Terms of Reference

DFO Maritimes Region Review of the Proposed Marine Finfish Aquaculture Boundary Amendment, Rattling Beach, Digby County, Nova Scotia

Regional Science Response Process – Maritimes Region

February 8, 2019
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia

Chairperson: Tana Worcester

Context

Kelly Cove Salmon Ltd. has made an application to the Province of Nova Scotia to expand the boundaries at their existing site (#1039) near Rattling Beach, Digby County, Nova Scotia.  As per the Canada-Nova Scotia Memorandum of Understanding on Aquaculture Development, the Nova Scotia Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture has forwarded this application to DFO for review and advice in relation to DFO’s legislative mandate.  DFO Science has been asked for a review of the expected zone of influences of the expanded site, provide information on the species and habitat presence and use within the zone of influences, as well as possible benthic impacts to inform DFO’s review.

Objective

To help inform DFO’s review of Kelly Cove Salmon Ltd.’s application for a marine finfish aquaculture site expansion, the Maritimes Region’s Aquaculture Coordination Office has asked DFO Science the following questions:

1. Based on the biological, physical and geochemical information submitted by the proponent, and the accepted use of approved aquaculture products for fish health treatments in the marine environment, what is the expected zone of influence/exposure, from the use of these products, by species in and around the proposed aquaculture site?  Does the expected zone of influence extend beyond the boundaries of the aquaculture facility?
2. What species and habitats, focusing on species at risk, key Commercial, recreational and aboriginal (CRA) species and species vulnerable to aquaculture impacts, exist within this zone of influence (and the broader Bay)? How do these species utilize (i.e. spawning, migrating, feeding, etc.) this area (e.g. the zone of influence)?  Are there any habitats within the zone of influence considered critical or valuable for these species? Specifically,
1. What time of the year and for what duration of time do the species noted above utilize the habitat within the zone of influence?
2. How do the impacts on these species from the proposed aquaculture site compare to impacts from other anthropogenic sources? Does the zone of influence overlap with these activities and if so, what are the consequences?”  
3. The proponent has 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 used by the proponent, consistent with the scientific knowledge of the potential impact of this operation?

Expected Publications

• Science Response

Expected Participation

• DFO Science
• DFO Oceans Management 
• DFO Aquaculture Management 
• DFO Fisheries Protection Program