Terms of Reference

DFO Maritimes Region Review of the Proposed Marine Finfish Aquaculture Boundary Amendment, Whycocomagh Bay, Bras d’Or Lakes, Nova Scotia

Regional Science Response Process – Maritimes Region

December 1-2, 2020
Virtual meeting

Chairperson: Lottie Bennett

Context

We’koqma’q First Nation has made an application to the Province of Nova Scotia to amend their existing sites (#0814, 0845 and 0600) in Whycocomagh Bay, Bras d’Or Lakes, 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 Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) for review and advice in relation to DFO’s legislative mandate.  DFO Science has been asked for a review of the predicted exposure zones associated with the range of aquaculture activities and the predicted impacts on species and the habitats that support them.

Objectives

To help inform DFO’s review of We’koqma’q First Nation’s application for a marine finfish aquaculture site amendment, the Maritimes Region’s Aquaculture Management Program has asked DFO Science the following questions:

1. Based on the available data for the site and the scientific information, what is the predicted exposure zone from the use of approved fish health treatment products in the marine environment, and the predicted consequences to susceptible species?
2. Based on available information, what are the Ecologically and Biologically Significant Areas (EBSAs), Species at Risk (SAR), Commercial, Recreational, and Aboriginal (CRA) species, Ecologically Significant Species (ESS), 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?
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?
4. To support the analysis of risk of entanglement with the proposed aquaculture infrastructure, which pelagic aquatic species at risk make use of the area, and for what duration and when?
5. Which populations of conspecifics are within a geographic range that escapes 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 SARA?
6. The existing sites have been known to experience benthic and pelagic oxygen issues in the past. Given the proposed approach to managing this site and the increased numbers of fish to be cultivated in this area (i.e., 1,000,000 fish), does science have a sense of the oxygen demand for the area and what this means for the balance of oxygen in the area (i.e. will the demand for oxygen exceed the supply of oxygen)?

Expected Publication

• Science Response

Expected Participation

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