A seafood processing operation in British Columbia has been fined $25,000 for wastewater discharge violations, but it could have faced a stiffer penalty had it not been for the company’s efforts to fix the problems.
While Ucluelet Harbour Seafoods has a permit that authorizes the discharge of effluent to Barkley Sound from its fish processing plant, B.C.’s Ministry of Environment and Parks found 33 exceedances, 28 of which exceeded maximum limits by more than 50% during 2023-2024. The parameters of concern relate to ammonia, suspended solids, oil and grease, ph, and an accumulation of biological chemical oxygen demand, according to penalty details in B.C.’s Natural Resource and Compliance Enforcement Database.
The seafood company, which processes over 4,000 tonnes of seafood annually, also did not record data from its discharge flow measuring device on numerous occasions, or properly maintain it, as required under its provincial permit.
A number of endangered species reside in Barkley Sound, such as Killer Whales, Leatherback Sea Turtles, and Basking Sharks.
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The company told the ministry that it had discovered a container used to collect composited samples had previously been washed with ammonia-based cleaning agents. The company changed its cleaning procedures to a chlorine-based cleaner, but the problem persisted, and the company began to investigate the impact of fish byproduct trucks at its loading dock.
Additionally, the company attributed the discharge exceedances to an intermittent processing schedule and warm temperatures.
Chronic ammonia toxicity, in particular, can result in decreased survival in aquatic organisms, the ministry noted.
“The facility has increased equipment cleaning frequency, updated its cleaning protocols, conducted additional training on how to recognize buildup on equipment, and replaces damaged hoses,” company officials wrote to the ministry.
Ucluelet Harbour Seafoods also publicly announced a $1.2 million upgrade to its wastewater treatment system.
A decrease of 20% was applied to the base fine as a result of the company’s efforts to address the discharge exceedances.
Ucluelet Harbour Seafoods is a division of Pacific Seafood, which has faced significant wastewater discharge fines in Oregon and Washington.
#Ucluelet Harbour Seafoods received 2 administrative penalties totaling $25,000 for non-compliances related to effluent quality and flow measurement from their fish processing plant. https://t.co/9VJV3gryWO pic.twitter.com/SOEF8JZqqH
— Environmental Compliance BC (@ComplianceBC) June 24, 2025
