Terms of Reference

Potential Impacts of Finfish Aquaculture on Hard Bottom Substrates and Development of a Standardized Monitoring Protocol

Newfoundland and Labrador Region Peer Review Process

May 22-23, 2013
St. John’s, NL

Chairperson: Ben Davis, Aquatic Resources Division, Science Branch, DFO, Newfoundland and Labrador Region

Context

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO)- Fisheries Protection Program (FPP) assesses potential impacts of finfish aquaculture operations on fish and fish habitat as part of their responsibilities to manage threats to the sustainability and ongoing productivity of Canada’s commercial, recreational and Aboriginal fisheries. To assist in this assessment, the Newfoundland aquaculture industry has been responsible for conducting habitat monitoring of finfish aquaculture sites. The analysis of redox and sulphide measures is an accepted standard practice in other jurisdictions. However, past monitoring practices involving grab sampling for redox and sulfide analyses have presented challenges in the Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) Region as most aquaculture sites are located over hard bottom substrates. Recently, DFO-FPP implemented changes to its monitoring protocol by replacing redox and sulfide analysis with visual observations over hard substrates, which have also been used in other jurisdictions, including British Columbia.

DFO-FPP is also responsible for reviewing new site applications and providing advice regarding siting and maximum stocking densities so as to minimize environmental impacts. Past siting requirements included the locating of sites at depths greater than 30 m, over hard bottom substrates as these areas were expected to be highly erosional and therefore wastes were not expected to accumulate. This has proven to be false, likely due to a combination of low currents, considerable depths and cold temperatures contributing to slow bioremediation processes. As the aquaculture industry continues to expand in the NL Region, DFO is faced with an increased number of new site applications and for existing sites, ongoing monitoring and requests for higher production levels. As stated earlier, the particular environmental conditions in Newfoundland (i.e. low water currents; low water temperatures; hard bottom substrates) necessitate specific advice regarding the implications of site development and expansion in the NL Region.

DFO-FPP will use this advice to inform decisions on siting and stocking and determine whether additional mitigation measures and/or best management practices are required to minimize adverse effects of aquaculture operations on fish and fish habitat that support fisheries. This advice would then result in more regulatory certainty for DFO and the aquaculture industry, and provide the fishing industry and general public with more confidence that environmental impacts of aquaculture operations are being properly managed.

Objectives

The objectives of the meeting include:

• Evaluate the standardized benthic monitoring protocol developed for assessing potential impacts of finfish aquaculture operations on hard bottom substrates. This would include advice regarding type of video equipment (i.e., ROV, underwater video camera or drop camera), methodology (e.g., grid vs. transect) and potential visual indicators.
• Evaluate the applicability of the use of visual indicators (accumulation of flocculent, off-gassing, presence of Beggiatoa and/or Opportunistic Polychaete Complexes (OPC), etc.) to identify benthic impacts on various substrates.
• Validate the use of DEPOMOD (a commercial model for predicting organic deposition under finfish aquaculture sites) as a tool for predicting the extent and severity of benthic changes associated with aquaculture operations within the NL Region.
• Evaluate the characterization of the impacts of finfish aquaculture on hard bottom substrates in NL Region, including changes in biodiversity, biophysical characteristics, and habitat functionality. Discuss the development of regional benthic monitoring thresholds of impact.

Expected Publications

• Science Advisory Report
• Proceedings
• Research Document(s)

Participation

• DFO Science: NL, Gulf, Maritimes, C&A and BC Regions, and NCR
• DFO Fisheries and Aquaculture Management: NL Region
• DFO Ecosystems Management: NL, Maritimes and BC Regions
• Aquaculture Industry Representatives
• Aboriginal Groups
• Non-Governmental Organizations
• Fish, Food and Allied Workers Representatives
• NL Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture
• Memorial University of Newfoundland
• Other invited experts