Science Response 2020/051

DFO Maritimes Region Science Review of the Proposed Marine Finfish Aquaculture Boundary Amendment, Farmer’s Ledge, Gran Manan, New Brunswick

Context

Lambert Salmon Inc. and Kelly Cove Salmon Ltd. have made an application to the Province of New Brunswick to amend their existing site (MF-0002) near Farmer’s Ledge, Grand Manan, New Brunswick.

As per the Canada-New Brunswick Memorandum of Understanding on Aquaculture Development, the New Brunswick Department of Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries (NBDAAF) has forwarded this application to Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) for review and advice in relation to DFO’s legislative mandate. The application was supplemented by information collected by the proponent as required by the Aquaculture Activities Regulations (AAR).

To help inform DFO’s review of this application, the Maritimes Regional Aquaculture Management Office asked for DFO Science advice on the Predicted Exposure Zones (PEZs) associated with the proposed aquaculture activities, and the predicted impacts they might have on sensitive listed species at risk and sensitive Commercial, Recreational, and Aboriginal (CRA) fishery species and the habitats that support them.

Specifically, the following questions are addressed:

Question 1. Based on the available data for the site and scientific information, what is the predicted exposure zone from the use of approved fish health treatment products in the marine environment, and the potential consequences to susceptible species?

Question 2a. What are the consequences to the species and habitats that exist within the proposed site’s predicted exposure zones, and where applicable, in the broader vicinity, focusing on species at risk, CRA species, and species vulnerable to aquaculture impacts? Are there potential consequences to any critical or valuable habitats for species at risk or CRA species?

Question 2b. How do the impacts on these species from the proposed aquaculture site compare to impacts from other anthropogenic sources (including existing finfish farms)? Do the zones of influence overlap with these activities and if so, what are the potential consequences?

Question 3. The proponent used a depositional model to predict the benthic effects of the proposed aquaculture site. Are the predicted benthic effects, as demonstrated by the output of the depositional model, consistent with the scientific knowledge of the potential impact of this operation?

This Science Response Report results from the Science Response Process of January 17, 2020, on DFO Maritimes Region Review of the Proposed Marine Finfish Aquaculture Boundary Amendment, Farmer’s Ledge, Grand Manan, New Brunswick.

Science Response 2020/051 (PDF, 2,395 KB)

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