Wild aquatic plant commercial harvesting
Last updated on May 15, 2024The commercial harvest of wild aquatic plants is carefully regulated to ensure aquatic plants are harvested sustainably and are safe for human consumption.
How to apply for a wild aquatic plant harvester licence
Applications for commercial aquatic plant harvesting licences are submitted and reviewed annually by a licensing officer. Licenced aquatic plant harvesters must follow the reporting requirements according to Sections 14 and 15 of the Fish and Seafood Licensing Regulation plus the additional requirements specified in their licensing agreement.
Applications for a wild aquatic plant harvester licence can be submitted to any FrontCounter BC office location.
Applicants must submit a completed Wild aquatic plant harvester licence application (PDF, 210KB) and a completed Wild aquatic plant harvest plan proposal (PDF, 410 KB). The previous application and plan proposal will no longer be accepted. There are now guidebooks to help with filling out the new applications. You must submit both documents when you apply to harvest wild aquatic plants.
A separate application and harvest plan proposal must be submitted for each aquatic plant species group and/or DFO management area you are proposing to harvest.
Wild Aquatic Plant Harvester Licence:
- Wild aquatic plant harvester licence application (PDF, 210KB)
- Guidebook for how to fill out the application with examples and resources (PDF, 2MB)
Wild Aquatic Plant Plan Proposal (must include a plan proposal for each application you submit):
- Wild aquatic plant harvest plan proposal (PDF, 410 KB).
- Guidebook for how to fill out the application with examples and resources (PDF, 1.5MB)
Application deadline and review process
Applications and fees must be received by October 1 to harvest in the following calendar year.
Please review the Wild aquatic plant harvest guidance document (PDF 260KB). prior to submitting your application.
Requirements once licenced: Harvest record
The Wild aquatic plant harvester record (PDF 172KB) and royalty payment are due 10 days after harvest or when the aquatic plant harvester licence expires, whichever is earliest.
Royalties can be paid at any FrontCounter BC office location and are based on the type and quantity of aquatic plants harvested.
Wild aquatic plant harvesters that do not submit a harvest record and/or pay the corresponding royalty payment will not be considered for a licence the following year.
Harvest records are still required for wild aquatic plant harvesters who were granted a licence but did not harvest aquatic plants.
Additional harvesting restrictions and requirements
There are additional requirements for wild aquatic plant harvest applications that overlap with a wildlife management area, provincial park, national park, and as part of the spawn-on-kelp fishery. Currently, there is no permitted commercial harvest of Pyropia species.
- The spawn-on-kelp (SOK) fishery requires both a provincial wild aquatic plant harvester licence, and a federal authorization from Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO).
- Aquatic plant harvest in a wildlife management area requires written permission of the regional manager under the provincial Wildlife Act. Please contact a provincial ecosystems biologist for the specific wildlife management area for further information on any aquatic plant harvest restrictions and necessary permissions.
- No harvesting can occur within a BC provincial park, an ecological reserve, or protected area. Harvesting in a BC Parks Conservancy requires a park use permit
- Restrictions may be in place for harvesting within a national park. Please contact the specific national park management for further information on any aquatic plant harvest restrictions and necessary permissions.