SUSTAINABLY GROWING KING SALMON DRAFT CONDITIONS OF CONSENT Resource Consents for All Farms (There will be separate sets of Conditions for each Farm. However, for succinctness, these Draft Conditions have been written as though they are for one farm and, where there are differences between farms, these have all been shown. Comments (which will not form part of the Conditions) are included in Italics) 22 June 2012 Track Changes are shown for Amendments since Draft provided to the EPA 3 May 2012 Coastal Permit Duration of this coastal permit – 35 years from the date of commencement of this consent [20 years for White Horse Rock]. Occupancy and Activity Occupation and Activity Area 1 The occupancy and activity shall be limited to the area shown on the attached plan [Plan for each consent area to be attached to each consent] and specified within the schedule of co-ordinates (NZTM) contained in Table 1 (other than for the arrival and departure of vessels servicing the farm)1. Table 1: Farm Co-ordinates (NZTM) Farm Name Waitata Kaitira Tapipi Easting (NZTM) 1,680,467 1,679,987 1,680,152 1,680,632 1,683,876 1,684,465 1,684,415 1,683,826 1,681,302 1,681,053 Northing (NZTM) 5,464,412 5,464,052 5,463,832 5,464,191 5,464,390 5,464,499 5,464,770 5,464,661 5,462,540 5,462,657 1 Note: While the occupancy and activity associated with the marine farm and marine farming will occur within the area specified in Condition 1 (subject to the exemption specified), some effects arising from the activities may be experienced beyond the boundary of this area. For example, the marine farm will be able to be seen and heard from beyond the boundary of the area, and some waste material will travel beyond the boundary. c09141b5_01_conditions_board_of_inquiry_20120622.docx 1 Farm Name Richmond Papatua Kaitapeha Ruaomoko Ngamahau White Horse Rock 2 Easting (NZTM) 1,680,798 1,681,047 1,680,942 1,681,212 1,681,094 1,680,825 1,701,610 1,700,845 1,701,434 1,702,199 1,697,924 1,697,401 1,697,535 1,698,058 1,697,510 1,697,562 1,697,328 1,697,276 1,706,282 1,706,694 1,706,495 1,706,082 1,680,380 1,680,150 1,680,256 1,680,143 1,680,105 Northing (NZTM) 5,462,114 5,461,996 5,460,999 5,461,052 5,461,641 5,461,586 5,459,487 5,458,697 5,458,126 5,458,917 5,435,759 5,435,465 5,435,225 5,435,519 5,434,723 5,435,321 5,435,341 5,434,744 5,435,362 5,435,797 5,435,986 5,435,551 5,464,338 5,464,156 5,464,353 5,464,264 5,464,126 The consented area may be exclusively occupied to the extent necessary to undertake the activity and ensure the safety and security of the marine farm and all its structures. Farm Layout 3 The farm layout shall be generally in accordance with the Farm Layout Plan lodged with the resource consent application and attached to this consent as Figure 1. [Plans to be amended to show final building layout] Farming Limited to Salmon 4 The marine farming activity shall be limited to the marine farming of salmon. 5 All farmed salmon shall be from roe sourced in New Zealand. Noise 6 All marine farming shall be conducted so as to ensure that noise arising from such activities does not exceed the following noise limits when measured no closer than 250m from any marine farm surface structure: • 0700 hours – 2200 hours Monday to Friday and 0700 hours – 1200 hours Saturday 55 dBA L10 • On any day between 0700 hours and 2200 hours No Lmax limit c09141b5_01_conditions_board_of_inquiry_20120622.docx 2 • At all other times including any public holiday 45 dBA L10, and 75 dBA Lmax 7 Noise shall be measured in accordance with NZS 6801:2008. Adjusted levels shall be determined in accordance with NZS 6802:2008. Any construction activities will meet standards specified in NZS 6803:1999. 8 The following activities shall be exempt from the above noise standard: a b c 9 Noise generated by navigational aids, safety signals, warning devices, or emergency pressure relief valves; Noise generated by emergency work arising from the need to protect life or limb or prevent loss or serious damage to property or minimise or prevent environmental damage; or Noise ordinarily generated by the arrival and departure of vessels servicing the marine farm. Prior to any development being undertaken at the farm, a Noise Management Plan shall be prepared by a suitably qualified acoustic engineer, and provided to the Marlborough District Council, to confirm that the noise limits above can be complied with and to provide details of the noise mitigation treatment to be implemented to achieve this. The Noise Management Plan shall also include provisions that prohibit outdoor radios or similar external speakers on the farm. The Noise Management Plan may be updated at any time by the consent holder and the updated Plan provided to the Marlborough District Council. The current Noise Management Plan shall be complied with at all times. Submerged Artificial Lighting 10 Underwater lights shall be permitted to be used by the consent holder for the primary purpose of controlling maturation in salmon. Only the amount of lighting required for beneficial outcomes for salmon maturation shall be used (unnecessary over-powering of the lights shall be avoided). A specific approval as to underwater lighting is required from the Harbourmaster under sections 200, 444(2) and 444(4) of the Maritime Transport Act 1994. A plan of the underwater lighting shall be supplied to the Marlborough District Council and the Harbourmaster clearly identifying where lights will be used on the farm at least one month prior to the lights being installed. The lights shall be installed in accordance with that plan, subject to any requirements of the Harbourmaster. King Shag Roosting Site - Buffer Area [Papatua, Waitata and White Horse Rock Farms] 11 As shown on Figure 2 a buffer area of 100m shall be maintained from the King Shag roosting sites in the vicinity of the [Papatua, Waitata and White Horse Rock] farm, as at the date of the commencement of this consent, within which no activities associated with the farm shall occur. Structures Location, Layout, Design and Size of Structures 12 The layout of the farm surface structures, and the sub-surface mooring and anchoring structures shall be generally in accordance with the Farm Layout Plan lodged with the resource consent application and attached to this consent as Figure 1 [Plans to be amended to show final building layout] 13 Salmon farm net pens on all farms (except Papatua) shall be steel framed net pens. Net pens at the Papatua farm shall be plastic circle net pens. 14 All structures shall be situated and secured so as to remain wholly within the boundaries of the occupancy area specified in Condition 1 at all times. c09141b5_01_conditions_board_of_inquiry_20120622.docx 3 15 All salmon farm net pen structures (other than temporary net pens for transferring salmon to or from the farm) shall be located within the Cage Area Boundary shown on Figure 3. [This does not apply to White Horse Rock] 16 [At the Papatua farm,] the Cage Area Boundary shall be divided into four rectangular blocks as shown on Figure 3. A maximum of two rows of circular net pens shall be established at this farm (one row for two blocks). The net pens may be moved within, and between, the blocks, in accordance with Condition 42. 