Monitoring for benthic impacts in the southwest New Brunswick salmon aquaculture industry

Salmon aquaculture has been undertaken in southwest New Brunswick since the late 1970s. By 1986, there were 28 salmon farms, the industry was expandin g rapidly, and researchers had started proposing methodologies fur tracking benthic impacts. As a result of a number of projects conducted to determin e a cost-effective: monitoring protocol, and in consultation with aquacultu re industry representatives. an Environmental Monitoring Program (EMP) was adopted in 1995, This programme is a requirement of the aquaculture site li cence and is conducted annually at each farmed site. The programme is now u nder review with the aim of refining the scientific information that is use d in assigning an annual site impact rating. The development of the current Environmental Monitoring Program and the Federal and Provincial responsibi lities with respect to environmental protection under which the monitoring programme was developed are discussed. A description of the scientific rati onale and the industry requirements with respect to production that has led to the proposed changes to the current programme is included.