Aquaculture America 2024

February 18 - 21, 2024

San Antonio, Texas

OVERVIEW OF CANADA'S AQUACULTURE MONITORING PROGRAM

Johannie Duhaime*, Anaïs Lacoursière, Brittany Beauchamp

 

Fisheries and Oceans Canada

200 Kent Street

Ottawa, ON, K1A 0E6

Canada

Johannie.Duhaime@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

 



Finfish and shellfish aquaculture activities can be associated with environmental variations induced by the release of compounds (e.g., organic matter, trace metals, drugs, pesticides) and pelagic depletions (e.g., phytoplankton and zooplankton). These effects are better characterized near and within aquaculture lease areas but less is known about environmental variation induced in the far-field. Fisheries and Oceans Canada initiated the Aquaculture Monitoring Program (AMP) in 2017 to conduct long-term environmental monitoring outside of aquaculture lease areas. AMP includes data collection, sampling, and analysis with the objective to detect, monitor, and model aquaculture-related changes to the benthic and pelagic environment near select coastal aquaculture locations. Parameters measured include sediment grain size, organic matter, trace metals, sulfides, infauna communities, drugs, seston, phytoplankton, and zooplankton. A national database is being developed to store data from sampling activities. Information from this program is being used to support research initiatives and will be used to inform decision making. The program is also allowing for the development of nationally consistent methods for sample collection, sample analysis, and statistical design as well as research on new innovative monitoring approaches.