Fisheries and Oceans Canada requires operators of active marine finfish aquaculture sites in British Columbia to monitor for benthic (seabed) impacts. The benthic monitoring program is designed to limit the location, area, and intensity of impact created by fish farms to the seabed and to support sustainable aquaculture by maintaining healthy ecosystems. In addition to the monitoring and reporting required of licence holders, DFO staff biologists conduct field audits to collect and assess sediment samples and take video of the seafloor. This information is used to determine compliance and learn more about benthic impacts during different times of the production cycle. Further review and action may be required for sites with poor environmental performance or issues with non-compliance. For the results of benthic monitoring activities conducted by the industry, see [Results of industry benthic monitoring of BC marine finfish aquaculture sites](http://open.canada.ca/data/en/dataset/7e76fdc8-c36a-491a-9afb-4f9280c929e8 "Results of industry benthic monitoring of BC marine finfish aquaculture sites"). Related links: + Infographic: [Monitoring benthic impacts at BC aquaculture sites](https://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/about-notre-sujet/publications/infographics-infographies/benthic-benthique-eng.html) + Graph: [Benthic performance at marine finfish aquaculture sites in BC](http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/aquaculture/reporting-rapports/benth/index-eng.html)

This report provides summary fish health data collected by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) from randomly selected licensed marine facilities culturing salmon in British Columbia (BC). Results of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) screening are provided, as well as a list of the bacterial pathogens isolated by culture, and whether a pathogen or disease has been confirmed by histopathology (microscopic examination). DFO veterinarians provide a farm-level diagnosis and identify any conditions of note based on these laboratory findings and any other information collected during the fish health audit or reported by companies as a condition of licence. The terminology used in the report’s column headings can be found in the terminology file below. DFO Science is engaged in numerous active research projects examining issues such as fish diseases, wild-cultured species interactions and habitat impacts related to aquaculture. Information on some of these projects, as well as on aquaculture research occurring in other regions, is available on our [website](http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/aquaculture/science-eng.html"website"). Related links: + Infographic: [Monitoring fish health from hatchery to harvest](https://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/about-notre-sujet/publications/infographics-infographies/hatchery-ecloserie-eng.html) + Infographic: [How DFO inspects fish health at BC aquaculture sites](http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/aquaculture/publications/infographics-infographie/health-sante-eng.html)

The Aquafin CRC Salmon Project is being undertaken by CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research (CMAR) and Tasmanian Aquaculture and Fisheries Institute (TAFI). Monthly Monitoring 1 (MM1) was undertaken in the D'Entrecasteaux Channel by CMAR and in the Huon River by TAFI from 10 January 2002 until 31 March 2003. During MM1 samples were collected monthly from 12 sites in the D'Entrecasteaux Channel by CMAR for the analysis of nutrients, phytoplankton species identification, and chlorophyll a; samples were collected for salinity calibration and dissolved oxygen approximately four times a year from 3 sites. In December 2002, samples were collected for HPLC pigment analysis from 5 sites. Samples were collected monthly from 4 sites in the Huon River by TAFI for phytoplankton species identification, nutrients, spectrophotometric chlorophyll a and dissolved oxygen. This metadata record refers to the Monthly Monitoring 1 data collected by CMAR in the D'Entrecasteaux Channel. Two depths were sampled (0 and 1 m from the bottom) for the nutrient analyses, chlorophyll a analysis and dissolved oxygen. A 12 m integrated water column sample was collected for phytoplankton species identification and additionally for chlorophyll a analysis in the first 12 months of the monitoring. In December 2002, samples were collected from surface and bottom from 5 sites for HPLC pigment analysis. At each site prior to the collection of the samples a CTD profile to near bottom was collected using the SBE19-0605 and the Secchi depth measured. PLEASE NOTE - The phytoplankton results were updated in June 2012 with a correction. The original biovolume unit in column L and M was incorrect and should have been µL/L. The values in column M and L have been divided by 1000 and the unit mL/L left unchanged. Other values are not affected including CPL and Group CPL.