Science Response 2023/042

*This advice was developed in a peer review meeting in 2021 and should be interpreted within the context of the situation at that time.

DFO Maritimes Region Science Review of the Proposed New Marine Finfish Aquaculture Site, Beaver Harbour, Charlotte County, New Brunswick

Context

Kelly Cove Salmon Ltd. has submitted an application to the Province of New Brunswick to construct and operate a new site, Rams Head (# MF-0509), in Beaver Harbour, Charlotte County, 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 Regional Aquaculture Management Office has asked for DFO Science advice on the predicted exposure zones (PEZs) associated with the range of aquaculture activities, and the predicted impacts on susceptible fish and fish habitat, including sensitive Species at Risk (SAR) listed species, susceptible fishery species, and the habitats that support them.

Specifically, the following questions are addressed for each application:

Question 1. Based on 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 2. Based on the available information for each site, what are the Ecologically and Biologically Significant Areas, Species at Risk listed under Schedule 1 of the Species at Risk Act, fishery species, Ecologically Significant Species, and their associated habitats that are within the predicted benthic exposure zone and vulnerable to exposure from the deposition of organic matter? How does this compare to the extent of these species and habitats in the surrounding area (i.e., are they common or rare)? What are the anticipated impacts to these sensitive species and habitats from the proposed aquaculture activity?

Question 3. 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 4. To support the analysis of risk of entanglement with the proposed aquaculture infrastructure, which pelagic aquatic Species at Risk listed under Schedule 1 of the Species at Risk Act make use of the area, and for what duration and when?

Question 5. What populations of conspecifics are within a geographic range that escapees are likely to migrate to? What is the size and status trends of those conspecific populations in the escape exposure zone for the proposed site? Are any of these populations listed under Schedule 1 of Species at Risk Act?

This Science Response Report results from the Regional Science Response Process of November 29-30, 2021 on DFO Maritimes Region Review of the Proposed New Marine Finfish Aquaculture Site, Beaver Harbour, Charlotte County, New Brunswick.

Science Response 2023/042 (PDF, 3,262 KB)

Data sets:

• Ecologically and Biologically Significant Areas
• Fisheries and Oceans Canada Species at Risk Distribution (Range)
• Critical Habitat of Species at Risk
• MARITIMES RESEARCH VESSEL SURVEYS
• MSC50 Wind and Wave Climate Hindcast
• Data Download
• Species distribution models and occurrence data for marine invasive species hotspot identification
• Maritimes Region Fisheries Atlas: Catch Weight Landings Mapping (2014–2018)
• Mapping Inshore Lobster Landings and Fishing Effort on a Maritimes Region Statistical Grid (2012–2014)
• Shellfish Water Classification Program – Shellfish Harvest Area Classification in New Brunswick
• Atlantic Shoreline Classification
• Estimates of anthropogenic nitrogen loading and eutrophication indicators for the Bay of Fundy and Scotian Shelf

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