Terms of Reference

Aquaculture Siting Advice for Provincial Site Licence Applications from Mowi Canada East Incorporated

Regional Peer Review – Newfoundland and Labrador Region

April 23-26, 2024

St. John's, NL

Chairpersons: Ben Davis, Brittany Beauchamp

Context

Mowi Canada East Incorporated has submitted applications to the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador  to construct and operate six new finfish aquaculture sites, on Newfoundland’s south coast. As per the Canada-Newfoundland Memorandum of Understanding on Aquaculture Development, the Newfoundland and Labrador Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture has forwarded these applications to Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) for review and advice in relation to DFO’s legislative mandate. The applications were supplemented by information collected by the proponent as required by the Aquaculture Activities Regulations (AAR).

To help inform DFO’s review of these applications, the Regional Aquaculture Management Office has asked for DFO Science advice on the predicted exposure zones (PEZs) associated with certain 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.

Objectives

Specifically, DFO Science has been asked the following questions:

1. Based on the available data for the sites and the scientific information, what are the predicted exposure zones from the use of approved fish health treatment products in the marine environment, and the potential consequences to susceptible species?
2. Based on available information, what are the Ecologically and Biologically Significant Areas, Species 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 distribution 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(ies)?
3. 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, for what duration, and when?
4. What populations of conspecifics are within a geographic range that escaped farmed fish are likely to migrate? What is the size and status trends of those populations in the escape exposure zone for the proposed sites? Are any of these populations listed under Schedule 1 of the Species at Risk Act? What are the potential impacts and/or risks to these wild populations from direct genetic interactions associated with any escaped farmed fish from the proposed aquaculture activity?

Expected Publication

• Science Advisory Report

Expected Participation

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) (Ecosystems and Oceans Science [NL, Maritimes, NCR], Aquatic Ecosystems [NL, Maritimes])
• Provincial Government
• Academia
• Indigenous Groups
• Industry
• Non-government organizations
• Other