17 [Other than at Papatua,] a corner of (one of) the first salmon farm net pen(s) established on the farm shall be located on the point nominated for that purpose in Condition 20. So long as there remain salmon farm net pens on the farm, net pens shall be located so as to extend contiguously from the nominated corner in either direction. [In the case of White Horse Rock, (one of) the first salmon net pen(s) established on the farm shall be located at one end of the row of salmon net pens shown in Figure 1 and so long as there remain salmon farm net pens on the farm, net pens shall be located so as to extend contiguously from that end of the row.] 18 The maximum area of salmon farm net pen structures within the farm (other than temporary net pens for transferring salmon to or from the farm) shall be 1.5 hectares except for: Papatua - where the maximum area shall be 1.26 hectares; Ruaomoko - where the maximum area shall be 0.75 hectares; and White Horse Rock – where the maximum area shall be 0.50 hectares. 19 [To be updated to reflect NZ King Salmon’s proposal for buildings (barges) contained in the evidence of Mr M Preece] Only one building shall be located on the farm (other than the exceptions below for Ruaomoko, Papatua and White Horse Rock). The building shall have a maximum footprint of 280m2 and a maximum height of 7.5m above water level. Except that: a b c There shall be no building at the Ruaomoko farm. This farm may share the building at the Kaitapeha farm. There shall be no building at the Papatua farm. There shall be no building at the White Horse Rock farm if the Waitata farm is also developed, in which case the White Horse Rock farm shall share the building at the Waitata farm. [At the Kaitapeha farm] All structures shall be located so that they are not visible from the house in Kaitapeha Bay nor from the beach in the immediate vicinity of the house. 20 The Marlborough District Council shall be notified that structures have been installed on the farm, and provided with a plan showing the location of those structures, within one month following the initial installation of the first structure(s) associated with the farm, and within one month of the addition of any further structures. [Other than at Papatua,] when the Council is notified of the initial installation of the first structure(s) on the farm, it shall also be informed of the co-ordinates of the starting corner of the farm for the purposes of Condition 17. The starting corner shall be shown on the plan provided to the Council at that time. Marine Farm Lighting and Marking 21 The placement of marine farm lighting and marking shall be approved by the Harbourmaster under his Maritime Delegation from the Director of Maritime Safety pursuant to sections 200, 444(2) and 444(4) of the Maritime Transport Act 1994. c09141b5_01_conditions_board_of_inquiry_20120622.docx 4 Structural Engineering Design, Installation and Maintenance 22 The design, including the design loading, for the anchoring and mooring warp system shall be specified by a suitably qualified and experienced professional engineer (with appropriate peer review) to cater for the maximum wave loading, and maximum and minimum spring tidal levels and currents. The design report and plans shall be provided to the Manager, Resource Consents, Marlborough District Council, prior to the anchoring system being installed. The anchoring system shall be installed in accordance with this design and plans and the installation shall be undertaken under the supervision of a suitably qualified and experienced professional engineer. 23 During installation of the anchoring and mooring warp system, a test pullout loading shall be undertaken of a representative screw anchor, in order to confirm the anchor pullout capacity, in accordance with the Engineering Feasibility Report dated September 2011, prepared by OCEL Consultants Limited and lodged with the application. A report describing the results of the test, and confirming the pullout capacity of the representative screw anchor shall be prepared by the engineer specified in Condition 22, and provided to the Manager, Resource Consents, Marlborough District Council. 24 The anchoring and mooring warp system shall be monitored and maintained in accordance with a “Salmon Farm Mooring Monitoring and Maintenance Schedule” prepared or reviewed and accepted by a suitably qualified and experienced professional engineer and provided to the Manager, Resource Consents, Marlborough District Council. This Schedule shall be provided to the Council prior to any structures being located on the farm. The monitoring shall include continuous monitoring of the actual mooring loads caused by the hydrodynamic forces on the farm by tidal currents and waves, designed to demonstrate that the design loading on the anchors and mooring warps is not exceeded. If monitoring shows that design loadings have been exceeded, the causes of the loading exceedance shall be investigated and rectified. 25 The mooring system shall be designed and maintained such that the maximum loading on any mooring is the lesser of 20% of the anchor pullout capacity determined in accordance with Condition 23, or 20% of the mooring line tension capacity after allowing for the deleterious effects of splices and ties. 26 The structure and mooring system shall be designed such that, under all design cases, the failure of a critical component under the design loading case does not result in the progressive break-up of the structure or progressive failure of the mooring system. 27 The consent holder shall maintain all structures to ensure that they are restrained, secure and in working order at all times, so as to not create a navigational hazard. 28 All investigations, design, supervision of construction, operation, monitoring and contingency planning shall be undertaken by suitably qualified personnel experienced in such works, or works of a similar nature. Navigational Information and Safety 29 Within one month of the initial placement of the first structure(s) within the occupancy area specified in Condition 1, the consent holder shall notify the Harbourmaster and Land Information New Zealand that the structures have been placed within the area, and provide them with a copy of the Farm Layout Plan required by Condition 3 and a copy of the plan required by Condition 20. Any subsequent additions or disestablishment of the structures shall be notified in a similar manner. [For Papatua, within one month of the placement of the first structure(s) within the occupancy area specified in Condition 1, the consent holder shall notify the Harbourmaster and Land Information New Zealand that the structures have been placed within the area and provide them with a copy of the Farm Layout Plan required by Condition 3. Any subsequent disestablishment of the structures shall be notified in a similar manner.] c09141b5_01_conditions_board_of_inquiry_20120622.docx 5 30 Following the exercise of this consent, the consent holder shall ensure that a notice alerting mariners to the presence and location of the farm is broadcast on Marlborough Radio as directed by the Harbourmaster. 31 The farms at Ngamahau, Ruaomoko and Kaitapeha shall be fitted with a Class B - AIS transponderGPS high precision position monitoring system or other similar equipment approved by the Harbourmaster. 32 For the Ngamahau, Ruaomoko and Kaitapeha farms, a contingency plan shall be developed and implemented to deal with the circumstances where a significant earthquake occurs in the Marlborough or Wellington regions, a tsunami warning is issued by New Zealand Civil Defence, a vessel collides with the farm, or a farm (or part of a farm) comes loose of its moorings. The plan shall be prepared in consultation with the Harbourmaster and Cook Strait passenger ferry operators who use Tory Channel. For the situation of the farm coming loose of its moorings the plan shall include: a b c d e An immediate broadcast on channel 19 to alert ferries in the vicinity; The notification of the Harbourmaster; An emergency call to tug operators to help get the farm under control; The steps likely to be necessary to recover the structures from the sea or seabed, and to render them safe; Other responses as appropriate. The current version of the contingency plan shall be made available to the Harbourmaster and to each Cook Strait passenger ferry operator. 