Protect Our Planet

Mowi strives to grow quality salmon products, protect our planet, and provide benefit to the people and communities where we live and grow salmon.

  • 2023 MOST SUSTAINABLE ANIMAL PROTEIN PRODUCER in the World awarded for 5th consecutive year. Coller FAIRR Protein Producer Index | FAIRR
  • Saves 2 million tonnes of CO2 emissions annually by replacing the corresponding amount of land animal protein production with Mowi salmon production. 
  • Emissions reduced 9% in 2022, 33% since 2019. 
  • Aligned to United Nations Sustainable Development Goals that safeguard the environment.
  • Certified Global Seafood Alliance Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) in the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Responsible Newfoundland Aquaculture

The provincial Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture leads the management of salmon farming with extensive regulations and policies that protect the environment on many levels.   

  • Farms only located where salmon rearing will not harm or interfere with wild species.
  • Comprehensive environmental assessment before licencing and annual monitoring surveys during farming.
  • Minimum fallow period for every production cycle to allow all sites to return to natural state.
  • Fish stocking and density controlled by the government.
  • Only Health Canada approved treatments allowed for health management.
  • All area users respected and working collaboratively with communities and all people in Province of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Regulated Aquaculture in Newfoundland

The provincial Department of Fisheries, Forestry, and Agriculture (FFA) leads the management of salmon aquaculture in Newfoundland and Labrador with updated policies, procedures, and monitoring designed to minimize effects on the environment.

  • Several federal agencies work with FFA to regulate aquaculture.
  • Regular submission of inspection reports and audits ensure sea cages and nets are secure; and meet Provincial and manufacturer standards.
  • Mandatory fallow periods at sea cage sites are designed to minimize effects on benthic habitat.
  • Systematic monitoring of benthic habitat at sea cage sites corresponds to regulatory thresholds for organic matter deposits.
  • Biosecurity, Fish Health, and Waste Management Plans are developed with regulators to ensure approved practices for environment and animal welfare.
  • Fish stocking and densities in sea cages must follow government standards.
  • Health Canada must approve all treatments for fish health management.
  • Sea cage site license applications undergo
    a rigorous scientific review process led by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO).

Frequently Asked Questions

How many escapes have occurred from Mowi sea cages on the South Coast of Newfoundland?

There have been zero fish escapes during the last two years that Mowi has operated in NL and <10 fish in total during the last five years. Technology and equipment have been modernized and escapes now are almost non-existent. Mowi fully acknowledges that farmed salmon have escaped at various locations around the world and interacted with wild salmon. The effects from aquaculture reported to date have been the result of old escape events and are not reflective of current equipment specifications in use, escape numbers, and regulations/practices. Modern sea farms today [e.g., those operated by Mowi in other regions and many in NL] have a near zero escape level, especially compared to sea farms in operation 20-30 years ago.  Mowi has no tolerance for escapes/failures; an escape today is considered an extremely rare occurrence.

Will salmon farming like Mowi is doing, affect wild salmon?

The notion that the aquaculture industry is destroying wild salmon is false, based on historic events, and ignoring the indisputable fact that wild Atlantic salmon have been in serious decline since the late 1950’s, at least 30 years before salmon farming started.

Sea cage salmon farming, done correctly, should have minimal effects. Using healthy salmon that are from a certified and approved broodstock, as well as preventing escapes with the use of certified equipment and trained personnel, are key areas of focus for Mowi to reduce interactions with wild salmon. Federal and provincial regulations, including inspections and permits, ensure aquaculture facilities operate in a manner that prevents disease spread to wild Atlantic salmon while still facilitating market access. In addition, Mowi has developed rigorous management processes and operating procedures that focus on minimizing the potential for interaction between farmed and wild Atlantic salmon.

Does Mowi do any land-based smolt rearing?

Mowi is investing in post-smolt freshwater facilities (on land) that are producing larger juvenile fish (smolt) for transfer to sea cages. This reduces the amount of time a smolt is in the sea. In Newfoundland and Norway, a balance of an extended period on land (post smolt) before transfer to sea to reach harvest size is considered optimal for salmon aquaculture in areas that are remote from product distribution hubs such as Boston or Montreal.

What is ISA and what steps are you taking to prevent it?

ISA [Infectious salmon anaemia] is a natural disease, which is endemic in Canadian waters. It is therefore a disease that can occur in the industry. Mowi continuously monitors the health and welfare of its fish and has recently introduced the screening of all brood stock Atlantic salmon with ISA carriers removed before spawning.  This year was the first year to have an entire juvenile stock ISA-free because of this practice and is expected to contribute to fewer outbreaks in seawater production.

If you get a disease or virus like ISA in the hatchery, can it be discharged into the environment in Stephenville? Are there any other chemicals being discharged that would be harmful for humans? What monitoring is in place to assure this?

The hatchery operates UV treatment that is rated to kill any water-borne viruses. Additionally, the fish are regularly screened for viruses or any other signs of disease.  Veterinarians with Mowi and the Province conduct routine surveillance samples to test the health of the fish.

