Cadmium Pollution of Belledune Harbour, . New Brunswick, Canada J. F. Uthe and V. Zitko (Editors) Biological Station St. Andrews, N.B., EOG 2XO October 1980 ·- ... ~'.:. Canadian Technical Report of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences No. 963 · Gouvernement du Canada Peches et Oceans ARLIS Alaska Resources Library & Infotmation Services Anchorage, AK ---------·----------~·-------~-- --- , Canadian Technical Report of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences These reports contain scientific and technical information that represents an important contribution to existing knowledge but which for some reason may not be appropriate for primary scientific (i.e. Journal) publication. Technical Reports are directed primarily towards a worldwide audience and have an international distribution. 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A~lS Alaslta Resources L'brary & lnformatton Services 1 Anchorage, Alaska ~~ /~2/ Stt Canadian Technical Report of tz_zs Fisheries and Aqua tic Sciences W>.1 . A~41'? lA-c. ~k,<? October 1980 CADMIUM POLLUTION OF BELLEDUNE HARBOUR, NE\~ BRUNSWICK, CANADA J. F. Uthel and V. Zitko [Editors) Fisheries and Environmental Sciences Department of Fisheries and Oceans Biological Station St. Andrews, New Brunswick EOG 2XO !Fisheries and Environmental Sciences ARLlS Department of Fisheries and Oceans Alaska Resources llalifax Laboratory Library & Information Serv1ces Halifax, N.S. B3J 2S7 Anchorage, Alaska 1- This is the one hundred and twenty-:eighth Technical R por4:Lft.~fu:A DEPT. OF FISH 8: r t· \A[ the Biological Station, St. Andrews, N.B. 333 Raspberry f' :' Anchorage, Alaska S, _ i i PREFACE The presPnCt' of the New Brunswick ~1lning and Smelting Corporiltion Ltd, (Smelling Division) operation in Belledunt>, New Brunswick, has, since its construction, n'prest>ntcd a potential source of heavy metals to the Baie de Chaleur. Biological monitoring studies, both hy the compilny and hy the fedc>ral llep<Htments of Environment and Fisheries, have maintained a continuing watch on the influence of smelter pollutants on the marine environment. The results of these studies showed elevated levels of heavy metals in the immediate area, but the effects were localized and the effects on the marine resources were not considered significant. The Brunswick Smelting report documenting the 1979 biological monitoring activities in the Belledune area was made available to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans April 18, 1980. This report indicated that the concentrations of heavy metals, in particular cadmium, have been increasing at an accelerated rate i.n several marine resources. The area affected, as delineated by concentrations of cadmium in mussels "upstream" and below Belledune Harbour, was expanding. Most significantly, the levels of cadmium in lobsters in Belledune Harbour were becoming dangerous from a public health standpoint. With the lobster s'"'son destined to open May 1st, rApid action was required. The Director General, Fisheries Mnnagement 1>1arLtimes Region, declared that emergency procedures he instituted to investigate the situCJtion and to develop recommendatIons regarding the exploitiltion of the lobster resource from the llelledune area. The Bedford Institute of Oce.1nography offered its assistance in the investigations. The Fisheries and Environmental Sciences Division of the Maritimes Resource Branch was identified as the lead organization to carry out the required scientific investigations on behalf of the Department. The Immediate research objectives were (1) to determine the geographic extent of cadmium contamination of lobster stocks in Bc,lledune Harbour and adjacent vicinity and to delineate where elevated cadmium levels in lobster return to "baseline"; (2) to develop scient! fie evidence necessary to establish a "safe" level for cadmium in lobster; (3) to determine the extent to lvhich the sediments were contaminated with cadmium and the effect of local currents and oceanic circulation on the distribution of cadmium in the area; (4) to evaluate the effect of cadmium on the other marine resources in the area. Tn addition to the above investigations, there remained the operational requirements to meet with fishermen's groups, to establish a controlled fishing zone where all lobstf>rs would have to be specially processed, to encourage implementation of the planned improvements to the effluent control facilities at the smelter, and to develop, with Health and Welfare Canada, appropriate "tolerance" limits for cadmium in lobster. This report represents the scientific data base that was developed in response to this emergency. It represents an ~nportant benchmark on the presence and distribution of cadmium in the ~lledune area (against which future pollution control actions can he measured) and provides a better understanding of the fate and biological effects of cadmium on the lobster. The use of the information provided by this report and the continuing research efforts by Noranda Research on behalf of Brunswick Smelting and the effluent treatment facilities should ultimately lead to an Improved marine habitat in the Belledune area. Strategies for the mana~ement of the Belledune lobster fishery in 1981 are already being planned; with sufficient lead time, there should be no undue disruption in the 1981 lobster fishery in the Belledune area. It is important to take this opportunity to acknowledge the cooperation and assistance received from Brunsw_ick SnH.-'1 Ling and the Norancia Research Centre~ The cooperation received from the Environmenta1 Protvction S<,rvice of the Department of the Environment and the Nc" llruiH>Wick Department of Environment is also <lcknowledged. A special note of gratitude is extended to tlw staff of the Area Hanager, Northern New Brunswick, to D. C. Robinson of the Invertebrates and Marine PLants Division, and to the scientists of the Bedford Institute of Oceanography for asststance and contributions~ Finally, I acknov1ledge the major efforts made hy Division staff at the llalifax T~•boratory and at the Biological Station for their professionalisms and dedication during these emergency investigations .. The Editors and I wish to acknowledge the• assistance of Ms. Ruth Garnett for technical editing and Mrs. Brenda McCullough for typing and assembling the report. R. H. Cook, Chief Fisheries and Environmental Sciences Department of Fisheries and Oceans Biological Station St. Andrews, N.B. EOC 2XO @ Minister of Supply and Services Canada 1980 Cat. No. Fs 97-6/963 ISSN 0706-6457 Corrt•ct citation for this publication: lltlw, J. F., and V. /,itko [Editors]. 19110. Cadmium 1mllutlon of !lelledune Harbour, New Brunswick, Canada. C:ln. Tt•ch. RPp. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 96·), v + l07 p. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS Pre· face Abstract iv Fisheries concerns associated with the cadmium problem at Belledune - D. C. Riley Industrial discharges of cadmium at Belledune D. B. Sergeant and G. F. Westlake 3 Distribution of