33 The consent holder shall, prior to the initial placement of first structure(s) within the occupancy area specified in Condition 1, prepare a navigation risk reduction and management plan. The navigation risk reduction and management plan shall provide details of the procedures to be put into place to operate the salmon farm in compliance with Conditions 22-33 and minimise the potential for adverse navigation effects due to the operation of the salmon farm. Colours and Materials for Structures 34 The building, including its roof and all ancillary features (such as drain pipes), shall be finished in non-reflective materials and painted in a dark colour (such as Karaka Green). Curtains are to be provided for the windows of rooms used for staff accommodation and the curtain fabric is to be a dark colour. [Does not apply to Papatua,] 35 All exterior above-water metal structures (other than the surface of walkways) are to be painted or otherwise finished in dark recessive colours. 36 Black or dark colour is to be used for predator nets, grower nets and bird netting which are normally above-water. Discharges to Coastal Water Discharge of Feed 37 Only extruded pellets or similar shall be fed at the farm. 38 The initial feed discharged (per annum) to the farm shall not exceed the Maximum Initial Feed Discharge specified in Table 2. c09141b5_01_conditions_board_of_inquiry_20120622.docx 6 39 Subject to the requirements of Condition 41 below, any increase in the annual tonnage of feed discharged to the farm shall not exceed the Maximum Increase in Feed Discharge specified in Table 2. (Specific provisions for Papatua are specified in Condition 42 below). 40 Subject to: a b the requirements of Conditions 43-45 (relating to compliance with Environmental Quality Standards (EQS)); and any specifications for farm management in the Marine Environmental Monitoring and Adaptive Management Plan (MEM-AMP) for that year (Conditions 64-72), in any year, the tonnage of feed discharged at the farm shall not exceed the Maximum Feed Discharge specified in Table 2. Table 2: Initial and maximum annual feed discharges, and maximum incremental feed discharge steps Farm Maximum Initial Feed Discharge (tonnes per annum4) Maximum Increase in Feed Discharge (tonnes per annum4) Maximum Feed Discharge (tonnes per annum4) Waitata 3000 1000 6000 Kaitira 3000 1000 6000 Tapipi 3000 1000 5000 Richmond 1500 500 4000 3000 3 5000 500 40002 1 Papatua 2 1 Kaitapeha 2000 Ruaomoko 30002 1000 60002 Ngamahau 1500 500 4000 White Horse Rock 1500 500 30001 1 1 Except that: the combined initial annual feed discharge for Waitata and White Horse Rock shall be 4000 tonnes; and the combined maximum annual feed discharge for Waitata and White Horse Rock shall be 8000 tonnes 2 Except that: the combined initial annual feed discharge for Kaitapeha and Ruaomoko shall be 4500 tonnes; and the combined maximum annual feed discharge for Kaitapeha and Ruaomoko shall be 8000 tonnes 3 Increases in annual feed discharge for Papatua to be determined following each rotation and fallowing cycle – refer to Condition 42 below. 4 The annual feed discharges may exceed the maximum feed discharges specified in Table 2 by up to 15%, provided that, over any continuous 3 year period, the average annual feed discharges do not exceed the maximum feed discharges specified in Table 2 by more than 5%. 41 There shall be no increase in the tonnage of feed discharged to the farm unless the following provisions are satisfied (specific provisions for Papatua are specified in Condition 42): a The farm shall have operated at or near (±15%) its current maximum annual feed capacity for at least 3 years; and c09141b5_01_conditions_board_of_inquiry_20120622.docx 7 b At least two successive years of annual monitoring results shall be comparable, based on the monitoring undertaken in Condition 67, assessed as follows: • The Enrichment Stage (ES) from the annual monitoring, assessed in accordance with Condition 45, shall not be statistically significantly more than the ES from the previous year, based on the average result for all monitoring stations (Table 4) within each compliance Zone. This requirement must be met for each of the Environmental Quality Standards (EQS) compliance Zones for which ES are specified in Condition 45; and c The farm complies with all the EQS specified in Condition 45 and is less than the relevant maximum EQS for each Zone. Subject to any specifications for farm management in the MEM-AMP for that year, and provided that a - c above are satisfied, the annual tonnage of feed discharged to the farm may be increased by no more than the Maximum Increase in Feed Discharge specified in Table 2. Any other amendments to the management practices at the farm, in order to ensure compliance with the EQS in any year, shall also be specified in the MEM-AMP for that year. 42 For the first five years at least, the Papatua farm shall be managed as a 4 yearly rotation and fallowing regime, with each location for each row of net pens occupied for 1 year followed by 3 years of fallowing of that location (refer to the Farm Layout Plan required by Condition 3). To achieve this, each row of net pens will moved each year within, and between, the Cage Area Boundary blocks occupied by that row of net pens. The effectiveness of the rotation and fallowing regime in achieving the EQS specified in Condition 45 shall be assessed after five years, and every year thereafter (i.e. after the second and every subsequent occupation of each net pen location). At that time, the appropriateness of the feed discharge tonnage over the previous 5 years shall be evaluated by comparing the monitoring results following the first and second, and subsequent, occupations of the same locations. There shall be no increase in the tonnage of feed discharged to the Papatua farm unless the criteria specified in 41a – c are satisfied. If the provisions specified in Condition 41a-c above are satisfied, the increase in tonnage of feed that may be discharged at the Papatua farm will be specified in the MEM-AMP for that year. Any other amendments to the management practices at this farm, in order to ensure compliance with the EQS in any year, shall also be specified in the MEM-AMP for that year. The discharge of feed is subject to Conditions 43-47 relating to Environmental Quality Standards and Copper and Zinc Levels below. Discharge of Marine Biofouling and Antifouling The discharge of marine biofouling and antifouling shall be subject to Conditions 43-47 relating to Environmental Quality Standards and Copper and Zinc Levels below Environmental Quality Standards 43 The effects of deposition on the seabed shall be assessed against Environmental Quality Standards (EQS) established for the farm, as required by Condition 45. The MEM-AMP shall specify the monitoring to be undertaken in order to determine whether compliance with the EQS is achieved, and the management actions to be undertaken to ensure compliance, as set out in Conditions 64-72. c09141b5_01_conditions_board_of_inquiry_20120622.docx 8 44 EQS compliance Zones shall be defined for the farm, in accordance with Figure 4 and the dimensions and areas contained in Table 3. Table 3: Maximum distances