Aquatic plant culturing
Last updated on November 19, 2025This page provides information on how to apply for a new aquatic plant culture license, an aquatic plant tenure amendment, or to co-culture aquatic plants.
Culturing aquatic plants may include growing or cultivating aquatic plants in a land-based facility or marine grow out site.
Culturing aquatic plants on private and Crown land is regulated by the government of British Columbia under Part 2 of the Fish and Seafood Licensing Regulation. Culture that occurs on Crown land or in the marine environment (Crown land covered by water) also requires a Land Act tenure.
Licensed aquatic plant culturers must follow the reporting requirements according to Section 6 of the Fish and Seafood Licensing Regulation as well as the additional requirements specified in their licensing agreement.
How to apply for a new licence, a tenure amendment, or to co-culture aquatic plants
The application for an aquatic plant culture licence under the Fish and Seafood Act as well as the Land Act tenure has been collated into one application.
Refer to the main aquaculture page for the application package.
Applicants for a new aquatic plant culture licence must include a $50 application fee along with the standard Land Act fee.
If the changes to infrastructure are minor and there is no change to the species being cultured, the amendment may fall under Incidental Aquaculture Use as outlined in the Aquaculture Land Use Operational Policy (PDF, 400KB)
Existing finfish or shellfish aquaculture sites that wish to add aquatic plants (co-culture) must submit the full harmonized application package. Adding aquatic plants to an existing site does not qualify as Incidental Aquaculture Use.
Applicants wishing to apply for a land-based facility should email aquaticplants.program@gov.bc.ca for the appropriate application.
Application review process
Aquatic plant culture applications are reviewed to be sure aquatic plants entering the food chain are safe for people to eat and that aquatic plant culture does not negatively affect the marine environment. Applications for an aquatic plant culture licence are reviewed by the federal and provincial project review team (PRT) before they are reviewed by the individual agencies.