Terms of Reference

Potential Impacts to Wild Salmon Populations in the Vicinity of Two Proposed Finfish Aquaculture Sites in St. Mary’s Bay, Nova Scotia

Maritimes Region Science Special Response Process (SSRP)

December 2010
Dartmouth, NS

Chairperson: Kristian Curran

Context

Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s (DFO) Habitat Protection and Sustainable Development (HPSD) Division, Maritimes Region, is reviewing an Environmental Assessment (EA) for a marine finfish aquaculture site (two farm locations) in St Mary's Bay, Nova Scotia, to determine if it is likely to result in negative impacts to fish and fish habitat. As part of the federal EA process, DFO may provide advice to Transport Canada regarding any impacts that fall under DFO's mandate. In addition, DFO may advise the Nova Scotia Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture regarding the proposed development. Refer to Canadian Environmental Assessment Registry number 10-01-55946 for more information regarding the EA of the proposed development.

On November 26, 2010, DFO HPSD requested that DFO Maritimes Science provide advice regarding potential impacts to wild salmon populations in the vicinity of two proposed finfish aquaculture sites in St. Mary’s Bay, Nova Scotia. The SSRP will be based on existing data sources, which may be limited in number and of lower resolution and scale relative to the location and size of the two proposed aquaculture sites. An SSRP was used due to the short deadline for advice of January 14, 2011, limited additional data that exists on the topic, and that the advice will contribute to a broader Canadian Environmental Assessment Act process.

Objective

The objective of the SSRP is to provide science advice on the following questions:

1. What wild salmon populations (and their lifecycle stages) are present in the vicinity of the proposed finfish aquaculture sites in St. Mary’s Bay, Nova Scotia?
2. How do the lifecycle stages of wild salmon populations make use of the habitat found in the vicinity of the proposed aquaculture sites?
3. What is the likelihood/probability of any impacts on the survivability and recoverability of the wild salmon populations found in the vicinity of the proposed aquaculture sites?
4. How can mitigation measures reduce any impacts on the wild salmon populations found in the vicinity of the proposed aquaculture sites?
5. How do the impacts to the wild salmon populations from the proposed aquaculture sites compare to the impacts from other anthropogenic sources?

Expected Publications

CSAS Terms of Reference
CSAS Special Science Report

Participation

DFO Science Branch
DFO Oceans, Habitat and Species at Risk Branch