Environmental Assessments

Protecting the environment comes first

In cases where the Government of Canada is required to grant approval to an aquaculture application, an environmental assessment is done under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act. In addition, all aquaculture site applications are reviewed through federal or provincial processes to ensure the site does not impact fish and fish habitat. The review includes evaluation of information on the size of the farm combined with specific features of the site such as ocean-floor habitat and the strength of water currents. The review is intended to identify how impacts to fish habitat can be avoided or mitigated.

Conducting environmental assessments at the early planning stages allows operators to plan appropriate mitigating measures before approvals are granted. To help aquaculture operators understand what is required during an environmental assessment, Fisheries and Oceans Canada has developed a series of Guides for Environmental Assessment and Siting of Aquaculture Operations.

What an environmental assessment covers

An environmental assessment:

• Identifies possible environmental impacts
• Proposes measures to mitigate environmental impacts
• Predicts whether there will be environmental impacts, even after mitigating measures are put in place

Environment Canada, Health Canada, Canadian Heritage, and Indian Affairs and Northern Development, and the province where the operation will be located can all be involved in the site licensing process.

Learn more:

• Canadian Environmental Assessment Act
• Guides for Environmental Assessment and Siting of Aquaculture Operations
• Fisheries Act