More information has been released about a proposed aquaculture farm north of Wiarton.
A Toronto based company called Georgian Bay Innovation Group (GBIG) has sent a letter to South Bruce Peninsula’s Economic Development Office giving a brief outline of its plans.
This comes after news of the project began circulating on social media along with concerns raised by a citizen group on its website smellsfishy.org voicing concerns the project might impact the environment and calling for more information.
The company’s new Vice President of Communications Stephen McNeill says the project is in its “very preliminary stages,” and that the company has outlined its pre-construction concept review with the Town according to Town regulations.
McNeill says, “Georgian Bay Innovation is committed to having a minimal impact on the environment and is in the process of completing an assessment for the development of a land-based recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) facility in South Bruce Peninsula.”
He says, “At this time, we are doing environmental impact studies to ensure that there is no impact to the area or the water systems and will share these findings as the data is collected and analysed.”
McNeill says over the last two weeks a local contractor has been on site at the Berford Lake Road property to take soil samples and do some surveying. McNeill says “We are in no way limiting our analysis to the immediate area.”
He says Georgian Bay Innovation Group has engaged an environmental firm which is working on a water quality and mixing study to, “Fully understand Georgian Bay and the uniqueness of this water body in an effort to ensure that we have all proper studies and data in place with monitoring in order to ensure that our facility will not negatively affect water quality in the area.”
McNeill says, after those studies are completed over the next two months, they will hold a public meeting in late August or early September. He says at that time, they’ll also set up a website where feedback can be given before the company moves onto to further steps.
Saugeen Ojibway Nation Environment Office Communications Manager Kurt Kivell says they are aware of the proposed project. He says they have recently been contacted by the proponent to begin a consultation process, “We are only early in our information gathering stage and have not yet begun formal consultation. We will be updating the SON Community as we learn more about the proposed project,” says Kivell.
Meanwhile GBIG’s McNeill says, “We see this as a positive project for the area that will bring with it over 200 full-time positions as well as opportunities for local companies during both the construction and operations phase.”
McNeill also notes in his letter to the Town, he intends to have a plan in place this week for a more detailed release of information.
Georgian Bay Innovation describes aquaculture on its website as “A sustainable local way to farm healthy fish,” In a YouTube video, it briefly explains farming fish on land in tanks as Re-circulating Aquaculture Systems (RAS). It says, “We need new ways for high-quality local grown fish without putting more strain on our oceans,” and points out farming fish a few hours from the GTA shortens the distance it’s transported to market therefore reducing a CO2 footprint.
It also says such operations have, “No impact on wild salmon or other species,” and it maintains the process does not return untreated waste to its water source and has, “No organic buildup or negative impact on the surrounding environment.”
In response to questions from Bayshore Broadcasting News, Lindsay Davidson from the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks confirms the ministry has been approached by a company interested in developing a land-based aquaculture facility in South Bruce Peninsula, and it has discussed with the company the legislative and approval requirements for such a project.
Davidson says the proposed operation is in the initial planning stages of development and the company has not applied for any approvals or permits from the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks at this time.
Davidson notes the Ministry is aware the company is considering the use of water from Georgian Bay, and explains the Ontario Water Resources Act requires a ‘Permit to Take Water’ before the start-up of any facility that takes or diverts more than 50,000 litres of water per day. Davidson says an application for that permit requires details about the type of water source and the proposed use of the water, including purpose, location of water taking, quantity of water to be taken and timing.
