N.L. Coalition for Aquaculture Reform seeking more time to comment on Grieg’s Placentia Bay aquaculture project

['Grieg NL']

A week after the Atlantic Salmon Federation slammed the environmental impact statement for Grieg NL’s salmon aquaculture project in Placentia Bay, another group has come out in support of those concerns and addressed a number of their own.

“Our worst fears about this environmental assessment have come true,” said Leo White, spokesperson for the Newfoundland and Labrador Coalition for Aquaculture Reform (NL-CAR) stated in a news release.
“We knew after Grieg’s public meeting in March, that the company had no intention to do the work that was required of them.”

Review of Grieg N.L. aquaculture project progresses

NL-CAR say Grieg’s plans to deal with potential sea ice in Placentia Bay, are not feasible; that 17 of the proposed cages are within 20 kilometres of known salmon rivers, when Fisheries and Oceans Canada recommends a distance of at least 20 to 30 kilometres; and does not make mention of the of volumes of sewage, or quantities of pesticides and antibiotics which will be freely deposited in Placentia Bay.

Because of the length of the submission — nearly 600 pages — and the importance public input in the review process, NL-CAR is asking government to extend the deadline for public comments beyond the July 11 deadline.

“This is the first chance the public has ever had to critically look at one these operations before it goes in our coastal waters and to provide input,” stated White. “It’s so important we get answers to the outstanding questions people have about this project.”

To facilitate further input from the public, NL-CAR has posted a summary of findings and instructions on making submissions at nlcar.ca/eis-info.html.

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