Terms of Reference

Depositional Model Validation – Aquaculture Licence for Wallace Cove, NL

Regional Science Response Process - Newfoundland and Labrador Region

November 16, 2018
St. John’, NL

Chairperson: Erika Parrill

Context

Marine Harvest Atlantic Canada has applied for an aquaculture license for Wallace Cove, Newfoundland and Labrador, which is located on the south coast of Newfoundland in Facheux Bay. The site was already licensed to Gray Aqua Group Ltd.; the assets of which were bought by Marine Harvest Atlantic Canada in 2018. The application seeks to expand the area of the site lease.

In accordance with the Aquaculture Activities Regulations (AARs), Marine Harvest Atlantic Canada has submitted a Baseline Assessment Report which includes modelling of the dispersal of waste from site operations including the predicted contours of biological oxygen demand (BOD) at peak biomass.

Objective

Marine Harvest Atlantic Canada used DEPOMOD (DFO 2017) to predict the effects of the benthos in the proposed expansion area.

The objective of the peer review process is to determine whether the model output is supported by current relevant scientific knowledge of local oceanographic conditions and nature of substances that may be released at the site.

Expected Publications

• Science Response

Expected Participation

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) Science and Ecosystems Management Branches
• Newfoundland and Labrador Department of Fisheries and Land Resources
• Marine Harvest Atlantic Canada

References

DFO. 2017. DEPOMOD. Accessed November 9, 2018.