The water in the hatchery, including effluent, is continually monitored 24 hours per day. The effluent quality is sampled monthly for all common environmental water parameters (e.g., metals, etc.). This is required by the hatchery’s Water Use License. Besides monitoring the effluent, the quantity and quality of influent, is monitored with real time data loggers by the provincial department of Environment and Climate Change.

Mowi does not use any steroids, hormones, or anything that would cause harm to people. There has been no antibiotic use by Mowi in NL during the last two years.

Is the aquifer used by Mowi large enough to supply the planned increased smolt production?

Mowi has completed numerous assessments of the aquifer since 2011 and on-going monitoring by Mowi and the provincial department of Environment and Climate Change confirms that current and planned water use is adequate for all hatchery operations.

Are there any plans for sea cage sites in the Stephenville region as part of the expansion?

No, there are no plans for sea cage sites in the Stephenville region. All of Mowi’s sea cage sites in NL are located on the south coast of Newfoundland.

Why are the licensed and operational sea cage sites included in this EIS?

This was an unusual regulatory decision.  Following an initial decision in 2018 to release the project from environmental assessment Mowi invested > $85 million and completed the first facility.  However, following a legal process, the provincial government made a decision to withdraw the original approval.  The existing hatchery is licensed to produce a maximum of 4.5 million smolts that are used to supply the company’s sea farms on the south coast of Newfoundland.  These sea cage sites have been included as part of the EIS to assess how the additional 2.2 million smolt produced as part of the hatchery expansion may affect the environment.  The new total capacity of the Stephenville hatchery will be 6.7 million smolt annually.  The hatchery expansion will align production with the targets committed to the provincial Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture.  Mowi continues to pursue its hatchery expansion because above and beyond the economic benefits of developing an independent self-sustaining business unit in the province, the investment will improve the overall viability and sustainability of its sea farm operations in the province.  The environmental and production security are achieved by reducing dependency on smolt imports from outside the province and by decreasing the amount of time salmon will be grown at sea per production cycle.

Where does all the waste from the hatchery go?

The solids (uneaten fish feed and feces) are separated from the water in the hatchery by filtration and forms a ‘sludge’. This sludge is collected by a local waste management company that has received approval and permits from the province for processing this product.

How do therapeutants get rid of sea lice? Does it hurt the fish or the environment?

Therapeutants act in the same general way as other medicines e.g., lice powder for children.  They rely on the concentration of the therapeutant being differentially harmful to the parasite and not the host animal. All products have been environmentally assessed and licensed by Health Canada. The amounts and types of therapeutants used are regulated by and reported to government regularly. All therapeutants are prescribed and administered by veterinary staff.

What are the waste products beneath sea cages? Do they impact the environment with noxious gases?

The waste products beneath the cages are temporary and consist of uneaten feed pellets and feces.  The waste is wholly organic and is generally referred to as biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) in regulation.  It is in MCE interest to ensure feed is effectively managed and water quality is maintained on its farms. Farmed salmon depend on a healthy environment and the maintenance of good water quality.   MCE carefully calculates the amount of feed required for its fish and monitors feeding to maximize consumption by the salmon.  The waste that settles below the cages is monitored and sampled and is reported to regulatory authorities for review. Through the practice of low stocking densities, effective feeding, and farm fallowing there is no build up of waste products.

How is effluent at the hatchery treated? What regulations apply?

The hatchery is issued a provincial Water Use License that includes specific requirements related to the use of the water. The discharge water passes through a high capacity filtration system with all solids removed and retained for on disposal at an approved facility on the west coast of Newfoundland.  After the solids are removed the water is also treated with UV before being discharged to St. George’s Bay.

Can waste products from the hatchery be converted to fertilizer for agriculture farms?

The fish waste sludge is collected and retained for on land disposal at an approved facility. MCE is continuously seeking innovative ways of recycling all waste products. MCE presents its material in a condition that is amenable for various land use applications (including agriculture) and is open to working with land holders to support such opportunities.

How is power sourced in remote sea cage areas? And how does Mowi respond to malfunctions?

The seawater farms do not require a constant power source therefore malfunctions are not an issue. Diesel is the primary energy source due to the remote locations.  MCE sea farms are always staffed, and regularly inspects and maintains its equipment to ensure it is in good working order.

Where will the additional 2.2 million smolt be stocked in sea cages?

The 2.2 million smolt will be transferred to MCE licensed sea farms.

Have you considered closed containment systems?

Mowi is always reviewing available systems and innovations, but at the moment, there are no commercially proven examples in existence. They are all conceptual at this time and reliant on speculative investment, as the industry continues to seek innovations. When they become operational and economically viable, Mowi will adopt their use where appropriate.

Are the potential impacts to be assessed in the EIS framed by factors in the broader context of where the farms are located, to consider setting, climate change, ship traffic, and cumulative effects?

The EIS requires this broader context to be considered and evaluated, including cumulative effects from many relevant factors, such as climate change and shipping.

Will the proposed proposed South Coast Fjords National Marine Conservation Area (NMCA) impact Mowi’s operations?

The EIS will address existing and proposed protected areas in the vicinity of MCE operations. Marine Conservation Areas and aquaculture are mutually exclusive. The NMCA would prohibit salmon aquaculture, and therefore cannot coexist with aquaculture in MCE farming regions.