Placentia Bay. (Photo: Carlb)

Coalition opposes Govt's participation in controversial aquaculture project

CANADA
Wednesday, March 29, 2017, 23:50 (GMT + 9)

The Newfoundland and Labrador Coalition for Aquaculture Reform (NL-CAR) deems the fact that the provincial government intends to buy a multi-million dollar stake in a massive salmon farming project in Placentia Bay as “unacceptable.”

The farming project was part of a memorandum of understanding signed by the previous provincial authorities, who intended to buy the CAD 45 million (USD 33.6 million) stake in a Grieg aquaculture project. The current government has not yet decided if it will honour that, CBC News reported.

"It's a conflict of interest," claimed Leo White, one of the founders of the NL-CAR -- made up of more than 20 organizations, including environmental and conservation groups such as the Salmonid Council of Newfoundland and Labrador (SCNL) and the Atlantic Salmon Federation (ASF), First Nations groups like the Qalipu and Glenwood Mi’Kmak, as well as academics, scientists and special advisers -- at the coalition’s first news conference.

“Someone who's got a CAD 45 million stake, that makes them a big shareholder. And then to be responsible for oversight and regulation of that project at the same time … it's impossible," White added.

White, who is also the vice-president of Salmonid Council of Newfoundland and Labrador, said NL-CAR's formation was sparked by the provincial government's decision to release the proposed quarter-billion-dollar salmon farming project from any further environmental assessment.

Meanwhile, Grieg NL Nurseries Ltd. and Grieg NL Seafarms have registered a plan that includes a new CAD 75-million (USD 56 million), state-of-the-art hatchery/nursery facility in Marystown that will produce seven million smolts annually to stock 11 sea cage sites for a harvest of 33,000 tonnes of Atlantic salmon.

The Group is proposing four areas will be developed along the western side of Placentia Bay and near Long Harbour, and is expecting that to create more than 300 jobs.

In July 2016, then-minister of environment and climate change, Perry Trimper, released the project from further environmental assessment. That decision was appealed, but in October Trimper announced the decision would stand.

White explained that the coalition does not oppose aquaculture development and growth but fears salmon farming has already done extensive damage to the province's wild salmon populations.

“Our coalition believes that you can’t have government owning a stake in a project that they are also expected to objectively regulate, and that’s why the Grieg project got a free pass in the environmental assessment process,” White stressed.

 NL-CAR is also urging the government to explore more environmentally sustainable alternatives such as land-based farms or closed containment pens in an effort to avoid some of the hazards to the farmed fish and the existing wild fish.

The court case challenging the government's decision is due to be heard in court in St. John's on March 30 and 31.

Related articles:

- Grieg's salmon farm proposal stirs concerns and complaints
- Grieg's USD 186 million aquaculture project faces new legal challenge
- Conservation group declines Grieg’s salmon project
- Minister rejects appeal of Grieg’s salmon farm project
- ASF appeals decision over Grieg's salmon farm environmental assessment

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