of Zone 2/3 and Zone 3/4 boundaries from the nearest edge of the salmon farm net pens; and the maximum total affected areas of Zones 1, 2 and 3. Farm Waitata Kaitira Tapipi Richmond Papatua Kaitapeha Ruaomoko Ngamahau White Horse Rock 45 Zone boundary dimensions (maximum distances) Distance from Distance from nearest net pen to nearest net pen to Zone 2/3 boundary Zone 3/4 boundary Metres (m) Metres (m) 150 600 200 800 137 550 60 250 50 100 112 450 225 900 75 300 60 300 Zone Area (Maximum area) Total area of Zones 1, 2 and 3 (the footprint) Hectares (ha) 24 20 20 10 35 15.7 30 12 7.5 a For all farms, other than Papatua, the above Zones shall be fixed. At Papatua, the locations of the Zones will move with the net pens. b Notwithstanding, Condition 44a, the size and shape of the above Zones will be reviewed (to enable comparison with the zone dimensions contained in Table 3), after 3 years of operation at the Initial Feed Discharge level in Table 2, as part of the Annual Monitoring Report (AMR - refer to Condition 69) for that year. The dimensions and area of the Zones may be amended as a result of a recommendation in the AMR, provided that the total area of Zones 1, 2 & 3 does not alter by more than ±10% from the area specified in Table 3. The seabed beneath and in the vicinity of the farm shall comply with the EQS specified in Table 4. Zone dimensions and area for compliance purposes shall be defined in accordance with Condition 44. Enrichment Stages (ES) shall be defined in accordance with Figure 5 and Table 5. Table 4: Environmental Quality Standards (EQS) Zone Zones 1 & 2 – beside and beneath the net pens Compliance Monitoring Location Measured beneath the edge of the net pens – ‘Pen’ Stations on Figure 4 EQS • • • • • Zone 3 – near to the net pens Measured at the Zone 2/3 Boundary Stations on Figure 4 c09141b5_01_conditions_board_of_inquiry_20120622.docx • ES≤ 5 (except for Papatua) ES<6 (for Papatua) No more than one replicate core with no taxa (azoic), No obvious, spontaneous outgassing (H2S/methane), Bacteria mat (Beggiatoa) coverage not greater than localized/patchy in distribution. Infauna abundance is not significantly higher than at 9 corresponding ‘Pen’ Station Zone 4 – outside the footprint area Measured at the Zone 3/4 Boundary Stations on Figure 4 • • ES < 3 Conditions remain statistically comparable with relevant / appropriate reference Station(s) In the event of non-compliance with the above EQS, and subject to any review of conditions of this consent specified in Condition 76, the consent holder shall work with the consent authority to ensure full compliance is re-established within 24 months. Copper and Zinc Levels 46 Composite samples of sediments beneath and beside the net pens (measured beneath the edge of the net pen – ‘Pen’ Stations on Figure 4) shall be assessed against the ANZECC (2000) ISQG-Low criteria for copper and zinc, as a first-tier trigger level. Monitoring, measurement and analysis shall be undertaken in accordance with Conditions 64-72. 47 Where total metals analysis of composite sediment samples exceeds the ANZECC (2000) ISQG-Low criteria for copper and zinc, the MEM-AMP (refer Conditions 64-72) shall include a hierarchical schedule of monitoring of increasing focus and intensity and, ultimately, management action based on the decision hierarchy contained in Figure 6. Discharge of Greywater 48 Greywater may be discharged from the staff facilities contained within the building on the farm. This discharge may include greywater from showers, wash basin, kitchen and laundry facilities, but shall not include the discharge of sewage. The greywater discharge shall not exceed 500m3 per day from each building. Discharge of Coastal Water 49 Coastal water may be discharged where it has been taken and used for the purposes of firefighting, outdoor cleaning and maintenance, fish grading, harvesting and assessment, and other similar activities necessary for undertaking marine farming in accordance with the conditions of this consent. Taking and Use of Coastal Water 50 Coastal water may be taken and used for the purposes of firefighting, outdoor cleaning and maintenance, fish grading, harvesting and assessment, and other similar activities necessary for undertaking marine farming in accordance with the conditions of this consent Disturbance of, Damage to, the Seabed 51 The seabed may be disturbed during the installation, testing and maintenance of the anchoring system for the marine farm in accordance with Conditions 22-28. The area of the seabed disturbed or damaged during the installation, testing and maintenance of the anchoring system shall be kept to a reasonable and practical minimum. c09141b5_01_conditions_board_of_inquiry_20120622.docx 10 Discharge to Air 52 Discharges to air may occur from the operation of the marine farm and the carrying out of the marine farming activity, in accordance with the conditions of this consent. This may include the discharge of odour; and discharges to air from diesel generators and other diesel- and petrol-powered equipment necessary for, and ancillary to, undertaking this operation and activity. General Operational Procedures 53 The consent holder shall have in place, and implement, operational procedures to ensure that the salmon farm operates in accordance with the conditions of this consent and minimises the potential for adverse effects due to the operation of the farm. 54 In addition, the consent holder shall have in place, and implement, operational procedures to implement best management practices to: a b c d monitor and minimise feed loss from the salmon farm net pens; minimise the number of fish dying in the net pens; remove dead fish promptly from net pens; minimise interactions of sharks, seals and other predators with the farm, including no feeding of these predators; e minimise the potential for sharks, seals or other predators to enter the salmon farm net pens through the use of predator-resistant materials in net pen construction and predator exclusion nets enclosing the salmon farm net pen structures and extending sufficiently high above the water around the farm to exclude such predators, but no higher; f ensure all nets remain free of holes or tears that could allow access by sharks, seals or other predators; g ensure all nets are well tensioned; h ensure all anchor warps are sufficiently tensioned at all times to prevent entanglement of cetaceans; i ensure all lines associated with the farm are secured at all times, and that any loose lines are secured and/or retrieved promptly; j ensure that all net and cordage debris, plastic strapping and other farm, domestic or other non-biodegradable waste is collected, retained and disposed of on-shore, and that, if any loose debris does enter the water around the farm, it is retrieved from the seabed, water column or foreshore promptly; k ensure that all beaches in the vicinity of the farm are kept free of debris from the farm; l ensure all hazardous substances are stored and used in a manner which ensure that they are able to be contained at all times, and there is no discharge of hazardous substances to coastal water; m minimise entry of seabirds to the salmon farm net pens through the use of bird netting over each net pen; n ensure that, as far as practicable, filling of the ‘mort’ bin (storing dead fish) only occurs when wind speeds are greater than 3 m/s; o establish target times for cleaning the grower nets once they have been raised, to minimise the time that any one net is held out of the water in order to minimise the potential for odour from this source mp ensure that, as far as practicable ,there is only one grower net being lifted and cleaned at one time, to minimise the potential for odours from this activity. 