Note that the absence of the problems from farmed fish preceded the regulations. Fisheries agencies act as if their sole function is to provide recreational angling opportunities, not balanced resource management. People seem unaware that fish farms may have beneficial effects. They always increase local fish populations, creating angling opportunities. This may be a result of habitat improvement caused by the farm.
Fish farming is more regulated than most activities.
Farms previously required Certificate of Approval's from the Ontario Ministry of Environment. This requirement was discontinued with no input from industry. Ontario Ministry of Environment subsequently refused to set standards or become involved with regulating cage farms, despite years of lobbying by industry and the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food. Environmental standards are now included in the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources fish culture license. Permits were previously required to ship live fish.