by Brian Tate
Ha-Shilth-Sa Northern Region Reporter
November 26, 2003
A
recent discovery of Abalone in Nootka Sound could prevent Grieg Seafoods
from attaining its controversial goal of establishing fish farms in Mowachaht
/ Muchalaht territories near Gold River.
Grieg Seafood (BC) Ltd have submitted applications for sites at Atrevida
Point and Zuciarte Channel. Both sites are situated in the midst of four
main Muchalaht village sites; Tcesis, Ous, Ooyah, and Hle-eptee.
These two sites have been surveyed by International Underwater Surveyors
in alliance with International Environmental Consultants.
It was during these surveys that Abalone was found.
These two sites were surveyed as a component of the process, of an environmental
assessment for aquaculture projects to provide DFO with sufficient basic
information to
determine the potential effects on fish habitat.
During this benthic habitat survey portion of the assessment, which is
a standardized, transect-based assessment procedure,
3 Northern Abalone (Haliotis kamtschaytkana) were noted at the Zuciarte
Channel site and 2 Northern Abalone were found at the Atrevida
Point site.
These figures seem small, but using the formula provided by DFO, the population
increases significantly for the whole site and area.
Using DFO’s formula, the Zuciarte Channel site could be home to 446
Abalone, and the Atrevida Point site could be home to another 269 protected
shellfish. The combined density population for both sites is approximately
715 pieces of Abalone; considerably more than the five pieces found during
the surveys.
The Northern Abalone is the only invertebrate species for which all fishing
in British Columbia is totally banned under the Fisheries Act.
COSEWIC (Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada) has
also put Abalone on the Species at Risk list. When a species is on or
added to the List of Wildlife Species at Risk, they are extirpated, endangered
or threatened species and their residences have:
• Immediate protection on federal lands (except for those species
in the territories that go through a safety net process)
• Immediate protection if they are an aquatic species
• Immediate protection if they are a migratory bird
• Protection through a safety net process if they are any other species
in a province or territory.
Ms Karen Barry of DFO said there has been no movement on these applications.
Because they are still early in the review process, no decision has been
made either way regarding these site applications.
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