55 The consent holder shall make available for review by the Marlborough District Council a copy of the operational procedures required by Conditions 53 and 54, provided that the consent holder may remove from that copy any commercially sensitive information contained in the operational procedures. c09141b5_01_conditions_board_of_inquiry_20120622.docx 11 56 The operation of the salmon farm shall at all times be in accordance with the consent holder’s current operational procedures prepared to achieve Conditions 53 and 54. Marine Mammal Management 57 The consent holder shall prepare and implement a marine mammal management policy (developed in consultation with the Department of Conservation) to minimise the interactions of marine mammals with the farm, and to prescribe actions should marine mammals become a nuisance in relation to the farm or interact with the farm in a manner that could result in harm to the marine mammal. This policy shall include training for staff on the farm (including in the identification and safe handling of live seals and other marine mammals), a regular reporting system for farm managers and staff regarding interactions between the farm and marine mammals, and liaison, information sharing and notification procedures with the Department of Conservation. Biosecurity Management Plan 58 The consent holder shall prepare and implement a Biosecurity Management Plan with the objectives of minimising the risk of the spread of marine pests, diseases and parasites as a result of the establishment and operation of the salmon farm. 59 The Biosecurity Management Plan shall include on-farm, as well as vector-based, management measures to reduce the risk of spread, including: a b c d e f Direct vector management, such as the implementation of a regular regime of vessel hull coating with antifouling paint General on-farm management measures, and targeted measures to control or contain specific species; Routine practices to manage fouling of nets and structures; A passive surveillance regime, in which farm workers watch out for target pest species, or any unusual fouling on farm structures, during their daily activities; An effective disease surveillance in salmon stock; The use of harvesting methods consistent with best practice management for the minimisation of disease risk. 60 The Biosecurity Management Plan shall be provided to the Marlborough District Council prior to the exercise of the consent. The Plan shall be reviewed at least annually by the consent holder to ensure that the management practices specified in the Plan are consistent with Condition 58 and 59. Any revisions to the Plan shall be provided to the Marlborough District Council immediately following completion of the revisions. 61 Biosecurity management at the farm shall at all times be in accordance with the current provisions of the Biosecurity Management Plan. Marine Environmental Monitoring and Adaptive Management 62 A Baseline Monitoring Plan shall be prepared and provided to the Marlborough District Council. This Plan shall specify the monitoring to be undertaken, in order that the following baseline information can be obtained prior to any development being undertaken on the farm (in the case of a, b and c) and prior to fish being stocked on the farm (in the case of d and e). The baseline monitoring shall include, but not be limited to, one survey of the following: a Spatial information on the distribution of soft-sediment habitats and communities across the occupancy and activity area specified in Condition 1; and across the area of EQS compliance Zones 1, 2 & 3 specified in Condition 45; b Quantitative and qualitative mapping of environmental variables across the occupancy and activity area specified in Condition 1; and across the area of EQS compliance Zones 1, 2 & 3, as specified in Conditions 44 and 45, including quantitative (replicate) data for c09141b5_01_conditions_board_of_inquiry_20120622.docx 12 the environmental variables from each of the proposed on-going monitoring stations and at appropriate reference stations; c Habitats that support notable biological features within and adjacent to the farm (“reef” monitoring) (within 1km from the net pens); and in at or near locations highlighted as potential areas for nutrient accumulation by the outputs from spatially explicit nutrient modelling; as well as comparable habitats at appropriate control / reference sites; d A selection of representative soft sediment sites in neighbouring bays near to, and removed from, the farm, highlighted as areas of potential exposure to increased biodeposition; as well as comparable habitats at appropriate control / reference sites; e 63 Wide-scale water column monitoring for nutrient and cholorophyll a concentrations, phytoplankton composition and biomass, salinity, temperature, turbidity and dissolved oxygen (DO) at the following locations, in both Pelorus and Queen Charlotte Sound and in Port Gore: i. Locations that are expected to have the greatest potential for farm-related cumulative enrichment effects (as predicted by spatially explicit nutrient modelling); ii. Locations that are expected to have progressively lesser farm-related cumulative enrichment effects (as predicted by spatially explicit nutrient modelling); iii. Within the inner Sounds; and iv. Near the entrances to Cook Strait. Baseline data shall be collected at these locations on at least 4 occasions prior to fish being stocked on any of the farms consented through the Board of Inquiry process of 2012. The monitoring stations for this wide-scale water column monitoring shall be established as long-term monitoring stations for the purposes of undertaking the longterm, wide-scale water column monitoring specified in Condition 68f. The baseline monitoring shall be undertaken in accordance with the Baseline Monitoring Plan and a Baseline Monitoring Report prepared and provided to the Marlborough District Council. The Baseline Monitoring Report shall include, but not be limited to, the following: a Presentation of the results from the baseline monitoring; b A synthesis and review of all available water quality data relevant to the enrichment status of the general Pelorus Sound and Queen Charlotte Sound regions. in order to provide a historical baseline of conditions; bc Any recommendations as to the specific location or installation of farm anchoring structures; cd Any recommendations regarding ongoing monitoring following the development of the farm. 64 For each year of the operation of the farm, the consent holder shall prepare a Marine Environmental Monitoring and Adaptive Management Plan (MEM-AMP) and an Annual Monitoring Report (AMR) in accordance with Conditions 64-72. In general terms: a the MEM-AMP shall provide a summary of the relevant recommendations from the previous year’s AMR, and specify the proposed monitoring and farm management actions for the following year (as relevant to the potential effects set out in Condition 65). The MEM-AMP may be prepared as one Plan jointly with the MEM-AMP(s) for other farms managed by the same consent holder. b the AMR shall provide the details of the monitoring results from the previous year, an analysis of the monitoring results (including in terms of compliance with the EQS), and recommendations for changes to the monitoring and farm management actions for the c09141b5_01_conditions_board_of_inquiry_20120622.docx 13 following year (as relevant to the potential effects set out in Condition 65). The AMR may be prepared jointly with AMR’s for other farms managed by the same consent holder. 