The Honourable Gerry Byrne, Minister of Fisheries and Land Resources has reinstated 10 aquaculture licences to Northern Harvest Sea Farms (MOWI Canada East) in the Fortune Bay region on the south coast of Newfoundland and Labrador.

The October 11, 2019 suspension was due to the company’s failure to disclose to the department in a timely manner, all information regarding the fall 2019 salmon mass mortality event for all 10 sites, which constituted a breach of licence conditions for these sites.

Minister Byrne reinstated the licences based on findings from the Memorial University of Newfoundland Marine Institute’s Independent Review of the Mass Mortality Event and the Mi’kmaq Alsumk Mowimsikik Koqoey Association (MAMKA) Post-mortality Event Environmental Monitoring Report.

In the wake of the mass mortality event, MOWI has established numerous protocols and practices to better prevent or mitigate a similar event. Further, through consistent openness and transparency, the company has been proactive in its efforts to regain the public trust that was significantly impaired by the mortality event.

Consistent with the findings of the Aquatic Animal Health Division of Fisheries and Land Resources, the Marine Institute report concluded the salmon mortality event was due to an unusual set of natural environmental conditions, including prolonged high water temperatures over consecutive days, and low oxygen. The report also notes the department properly followed and adhered to all required protocols.

MAMKA – a collaboration of Mi’kmaq First Nation communities including Qalipu First Nation and Miawpuek First Nation – noted in its environmental report that the amount of shoreline affected at the time of the incident was small, with no impact found on seabirds.

An investigation by the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner extensively considered whether the department should have publicly released information about this event earlier than it did. The Commissioner’s report concludes the department did not possess information about a risk of significant harm to the environment, or to the health or safety of the public, that it would have been obliged to disclose. In conclusion, Information and Privacy Commissioner Michael Harvey had no recommendations.

In the wake of the mass mortality, the Provincial Government’s Aquaculture Policies and Procedures have been strengthened and now include world-leading policies that compel companies to publicly disclose federally reportable disease and abnormal mortality events, regardless of cause, in a timely manner. Failure to do so could result in license suspension or cancellation.

MOWI has been working to ensure it is prepared to better prevent or mitigate abnormal mortality events by:

• Contracting a  high-tech company to build new certified cages to accommodate deeper nets and develop real time monitoring systems/ aeration systems;
• Recording and submitting quarterly biophysical data reports to the department;
• Developing contingency plans and securing contracts for additional resources such as divers and seiners to reduce lags in incident response times;
• Preparing an incident management response plan to document and report information in a more efficient manner to the Provincial Government and the public; and
• Updating waste management and environmental management plans and incorporating clear protocols for fish disposal, emergency preparedness and mass mortality contingency planning.

Before restocking occurs on the 10 affected sites, the company must abide by department policies and conditions.

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Media contact
Linda Skinner
Fisheries and Land Resources
709-637-2284, 632-8167
lindaskinner@gov.nl.ca