The federal government has now confirmed it has licensed a fish rearing farm south of Oliver.

Gabrielle Kosmider, Aquaculture Management Division – DFO says

“In the course of our Aquaculture Management Division comprehensive review of the application, this request triggered a review by DFO’s Aquaculture Environmental Operations (AEO) group, because the proposed project had components (an outfall) within 30m of the high water mark that could have impacts on water quality.”

The Klassen application for a land-based Arctic Char facility to be constructed on the Okanagan River received its license in September of 2012.

“The review by AEO determined that, as the facility was proposed to be constructed, potential impacts to fish habitat would be low and could be mitigated by well understood and standard mitigation practices and standard Conditions of Licence.”

With respect to the discharge from a land-based facility, the applicant must register with the Provincial government as per the Land-based Finfish Waste Control Regulations. This Regulation speaks to effluent quality.”

Local RDOS Director Allan Patton – says fish farming is allowable under the Agriculture Land Reserve but the regional district is allowed to regulate not prohibit. He says the wisdom is to allow senior levels of government to do the regulating because they have law behind them and the power to enforce.

Mayor Stu Wells of Osoyoos of the Okanagan Basin Water Board said he was expecting to hear more from a speaker at the RDOS board this week – but that senior fisheries biologist Tara White could not attend. More information is scheduled to be given to the board later this month.