65 66 The MEM-AMP and AMR shall address, but not be limited to, the following potential effects from the operation of the farm: a Effects of deposition on the seabed and foreshore; b Effects on, and from, the quality of, and nutrient accumulation in, the water column. The MEM-AMP shall specify the following in relation to the potential effects from the operation of the farm set out in Condition 65: a A summary of the recommendations from the Baseline Monitoring Report (in the case of the first MEM-AMP for the farm) or from the previous year’s AMR regarding farm management practices and monitoring; b A description of all farm-specific compliance and other monitoring to be undertaken for the coming year. This shall include the methods, locations and frequency of the compliance and other monitoring, including any control / reference sites. This shall reflect any recommendations contained in the AMR for amendments to the dimensions and areas of the EQS compliance Zones specified in Table 3 and/or to the location of the representative compliance monitoring Stations specified in Table 4, following the monitoring undertaken after 3 years of operation at the Initial Feed Discharge level in Table 2. (Refer to Conditions 67 and 68 below for more detailed requirements); c Any management actions to be undertaken at the farm for the coming year in order to ensure continuing compliance with the EQS; d In the case of any non-compliance with the EQS in the previous year, how the management of the farm will ensure full compliance is re-established within 24 months from the non-compliance being demonstrated, in accordance with Condition 45; e In the case of copper and zinc, if the ANZECC (2000) ISQG-Low criteria set out in Condition 46 were not achieved in the previous year, the schedule of monitoring and management actions required in accordance with Condition 47; f Any other actions to be undertaken to avoid, remedy or mitigate any significant adverse effects from the operation of the farm identified in the previous year’s AMR. The MEM-AMP shall take into account any recommendations from the Marlborough District Council’s independent peer review (Condition 72). 67 The MEM-AMP shall include the following farm-specific compliance monitoring: a The level of sampling and range of environmental variables to be measured at each of the monitoring stations required for compliance with the EQS in Condition 45, including appropriate reference stations; b The sampling intensity and comprehensiveness shall be dependent upon the age of the farm, how stable the feed levels have been over the last 12 months, and whether or not the farm has been compliant with the EQS over the last 2 years (or the nature of any breaches); c Monitoring of copper and zinc in order to ensure compliance with 46 and 47 using a decision-tree approach, whereby monitoring effort increases in focus and intensity as trigger levels (representing the increased likelihood of ecological effects) are reached. c09141b5_01_conditions_board_of_inquiry_20120622.docx 14 68 The MEM-AMP shall also include any other studies or monitoring to be undertaken by the consent holder in relation to the potential effects from the operation of the farm set out in Condition 65. This shall include the following: a Monitoring of habitats that support notable biological features within and adjacent to the farm (“reef” monitoring), as well as comparable habitats at appropriate control / reference sites. This monitoring shall be continued until at least 3 years after the farm has reached a stable level of feed discharge [This condition will only apply to those farms with notable biological features in the vicinity of the farm]. ab Monitoring of ephemeral (e.g. Ulva sp. and benthic algal films) and perennial algae (e.g. Homosira banksii) percentage cover and the abundance of grazing invertebrates (e.g. cats’ eyes snails (Turbo smaragdus) and Kina (Evechinus chloroticus) on intertidal and shallow subtidal rocky reef areas in the vicinity of the farm (within 1km from the net pens), as well as comparable habitats at appropriate control / reference sites. This monitoring shall be continued until at least 3 years after the farm has reached a stable level of feed discharge. bc Monitoring of sediment depositional effects at soft sediment sites in neighbouring bays near to, and removed from, the farm, chosen based on potential exposure to increased biodeposition. This monitoring will be undertaken at a selection of representative soft sediment sites and shall be continued until at least 3 years after the farm has reached a stable level of feed discharge [The same monitoring will be able to be undertaken for a group of farms, as it will assess the cumulative effects from all farms in that group]. cd Targeted water column surveys for the purpose of quantifying the localised effect of the individual farms on surrounding water quality. This shall involve a series of fine-scale surveys in the vicinity of the farm (within 1km from the net pens) (and at control/reference areaslocations) over a two year period, measuring: salinity, temperature, chlorophyll, turbidity, dissolved oxygen (DO), nutrient concentrations, phytoplankton composition and biomass along transects that move away from the farm and span potential nutrient gradients. The surveys shall be undertaken following operation at the farm’s Maximum Initial Feed Discharge and again after the farm has reached a stable level of feed discharge. [at least twice per year and continued for at least two years after the farm has reached stable maximum production levels and no future increases are proposed.These surveys shall be undertaken at selected representative farms (e.g. one farm in each of Queen Charlotte and Pelorus Sounds) and do not need to be undertaken at every farm operated by the consent holder.] d After 3 years of operation at the Initial Feed Discharge level in Table 2, a repeat of the baseline monitoring undertaken in accordance with Condition 62a and b, incorporating the farm-specific compliance monitoring in terms of Condition 67 for that year. e f Long-term wide-scale water column monitoring for nutrient and cholorophyll a concentrations, phytoplankton composition and biomass, salinity, temperature, turbidity and dissolved oxygen (DO) at locations stipulated in Condition 62e. This monitoring is to be undertaken at least 4 times per year with focus on mid summer periods of highest salmon feed rates and periods associated with winter/spring and/or autumn diatom maxima. Monitoring will be undertaken at the same frequency throughout the staged development of the proposed farms until at least 3 years after production levels have stabilised. The monitoring design and frequency will then be the subject of review. g Wide-scale monitoring of ephemeral (e.g. Ulva sp. and benthic algal films) and perennial algae (e.g. Homosira banksii) percentage cover and the abundance of grazing invertebrates (e.g. cats’ eyes snails (Turbo smaragdus) and Kina (Evechinus chloroticus) on intertidal and shallow subtidal rocky reef areas at or near locations highlighted as potential areas for nutrient accumulation by the outputs from spatially explicit nutrient c09141b5_01_conditions_board_of_inquiry_20120622.docx 15 modelling and at control / reference locations where minimal nutrient accumulation is predicted. h One-off monitoring of the effects of submerged artificial lighting on the biology of the water column (e.g. zooplankton composition and abundance), when the submerged