ABSTRACT
Baynes Sound has been ranked second only to the Fraser River Estuary as the most ecologically important region along the west coast of British Columbia and is “the most important wetland complex on Vancouver Island. In spite of the ecological importance of Baynes Sound, a major push to expand the shellfish industry began in 1998 when the government of British Columbia decided to double, by 2008, the amount of foreshore and offshore crown land allocated to shellfish aquaculture. Baynes Sound produces approximately than 50% of all commercially harvested shellfish in British Columbia. Ninety percent of the Baynes Sound coastline is under shellfish industry tenure. Aquaculture tenures are using mechanized equipment such as generators, cranes, power washers on rafts, power augers, and high pressure hoses for geoduck harvest. The green light was given by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans in 2017 for development of both intertidal and deep water geoduck aquaculture.
