Fisheries Act ([RSBC 1996] Chapter 149).

This Act governs the exploitation of fisheries resources in British Columbia. It is divided into 4 Parts, entitled as follows: General provisions (1); Licensing of fisheries (2); Licensing of fish and aquatic plant processors and fish buying stations (3); Fish protective devices (4).
Part 1 continues the Aquaculture and Commercial Fisheries Branch of the Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food. A person must not fish or take fish unless under a valid licence whose terms and conditions are spelled out in Part 2. A person must not process fish or aquatic plants, or operate a plant in British Columbia or its coastal waters, or operate a fish buying station (defined as an installation, vehicle or vessel used in the business of buying, collecting, assembling, transporting, conveying, packing or carrying fish direct from a fisher) unless the person holds a licence issued under Part 3. Licences are also required for the operation of floating processing plants for the canning of salmon or tuna (sect. 15), for dogfish and fish offal reduction plants and shell fish canneries (sect. 22), for the commercial harvesting of kelp or other aquatic plants (sect. 24). Part 4 states that a person constructing dams or other hydraulic projects that use, divert, impound or change the natural flow of water must provide fish protective devices (fish passes, ladders, screens, etc.) for the safe and adequate passage of fish.