artificial lights are fully operational. [To apply to any farm which is exposed to lower current speeds than Clay Point where the assessment of effects of submerged artificial lighting for this application was undertaken]. i Occasional monitoring by farm staff of the effects of submerged artificial lighting on changes in night-time feeding activity by fish, seabirds and marine mammals in and around the illuminated net pens. j Occasional monitoring of feed loss levels, including how the feed loss varies over time. k Occasional monitoring of the size and composition of aggregations of pelagic and demersal fish beneath the farm. gl Occasional monitoring of key heavy metal and organohalogenated contaminants of public health interest in long-lived bentho-pelagic fish species, of recreational, commercial or customary interest, residing in the near vicinity of the farm. [A contribution may also be offered towards long-term monitoring (10+years) for any effects resulting from changes in the quality of the water column across the wider Sounds environment over time. Such a programme should involve multiple stakeholders and be established to collect robust Sound-wide information.] 69 The AMR shall specify the following in relation to the potential effects from the operation of the farm set out in Condition 65: a A statement as to the tonnage of feed discharged each month over the previous year and the maximum biomass of fish on the farm during that year; b The results of the monitoring undertaken in the previous year; c A comprehensive analysis of the results of that monitoring; d An assessment and conclusions as to whether compliance with the EQS specified in Condition 45 has, or has not, been achieved for the previous year; e Amendments to management practices at the farm in order to ensure that compliance with the EQS in Condition 45 continues to be achieved or, in the event of a noncompliance, to ensure that full compliance is re-established within 24 months of monitoring first identifying non-compliance as required in accordance with Condition 45. f An assessment and conclusions as to whether compliance with the ANZECC (2000) ISQG-Low criteria for copper and zinc set out in Condition 46 has, or has not, been achieved for the previous year; g Where the ANZECC (2000) ISQG-Low criteria for copper and zinc have been exceeded, recommendations as to any amendments to monitoring and management actions at the farm, in accordance with Condition 47; h Following 3 years of operation at the Initial Feed Discharge level in Table 2, a review of the results of the monitoring undertaken in terms of Condition 68d. This shall include, a comparison of those monitoring results with the dimensions and areas of the EQS compliance Zones specified in Table 3, Condition 44. In accordance with Condition 44b, the AMR shall specify any recommendations for amendments to the dimensions and areas of the EQS compliance Zones, and to the location of the representative compliance monitoring Stations specified in Table 4, Condition 45, for the subsequent years; c09141b5_01_conditions_board_of_inquiry_20120622.docx 16 i Every 3 years from the first year of operation of the farm, every 3 years thereafter until at least three years after the farm has reached stable maximum production levels and no future increases are proposed, and then every 5 years after that, the AMR shall include a review of the wider-scale water column and ecosystem monitoring results for the purposes of: i. assessing the sufficiency of the information collected: ii. assessing any trends occurring; iii. assessing any wider ecosystem implications of the monitoring results and any evident trends, and whether or not any adverse effects on the wider ecosystem are discernible as a result of the operation of the farm; iv. assessing any evidence of a trend towards a shift in trophic status; v. recommending in relation to future incremental changes in feed discharge levels; i.vi. when, and if, appropriate, recommending a suitable indicator for assessing future water column ecosystems changes. hj Where the monitoring has identified any significant adverse effects from the operation of the farm (other than the effects being monitored through the farm-specific compliance monitoring in Condition 67), any recommendations as to farm management actions or additional monitoring necessary to address those effects; ik Any other recommendations for amendments to the monitoring programme for the following year. 70 The first MEM-AMP for the farm shall be provided to the Marlborough District Council following the provision of the Baseline Monitoring Report to the Council in accordance with Condition 63 and prior to any salmon being placed at the farm. Each subsequent annual MEM-AMP shall be provided to the Marlborough District Council by 31 July each year. The AMR shall be prepared and provided to the Marlborough District Council by 30 April each year. 71 Each year, the farm shall be managed, and monitoring undertaken, in accordance the MEMAMP for that year. 72 The Marlborough District Council may require an independent peer review of any particular part, or the whole, of the Baseline Monitoring Plan and/or Report, the MEM-AMP and/or the AMR, required by Conditions 62-72. Such a peer review may be undertaken in relation to the Baseline Monitoring Plan and/or Report; and in relation to the MEM-AMP and the AMR only in any of the first 3 years following the initial development of the farm and at any fifth year thereafter. Such a peer review shall be at the cost of the consent holder. Social Impacts 73 The consent holder shall prepare and implement a Social Impact Management Plan (SIMP) with the objective of setting out the responsibilities of the consent holder in relation to the social impacts of the establishment and operation of the salmon farm, and to describe organisational relationships between the consent holder and other stakeholders and communities. The SIMP shall: a provide a summary of the potential social and economic impacts (benefits and adverse impacts) to be addressed through the SIMP; b outline specific social impact management plans for which the consent holder is responsible; c outline the consent holder's on-going Community Engagement Strategy; and d present a proposed framework for monitoring, reporting and reviewing social impacts and the SIMP. c09141b5_01_conditions_board_of_inquiry_20120622.docx 17 74 The consent holder shall develop the following management plans and provide them to the Marlborough District Council prior to initiating development work on a site: a A Residential Amenity Management Plan to minimise the risk of neighbours experiencing significant reductions in residential amenity due to off-site visual, noise and odour effects from the salmon farm. b A Wildlife Nuisance Management Plan to minimise the risk of neighbours experiencing significant reductions in amenity values due to wildlife nuisances attributable to the salmon farm. c A Solid Waste Management Plan to minimise the risk of reductions in neighbouring amenity values caused by the accumulation of solid waste debris along the shoreline resulting from the salmon farm. d A Staff Recruitment and Training Plan to maximise opportunities for Marlborough residents to gain employment in teh consent holder’s expanded Marlborough operations resulting from the development of the salmon farm. These Plans may be combined together or form part of a wider management plan, provided the matters referred to are addressed in any such document. Biological Compensation [Ngamahau site only] 75 The consent holder shall undertake