About Us
Why We Joined Forces
NL - Coalition for Aquaculture Reform (NL-CAR) has formed to give a stronger, unified voice to concerns about the environmental and social impacts of marine net pen salmon farms. The coalition is open to members primarily from NL, but will also welcome and support interested groups and individuals from elsewhere. The coalition uses an internal email list serve for communications, as well as holding conference calls and meetings as needed. All advocacy and public awareness activities carried out by the coalition are developed collaboratively by coalition members.
The Standard
The Newfoundland and Labrador Coalition for Aquaculture Reform holds that marine net pen aquaculture operations pose significant risks to the marine environment through nutrient pollution, habitat alteration and degradation, and chemical pollution through the use of pharmaceutical and biocidal chemicals. Marine net pen farms also pose risks to a wide range of native species through introduction of foreign strains of eggs and fish, disease and parasite transmission, through alteration of migratory behavior, foraging and reproductive behaviours, and through escapements and genetic pollution (crossbreeding with native wild species).
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What Unifies UsThe Newfoundland and Labrador Coalition for Aquaculture Reform, whose members include concerned citizens, and a cross section of stakeholders and community groups, including: fisher groups, conservation and environmental groups, aboriginal and First Nations groups, academia, municipal groups, and others, understands sustainable aquaculture to be aquaculture that meets the following conditions: 1. It does not degrade the ecosystem in which it is located, or ecosystems on which it is dependent; 2. It is in harmony with economic, social and cultural activities that use the same natural resources; 3. Access to information and participation in decision-making is fair, equitable, and meaningful; 4. All costs are reflected in the cost of production, ensuring that costs are not externalized to the environment, the public, other sectors, or individuals; 5. It does not diminish the ability of future generations to use the same natural resources. Salmonid aquaculture as it is practiced in Newfoundland and Labrador fails to meet these conditions. The Reform
Therefore, NL-CAR supports:
1. An immediate freeze on any further expansion of marine net pen aquaculture; 2. A thorough review and revision of NL marine net pen salmonid aquaculture regulations to strengthen environmental protections in line with best practices used in other jurisdictions; 3. A reasonable transition of existing marine net pen aquaculture to closed containment systems; and 4. That all new salmonid aquaculture operations be closed containment only. The Newfoundland and Labrador Coalition for Aquaculture Reform further holds that: * The status quo for managing aquaculture activity is not acceptable; * Government agencies responsible for managing the aquaculture industry have failed to protect the marine environment, wildlife, and surrounding communities from the negative impacts of aquaculture. * There is an inherent conflict of interest when regulatory agencies are responsible for both conservation and development; * The aquaculture industry is unlikely to address community and broader management concerns in meaningful ways given its economic interest in maintaining the status quo. Consequently, NL-CAR further supports: 5. The immediate establishment of a multi-participant aquaculture advisory committee to provide advice and engagement on all future aquaculture issues. A multi-participant organization should include industry, government, academia, funding agencies, and environmental non-governmental organizations. |
