About the Oceans & Marine Fisheries Branch

Branch Goals

• Sustainable management and development of British Columbia’s ocean resources and marine fisheries in a manner that protects the health of the environment, and supports a thriving economy and healthy communities.
• Greater provincial influence over the management of Pacific Ocean resources and marine fisheries.

Branch Objectives

• Facilitate sustainable management and development of ocean resources.
• Influence federal management of Pacific fisheries to ensure that provincial objectives are reflected through collaborative decision-making processes.
• Encourage the development of a growing, vibrant, and sustainable seafood industry.

Strategies and Initiatives

While responsibility for oceans is shared between governments, management of Pacific marine fisheries is under federal jurisdiction. The Branch will ensure a stronger provincial role in the management of fisheries and ocean resources by:

• leading the development of provincial marine interests and objectives
• creating collaborative provincial-federal resource management strategies
• developing shared governance frameworks

Initiatives that promote sustainable use of marine resources through the development and diversification of the fisheries sector include:

• enhancing competitiveness of B.C. ’s seafood products through traceability and certification programs
• promoting the sustainability and quality of B.C. ’s seafood industry in the global marketplace

Core Business Area Goals

• Ocean Resources –sustainable and integrated management and use of B.C.’s ocean resources.
• Marine Fisheries – stable and diverse marine fisheries that provide broad social and economic benefits for British Columbians.
• Seafood Industry Development –growth and diversification of a seafood sector that offers strong competition in global markets with a focus on sustainability and quality.