Development of a Renewed Environmental Management Program for Land-based Aquaculture Facilities

Transcription

1 Development of a Renewed Environmental Management Program for Land-based Aquaculture Facilities Atlantic Salmon Federation Closed-Containment Workshop October th, 2012 Troy Lyons Department of Environment and Local Government

2 Outline Introduction: Fresh water fish culture in New Brunswick Types of land-based aquaculture facilities Environmental concerns Environmental Impact Assessments Renewed Environmental Management Program Performance Based Standards Annual Monitoring Program Trophic status Facility Classification Remedial Responses

3 Introduction - In Canada, fish culture began in Buildings and ponds were constructed in South Esk, Miramichi in 1873 for the purpose of enhancement of provincial waters with native salmonid species. - During the 1980 s, marine aquaculture resulted in an increase in the number of hatcheries for Atlantic salmon. - Department of Environment began to regulate these facilities in 1982 through the authority of the Clean Environment Act s Water Quality Regulation (82-126).

4 Miramichi Salmon Conservation Centre South Esk, New Brunswick

5 DAAF Licence required Currently 22 commercial land-based facilities with DELG Approval to Operate (Class 5: ,000 fish Class 6: >200,000 fish). Conditions within approval regarding environmental management (i.e. chemical storage, water withdrawal, nutrient concentration of receiving waters TP &TN). Departmental sampling, site visits, audits. Species raised include salmon hatcheries, brook and rainbow trout, arctic charr, and Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon.

6 Types of Land-based facilities Water usage Flow through: Influent volume = effluent volume Partial re-use/recirculation: 40-60% of water reused Recirculation: 90-95% of water reused or recirculated Water withdrawal Surface waters: steams, creeks, brooks, rivers & lakes. Ground: wells and springs Effluent outfall receiving waters streams, brooks, rivers, lakes, estuaries, bays and coastal.

7 Environmental concerns Nutrification, Organic loading and Oxygen depletion of receiving waters. Chemical and Therapeutant usage Excessive water use surface habitat loss ground aquifer depletion Chemical storage - proper storage, containment Fish escapes - effluent pipe screening

8 Environmental Impact Assessment Common triggers Water use: greater than 50 m 3 /day ( 35 lpm or 7.6 igpm) Effluent treatment: changes to effluent treatment...not all changes would trigger. Wetlands: within 30 metres of a wetland Water withdrawal Surface waters: aquatic habitat concerns Ground: aquifer depletion Effluent outfall receiving waters Will planned effluent volume and concentrations have a negative impact on aquatic life and habitat within the receiving watercourse?

9 Environmental Impact Assessment Procedure 1. Complete EIA application: This may be completed by the proponent or a consultant on behalf of the proponent. Cost is between $1,000-5,000 depending on maximum trigger. 2. Submit application to DELG: Upon receiving the application the project will be registered and a project manager will be assigned. The project manager will form a technical review committee (TRC). 3. Project assessment: Project review by the TRC followed a response to the proponent from the EIA project manager with the TRC s questions or any requests for clarification. The proponent is to respond to the TRC s questions through the EIA project manager. 4. Certificate of determination: This stage includes the decision of the Minister and any conditions required during the course of the project.

10 Environmental Management Program Program Development Objectives Must be effective in protecting the environment. Simple, practical and as consistent as possible. Development of a new regulatory framework. Development of Best Management Practices (concurrently with the ACFFA Industry Code of Practice). Assist in identifying why and/or where problems may be occurring. Continuous Improvement!

11 Environmental Management Program Aquaculture Environmental Coordinating Committee - Land-based subcommittee (DELG, DAAF, DFO, EC, ACFFA, industry representatives). Comprehensive review of scientific literature and programs from other Provinces and Countries. To be based upon Performance Based Standards (PBS) for chosen variables (i.e. TP and TN) within receiving waters (CCME standards). PBS level may be different within different types of receiving bodies of water (rivers, lakes estuaries, marine). Trophic status of receiving water compared to upstream.

12 Environmental Management Program Site classification: Based annual monitoring results and trophic status comparison of upstream vs. downstream. Downstream within CCME limits for ph, DO, NH 3, NO 3, NO 2, and reactive chlorine. Restrict water withdrawal rate from both surface and groundwater sources to approved levels (water level, pump tests, water conductivity). Feed, chemical and petroleum storage. Best Management Practices and Industry Code of Practice Regulatory control through the DELG Certificate of Approval to Operate issued under the authority of the Clean Environment Act

13 Trophic Status:

14 Carlson s Trophic Status index

15 Annual Monitoring Program Intensity of monitoring dependent on size of facility. Level 1 monitoring between June and November for all facilities. Level 2 monitoring required when PBS variables not met in Level 1. Purpose of level two monitoring is to help identify why PBS is not being met and where problems may be occurring within the system. Required monitoring is a combination of self (i.e. DO, ph, Temp) and samples for laboratory analysis (i.e. TP, TN). DELG also conducts monitoring on a number of sites.

16 Facility Classification Class 1: Average trophic status 100m downstream or at edge of mixing zone is the same as that upstream or at control site (lakes and marine). Within CCME limits for ph, DO, NH 3, NO 3, NO 2, and reactive chlorine. Class 2: Average trophic status 100m downstream or at edge of mixing zone is not the same as that upstream/intake or at control site (lakes and estuaries) but is below PBS maximum limit. Within CCME limits for ph, DO, NH 3, NO 3, NO 2, and reactive chlorine. Class 3: Average trophic status 100m downstream or at edge of mixing zone is above PBS limit and is out of compliance and/or is not within CCME limits for ph, DO, NH 3, NO 3, NO 2, and reactive chlorine.

17 Remedial Responses Standard form ed to approvals officer each time the PBS in receiving water course are not achieved. Remediation plan required when the annual monitoring program is out of compliance with the approval to operate. Level two monitoring when not achieving the required standard within Level one monitoring (Class 3). Department will not dictate remedial response but will require appropriate remedial action(s) in an attempt to return the facility to compliance (Class 1 or 2). Remedial responses reported to DELG.

18 Future Goals 1) Implement new Environmental Management Program 2) Continuous improvement in effluent treatment and water use reduction (continued movement away from flow through systems to re-use or recirculation). 3) Land based Integrated Multi- Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA).

19 Thank you Questions?