a benthic biological survey to investigate and describe biological features in the Tory Channel biogeographic area. This survey shall consist of a search for, and description of, new, potentially high quality or significant biogenic habitats in this biogeographic area. Review of Conditions by Consent Authority 76 In accordance with the provisions of sections 128 and 129 of the Resource Management Act (or any provision in substitution therefore), the Marlborough District Council may, at the time(s) specified in Table 5 below, review the conditions of consent over which it has reserved control, by serving notice of its intention to do so for one or more of the purposes specified in Table 5: Table 5: Purpose and Times of Potential Review of Conditions of this Consent Purpose(s) Time(s) Of Service Of Notice To deal with any adverse effect on the environment which may arise from the exercise of the consent and which cannot be adequately avoided, remedied or mitigated by any term or condition incorporated within the consent, pursuant to the provisions of section 128(1)(a)(iii) of the Act. On any anniversary of the exercise of the consent To modify the monitoring programme. Within 2 months of receipt of the AMR required by Condition 69. To review the tonnage of feed that may be discharged in accordance with the conditions of this consent, in order to ensure compliance with the EQS in Condition 45 is achieved Within 2 months of receipt of the AMR required by Condition 69. c09141b5_01_conditions_board_of_inquiry_20120622.docx Or Within 6 months of receipt of the AMR required by Condition 69. 18 To require the consent holder to adopt the best practicable option to avoid, remedy or mitigate any adverse effect on the environment relating to the activity. Within 6 months of receipt of the AMR required by Condition 69. To review the navigation risk reduction and management plan to ensure that management practices result in compliance with Conditions 22-33. On any anniversary of the exercise of the consent. Other Matters 77 Pursuant to section 36 of the Act and Marlborough District Council’s Schedule of Fees, the consent holder shall pay all actual and reasonable costs associated with any review of this resource consent. 78 Inspection and monitoring by the Marlborough District Council’s Regulatory Department in respect of the conditions of this consent may take place annually or more frequently in the event that a previous inspection or complaint indicates the need for more frequent inspection and monitoring. 79 The costs of these inspections and any formal monitoring programme established in consultation with the consent holder will be charged to the consent holder in accordance with Marlborough District Council’s Schedule of Fees approved pursuant to section 36 of the Act. c09141b5_01_conditions_board_of_inquiry_20120622.docx 19 Figure 1a-h: Farm Layout Plans Relevant Farm Layout Plan prepared by OCEL included in Maps and Plans attached to AEE [To be amended to show final building layout] c09141b5_01_conditions_board_of_inquiry_20120622.docx 20 c09141b5_01_conditions_board_of_inquiry_20120622.docx 21 c09141b5_01_conditions_board_of_inquiry_20120622.docx 22 c09141b5_01_conditions_board_of_inquiry_20120622.docx 23 c09141b5_01_conditions_board_of_inquiry_20120622.docx 24 c09141b5_01_conditions_board_of_inquiry_20120622.docx 25 c09141b5_01_conditions_board_of_inquiry_20120622.docx 26 c09141b5_01_conditions_board_of_inquiry_20120622.docx 27 Figure 2a: Buffer Areas around King Shag Roosting Sites in the vicinity of the Papatua Farms (Taratara) c09141b5_01_conditions_board_of_inquiry_20120622.docx 28 Figure 2b: Buffer Areas around King Shag Roosting Sites in the vicinity of the Waitata and White Horse Rock Farms (Boat Rock Point) c09141b5_01_conditions_board_of_inquiry_20120622.docx 29 Figure 3a-h: Cage Area Boundaries Relevant Cage Area Boundary Plan for each Farm as included in Plan Change c09141b5_01_conditions_board_of_inquiry_20120622.docx 30 c09141b5_01_conditions_board_of_inquiry_20120622.docx 31 c09141b5_01_conditions_board_of_inquiry_20120622.docx 32 c09141b5_01_conditions_board_of_inquiry_20120622.docx 33 c09141b5_01_conditions_board_of_inquiry_20120622.docx 34 c09141b5_01_conditions_board_of_inquiry_20120622.docx 35 c09141b5_01_conditions_board_of_inquiry_20120622.docx 36 c09141b5_01_conditions_board_of_inquiry_20120622.docx 37 Figure 4: Environmental Quality Standard (EQS) - Definition of EQS Compliance Zones (from Figure 17(a) of Evidence of Mr N Keeley) c09141b5_01_conditions_board_of_inquiry_20120622.docx 38 Figure 5: Schematic Diagram of Enrichment Stages (from Figure 8(B) of Seabed Report) c09141b5_01_conditions_board_of_inquiry_20120622.docx 39 Table 6: General Description and Environmental Characteristics of Enrichment Stages (ES) (from Table 6 of Seabed Report) ES General description 1 Natural/pristine conditions 2 3 4 5 6 7 Minor enrichment: Low level enrichment. Can occur naturally or from other diffuse anthropogenic sources. 'Enhanced zone' Moderate enrichment: Clearly enriched and impacted. Significant community change has occurred. Major enrichment 1:Transitional stage between moderate effects and peak macrofauna abundance. Major community change. Major enrichment 2: Highly enriched. State of peak macrofauna abundance. Major enrichment 3: Transitional stage between peak and azoic. Severe enrichment: Anoxic & azoic; sediments no longer capable of supporting macrofauna. Organics accumulating. Environmental characteristics LF Environmental variables comparable to unpolluted/ unenriched pristine reference site. HF As for LF, but infauna richness and abundances naturally higher (~2×LF) and %OM slightly lower. LF Richness usually greater than for reference conditions. Zone of 'enhancement' – minor increases in abundance possible. Mainly compositional change. Sediment chemistry unaffected or with only very minor effects. HF Changes as for LF LF Notable abundance increase, richness and diversity usually lower than reference. Opportunistic species (i.e. capitellids) begin to dominate. HF As for LF LF Diversity further reduced, abundances usually quite high, but clearly sub-peak. Opportunistic species dominate, but other taxa may still persist. Major sediment chemistry changes (approaching hypoxia). HF As above, but abundance can very high while richness & diversity are not necessarily reduced. LF Very high numbers of one of two opportunistic species (i.e. capitellids, Nematoda). Richness very low. Major sediment chemistry changes (hypoxia, moderate oxygen stress). Bacteria mat (Beggiatoa) usually evident. H2S out-gassing on disturbance. HF Total abundances can be extreme (10×LF ES 5 densities). Diversity usually significantly reduced, but moderate richness can be maintained. Sediment organic content usually slightly elevated. Beggiatoa formation and out-gassing possible. LF Transitional stage between peak and azoic. Richness & diversity very low. Abundances of opportunistic species severely reduced from peak, but not azoic. Total abundance low but can be comparable to reference. %OM can be very high (3-6 times Ref). HF Not previously observed LF None, or only trace numbers of macrofauna remain. Some samples with no taxa. Spontaneous out-gassing; Beggiatoa usually present but can be suppressed. %OM can be very high (3-6 times Ref). HF Not previously observed c09141b5_01_conditions_board_of_inquiry_20120622.docx 40 Figure 6: Decision Hierarchy for Copper and Zinc (From Figure 2 of Evidence of Mr R Sneddon) c09141b5_01_conditions_board_of_inquiry_20120622.docx 41
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