Placentia Bay aquaculture plan 'wrong approach,' says salmon advocate

An outspoken critic of sea-based aquaculture is blasting a decision by the provincial government to endorse a massive project for Placentia Bay, suggesting it will have "biblical style ramifications" for the environment and likely suffer a "meltdown" similar to one endured by operators on the south coast.

"I'm not against aquaculture at all costs," said Bill Bryden, a salmon advocate and researcher who lives inLumsden, on Newfoundland'snortheast coast.

"I am against profit-driven aquaculture that has no regard for the human aspect of it or the environmental aspect of it for the sake of dividends for a couple of families in New Brunswick or another one over in Norway."

• Province confirms major aquaculture project for Placentia Bay

But Cyr Coutourier,president of theNewfoundland and Labrador Aquaculture Association, disagrees.

"I believe that through science and technology, proper environmental regulations, which we have in this country, including Newfoundland,net-pen farming of salmon is a no-brainer," he said.

The provincial government announced Mondayit has reached a memorandum of understanding tobuy an equity stake in a proposed$251-million salmon farmingproject that will double production in the province in less than a decade.

You're talking about hundreds of jobs, but what happens when it allmelts down again?- Bill Bryden

The project will include a $75-million hatchery-nursery in Marystowncapable ofproducing seven million smolts annually, making it the largest in Canada.

The hatchery will stock11 sea cage sites in Placentia Bay, with annual production expected to reach 33,000 tonnesof Atlantic salmon by 2023.

Peak employment is estimated at 325 jobs.

The project is being proposed by Grieg Newfoundland AS, which has Norwegian roots.

Bryden fears 'ecocidalboom andbust method'

Bryden is an advocate for land-based aquaculture, and believes the province is repeatingmistakes of the past.

He is urging the province to conduct a "site specific" viability study before agreeing to invest $45 million of taxpayers' money into the project.

"You're talking about hundreds of jobs, but what happens when it all melts down again?" Brydensaid, referring to a major setback in the industry three years ago following an outbreak ofinfectious salmon anemia.

Critics like Brydensay land-based fish farming is safer because issues related to sea lice, disease and escapes are far less of a concern.

Net-pen farming of salmon is ano-brainer.-CyrCoutourier

He said a recent analysis also showsthe cost ofland-based farming is just slightly higher, at about five cents per kilogram.

He said companies prefer sea-based operations because it makes it easier to pull out if factors such as market or environmental setbacks threaten the business.

"It's basically a flexibility manoeuvre for them to not invest in stable, long-term jobs in Newfoundlandby investing in this ecocidal boom andbust method," he said.

Land-based farming not profitable, says association

However, Coutouriersays net-pen farming has improved dramatically, and has proven to be environmentally sustainable.

He said the cages are engineered topractically eliminate escapes, and a maximum density of 20 kilograms of salmon per cubic metre of ocean water, including at harvest time, "is the way to go."

As for Bryden'spitch for land-based fish farming,Coutourier said it's simply too costlyand comes with its own environmental issues, including high energy and water usage, and uncertainties over fish health.

"Nobody in the world is doing it profitably," he said.