|
Partners: Three First Nations
Communities, Health Canada (FIHNB)
Summary: With the rapid expansion of
the aquaculture industry in British Columbia there has been increasing
public concern about environmental impacts. Most research has focused on the
effects of waste organic matter on the sediment near net pens, but little is
known about far-field effects. Another emerging issue is the fate and
effects of toxic chemicals, including both intentionally-used pesticides and
antimicrobials and a number of persistent organic pollutants that are
unintentionally introduced in feed. The focus of our study is to trace,
quantify and model the far-field fate and effects of farm waste, and the
role this material may play in transferring contaminants from fish farms
into the coastal food web, with a particular focus on the traditional
shellfish and benthic finfish resources of BC's First Nations. In
partnership with First Nations groups in three broadly separated areas on
the coast of BC, we use unique biochemical characteristics of farm waste to
track the organic matter as it is deposited on beaches, consumed by clams
and other invertebrates, and passed up to benthic fish in the coastal food
web. We will measure the levels and pathways of contaminants in these
species throughout our partner First Nations' territories, and document the
patterns of consumption of these species within local communities. We will
combine all this information to evaluate whether farm waste serves as an
important vector for transfer of contaminants from fish farms into wild
biota, and subsequently into human populations. This research will benefit
Canada's First Nations by supporting the safe and sustainable use of
traditional foods and by building the capacity in partner communities to
manage this issue into the future. In addition, it will benefit all
Canadians by working toward ensuring the sustainability of salmon
aquaculture.
|
