About the PEI Aquaculture Leasing Division

Overview

The management of shellfish aquaculture in Prince Edward Island (PEI) is unique when compared to other coastal jurisdictions in Canada. Fisheries and Oceans Canada, through the Canada-Prince Edward Island Memorandum of Understanding for Commercial Aquaculture Development (MoU), issues and manages leaseholds on provincial seabed where shellfish aquaculture takes place. Leases, as they’re commonly referred to, are legal contracts that contain the GPS coordinates of the lease, and a set of compliance conditions that lessees (lease operators) are required to meet.

PEI Shellfish Aquaculture Leasing Policy

The policy applies to aquaculture leases located in tidal waters surrounding PEI. Leases are issued for commercial aquaculture production or production for the purpose of enhancing the public resource.

The purpose of the Prince Edward Island Shellfish Aquaculture Leasing Policy (the Policy) is to:

  • Address the needs of the shellfish aquaculture industry on PEI with respect to allocation of new leases and the management of existing leases;
  • Address the needs of the aquaculture industry on PEI with respect to allocation of new molluscan spat collection licences and the management of existing spat licences;
  • Provide industry representatives and other interested stakeholders with a clear, consistent statement of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) policy regarding the issuance and management of aquaculture leases in the waterways of PEI.

Consult: Prince Edward Island Aquaculture Leasing Policy

Aquaculture Coordinating Committee

The Aquaculture Coordinating Committee (PEIACC) has been established under the authority of the MoU. The PEIACC is composed of DFO's Gulf Region Regional Director General (RDG) and the provincial Deputy Minister from the Government of PEI's department responsible for aquaculture. The PEIACC provides direction and approval to the various subcommittees under the MoU structure.

PEI Shellfish Aquaculture Management Advisory Committee

Industry consultation and policy guidance related to shellfish aquaculture leases are received through the PEI Shellfish Aquaculture Management Advisory Committee (PEISAMAC; formerly the PEI Aquaculture Lease Management Board). The PEISAMAC is composed of the Executive Director of the PEI Aquaculture Alliance, two representatives of the Island Oyster Growers Group, two members representing the PEI Cultured Mussel Growers Association, the DFO Area Director, the Chief of the Aquaculture Leasing Division, the Director of Aquaculture, Province of PEI, the Manager of Aquaculture, Province of PEI and the Mi’kmaq Confederacy of Prince Edward Island (Observer status).

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