to locate the farm) that set criteria for determining if a location is suitable for aquaculture development. The results of an environmental assessment consider, among other factors, the total environmental effects of the proposed operation in combination with nearby projects or activities in the area such as marinas or fish processing plants. A complex range of factors is considered as part of the review of a site application. These include size of the proposed operation, the surrounding ecosystem, and other uses such as commercial fisheries, marinas, recreational areas, adjacent land-use, or transportation corridors. For example, the Inner Bay of Fundy, New Brunswick may have the potential to support a different number of aquaculture operations than can Clayoquot Sound, British Columbia. All new fish farm sites must undergo a review for potential fish habitat effects pursuant to Section
