Aquaculture review goes to government

The long-awaited report from the Independent Aquaculture Regulatory Review Panel was released Tuesday by Panel members Professors Meinhard Doelle and William Lahey, of the Schulich School of Law at Dalhousie University, who were appointed to conduct the review in April 2013. The release of the panel's report is the final step in the regulatory review of the aquaculture sector in Nova Scotia, according to a government news release.

The review was requested in response to widespread criticism of the finfish aquaculture industry by community and environmental groups and citizens throughout the province.

Valuable information
In a news release, Fisheries and Aquaculture minister Keith Coldwell said, "This is a very comprehensive review done for government and I want to thank Mr. Doelle and Mr. Lahey for their work. Government will now take this into consideration. This review provides valuable information to help develop that regulatory framework for the aquaculture industry."

Thorough, comprehensive, integrated and well thought-out document
Raymond Plourde, with the Ecology Action Centre in Halifax told SCT in an exclusive interview that he sees the report as a "thorough, comprehensive, integrated and well thought-out document. It provides the government with the necessary mechanism to move forward."  

The government, he adds, would have to accept and implement the report recommendations in their entirety if it wishes to be successful in moving the aquaculture industry forward.

"The panel agreed that there are real problems with the flawed open pen net model and that criticisms which have been levied at the open pen net practices "are not just make-believe and are not the paranoid suspicions of a few vocal opponents, as the industry has contended."

180-degree change
Plourde says the EAC sees the report calling for a fundamental and comprehensive overhaul of the status quo in fin fish farming. "This would mean a 180-degree change from high impact, low value from the industry to one of low impact, high value, to the province and society at large.
 
In fact, says Plourde, he thinks the report could create a valuable "lens" through which all resource industries might be seen.

The panel report is very much keeps in tune with the recommendations of the recent Ivany Report, Plourde says. "The panel stresses the need for regulatory excellence, consequences for companies which perform below acceptable standards and a level of transparency which builds trust and confidence."

Communities throughout the province are likely to be pleased about the panel's recommendation that affected communities should be afforded guaranteed meaningful input into decisions which affect their bays and harbours.

Plourde said that the Panel's report was a "call to action" for the current government, and a chance for the government to prove the capacity and will to provide regulatory excellence. "They cannot just cherry pick recommendations and implement half-measures."

Plourde was also pleased that the current moratorium on new fish farm sites would remain in place until a regulatory regime came into place.

Fin fish farming fundamentally simplistic and flawed
The way fin fish farming is done in open pen nets is fundamentally simplistic and flawed, Plourde contends, and has not evolved in 40 years.

Ideally, he says, the EAC would have liked to see a phase out of open pen net farming, being replaced with closed containment and biologically secure methods.

Glass more than half full
While not perfect, he says, the recommendations from the panel mean that "the glass is more than half full."

If accepted, regulations recommended would force "bad actors" out of the industry, leaving the possibility that the open net pen model could evolve to meet much higher standards.

No social license
When asked by SCT Tuesday about what challenges the Panel faced in preparing the report, Meinhard Doelle told SCT that moving from a situation where the industry had no social license for its farming methods and where there was not a positive relationship between stakeholders was an issue.

At early community meetings, he explained, it was difficult to manage the level of frustration which had been reached between industry and some community members and environmentalists.

Polarizing issue
William Lahey told SCT, "It was a very polarizing issue to put it mildly, especially in coastal communities, with a difficulty in having a conversation about practical steps to pursue. We needed to start talking about a middle ground." The roundtable process, where smaller groups of stakeholders met, was essential, he added

Doelle said that he felt they created a process which was fair, open and transparent. "This was critical, he said, "as we could lead by example in showing the value of that process in solving issues and disputes."

One positive factor in the process, they said, was the general agreement for a disparate collection of stakeholders was that a new regulatory system was in everyone's best interest.

Transparency crucial
The same transparency and open process will be very important in the implementation of the report, the pair added.

Both the minister and department staff have approached the process in a positive way, the pair said.

Although there has been no indication yet about the government response to the report, the pair did say that they hoped for a decision on the general framework of the proposed regulations sooner, rather than later, in order to take advantage of the momentum in place now regarding the transformation of the industry.

Although the fin fish farming industry is less that four decades old in Nova Scotia, added Doelle, the adoption of the recommendations in the report could mean that Nova Scotia could set itself in the front of a "positive wave" for transforming the industry worldwide.

Overhaul needed
Community activist Gloria Gilbert has followed the development of finfish aquaculture on the South Shore for several years and had the following to say about the report. "The Doelle-Lahey report makes one aspect very clear: all stakeholders have emphasized the need for and their willingness to embrace a serious overhaul of how aquaculture is managed in Nova Scotia."

The report is available at www.aquaculturereview.ca .