SAEN ‘deflated’ by N.L. government’s decision to green light Greig aquaculture project

Marystown — The Salmonid Association of Eastern Newfoundland (SAEN) is voicing its opposition to the provincial government’s release of Grieg NL’S Placentia Bay Atlantic salmon aquaculture project from further environmental assessment. The move shows a lack of commitment to protecting wild Atlantic salmon stocks in the province, the organization stated in a news release Monday.

The Department of Municipal Affairs and Environment announced minister Andrew Parsons’ decision in an environmental assessment bulletin issued last week. “The announcement has left members of the Salmonid Association of Eastern Newfoundland deflated,” SAEN president Jim Dinn stated. “Remember, this is the same government that imposed a 10fish seasonal cap on catch-andrelease anglers in the name of conservation this past summer. For it to now approve a massive project which has the potential to decimate wild Atlantic salmon stocks is hypocritical and mystifying.”

The bulletin identified 15 terms and conditions Grieg must abide by for the approval.

Those stipulations have not lessened SAEN’S concerns, the release states, and don’t adequately protect the marine environment in Placentia Bay. SAEN says some of the conditions are lacking and others do not address concerns raised in the environmental review process.