 |
||||||||||
 |
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
|
|
||||||||
|
|
||||||||||
ABOUT...
ACROSS CANADA
AND...
RESOURCES
FACT SHEET - WASTE MANAGEMENT
Federal and provincial governments monitor aquaculture operations to ensure the farms are operating in accordance with the requirements set out during their various environmental review processes, and that the mitigation measures are being applied effectively to minimize effects on fish habitat.
Farm wastes
It is important to ensure that wastes do not negatively affect the long-term productivity and biodiversity of the area directly surrounding or underneath net pens or shellfish cages.
All wild and farmed fish and shellfish excrete "wastes" as a by-product of digestion. Other fish farm wastes include uneaten feed pellets, fish that have died from predator attacks or disease, and trace amounts of other on-site materials.
Technological advances in the industry and improved farm production techniques have significantly reduced the amount of wastes released into the ecosystem.
Farmed fish can convert food to flesh very well, and today’s feed for fish is easier to digest. Underwater cameras are used on salmon to ensure that both wastes and the amount of uneaten food reaching the bottom are minimal.
The area affected by wastes is generally limited to the area directly beneath the net pen or in the immediate vicinity of the farm structures. Wastes from farm stocks are organic and biodegradable. Effects are temporary as wastes are assimilated into the marine or freshwater environment. In most cases, the area returns to a neutral state within months of harvesting the fish.
Management of farm waste
Proper site selection and farm management are essential to sustainable aquaculture development. By locating fish and shellfish farms in areas where currents and water movement naturally sweep farm wastes away from sensitive or diverse ocean/freshwater floor environments, the potential effects of these operations are reduced.
To allow the ocean’s or lake’s floor to recover, fish farmers generally leave their sites fallow (empty) for several months following a harvest or they move their net cages to another location within the approved tenure area for the next production cycle.
Waste is generally defined as damaged, defective, or superfluous material produced through normal operations of the facility. The types of waste that could be generated from a facility include the following:
- Operational debris including feed bags, pallets, rope, nets, buoys, cage materials, litter and other inorganic materials;
- Hazardous wastes such as petroleum products, paints and cleaning products;
- Human waste;
- Bio-fouling material including organisms that accumulate on barges, moorings, cages, nets or vessels;
- Dead fish carcasses;
- Fish feed and fish feces; and,
- Waste products from fish harvesting operations.
All material considered "farm waste" is subject to strict standards and handling requirements to prevent effects on the marine or freshwater environment. Most fish farm operators develop a Waste Management Plan (WMP) for each site. The WMP must deal with waste that is applicable to the site, identify the potential sources of each type of waste, and provide a detailed description of how that type of waste will be collected, contained, transported and ultimately disposed of in an approved manner.
Regulating waste management
The aquaculture industry is regulated through rigorous federal, provincial and territorial environmental standards. Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) and the provinces assess the various environmental risks associated with aquaculture projects that fall within their respective mandates.
Provincial regulations on waste management require fish farmers to record conditions on the seabed before the production cycle begins and to monitor the ocean floor for changes during production. Provinces also monitor and audit operations to assess compliance with standards and effects on the marine ecosystem.
The federal government reviews fish farm effects on aquatic habitat pursuant to requirements of the Fisheries Act. Broader review or potential environmental effects may also be required under the Canada Environmental Assessment Act.
For sources and further information, visit these websites:
Fisheries and Oceans Canada – www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/aquaculture
B.C. Ministry of Agriculture and Lands – www.agf.gov.bc.ca/fisheries
New Brunswick Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Aquaculture – http://www.gnb.ca/0027/Index-e.asp
Note: This page contains links to Web sites not under the control of the Government of Canada. For further information on our hyperlinking practices, please refer to the Hyperlinking Notice.
