Most of the fish processing plants that discharge waste into B.C. waters violate provincial regulations, and tougher regulations are needed to protect wild salmon from disease-causing pathogens in those outflows, according to a report from the Ministry of Environment.
B次元官网网址淭he industry has been largely operating under an outdated permitting regime,B次元官网网址� said Environment Minister George Heyman in a statement on July 4, when the report was released. He said the province would take B次元官网网址渋mmediate steps to ensure permits are updated and strengthenedB次元官网网址� in response to the audit.
But the report also warned that companies may shutter their operations if environmental regulations lead to higher operating costs, raising questions about the future of the sector.
The 50-page report noted that 30 facilities are authorized to discharge effluent under the Environmental Management Act, although only 18 are actively operating and discharging the waste water into the environment. Farmed salmon is processed at five of the facilities, and one deals with farmed trout.
Government officers reviewed all 30 facilities, and found that 72 per cent of them were in violation of B次元官网网址渁t least one requirement of their permit,B次元官网网址� according to the report.
Most of the violations had to do with administrative issues like B次元官网网址渇ailure to post outfall signage.B次元官网网址�
But the audit also found that facilities were B次元官网网址渆xceeding the discharge rate and the discharge qualityB次元官网网址� and in some cases B次元官网网址渘ot conducting the required monitoring or reporting.B次元官网网址�
Analysis of discharges also revealed that undiluted effluent is B次元官网网址渇requently acutely lethal to fishB次元官网网址� after passing through ordinary treatment works.
While the audit didnB次元官网网址檛 single out any specific companies or facilities, it took issue with regulations for the sector overall, saying that permits lack B次元官网网址渢he foundational requirements that are necessary to be protective of the environment.B次元官网网址�
The report also noted that permits often impose no limits on effluent quality, nor any monitoring or reporting requirements.
And most permits require only B次元官网网址減reliminary treatmentB次元官网网址� B次元官网网址� the removal of large solid waste using mesh screens B次元官网网址� rather than disinfection and other forms of effluent treatment considered the B次元官网网址渂est achievable technologyB次元官网网址� for the sector.
But companies have suggested that tougher regulations could lead them to shut down operations, the report noted.
Many of them B次元官网网址渋ndicated that the costs associated with additional treatment would be too much of a burden on their current budgets and they would have to discontinue the operation of their facilities if additional treatment is required.B次元官网网址�
The audit comes as a response to produced by Quadra Island photographer Tavish Campbell. That video shows bloody effluent pouring into the waters of BrownB次元官网网址檚 Bay, north of Campbell River, and similar outflows at a facility near Tofino.
Titled Blood Water: B.C.B次元官网网址檚 Dirty Salmon Farming Secret, the short documentary raised concerns about the effects of pathogens from farmed salmon on wild stocks, garnering attention in national and international media.
