Ottawa working with B.C. to manage aquaculture: fisheries minister

Federal Fisheries Minister Gail Shea says the Conservative government is working with B.C. after the province's Supreme Court ruled Ottawa should take over management of the controversial salmon farm industry.

The B.C. Supreme Court ruled on Monday that the federal government, not the province, should regulate fish farms.

The ruling gave Ottawa a year to bring in new legislation so fish farms can be licensed by the federal Fisheries Department.

In B.C., fish farms are currently licensed by the provincial Agriculture Ministry.

For now, Shea said, Ottawa and Victoria will continue to jointly manage the aquaculture industry.

Under fire from the New Democrats in the House of Commons, Shea said the government has set aside $1 billion for communities in need, and if there is a need in the B.C. salmon industry, those funds will be available.

NDP fisheries critic Peter Julian said fishery workers and conservationists in B.C. need to know what the government plans to do when it takes over regulation of the industry.