Harm to Ocean-based Industries ?
Argument:
Fisheries, eco-tourism, and other ocean-based industries are being directly affected economically by the ocean pollution from the two outfalls. The lucrative swimming scallop fishery off Victoria Harbour has been closed for over 20 years and local whale watch operators' access to whales has been severely limited, in part, because of the high levels of toxins in local orcas.
Counter-argument:
Growing numbers of local eco-tourism and whale-watching companies suggests that they aren't being harmed by our sewage treatment system. Fisheries in our region have been threatened for a very long time, but our sewage treatment system isn't the reason. Shellfish closures by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans around sewage outfalls, and storm water drains in Urban areas - no matter what the level of treatment would also be required even if we have additional sewage treatment
Analysis:
It is standard practice for there to be closure of fishing for filter feeding animals – like clams and scallops near any urban areas. This is because the storm water run off from urban roads is sufficient to elevate the coliform counts. By international agreement the standard coliform count requiring closure is set extremenly low (see http://www.ecoinfo.ec.gc.ca/env_ind/region/shellfish/shellfish_e.cfm) . The acceptable level is 14 Faecal Coliform/ 100ml.
Although shellfish harvesting is prohibited from closed areas for direct marketing, this does not imply that these shellfish cannot be utilized commercially. Contaminated shellfish can purify themselves if placed in clean waters for a certain period of time under suitable conditions. http://www.mar.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/science/review/1996/AmarMenon/Menon_e.html
If scallop fisheries off Victoria Harbour have been impacted by pollution (or contamination?), it is far more likely because this contamination has migrated from the harbour or from past solid waste dump sites off Brotchie Ledge that has been the source of concern, not the deep sea outfalls from our natural sewage treatment system. However, the precautionary ban on harvesting shellfish has created a wonderful, marine park-like environment for the many scuba divers who continue to dive in great numbers off the Victoria waterfront, particularly Oak Bay, Ogden Point, Saxe Point and Race Rocks – ranked as one of the top dive sites in the world. There is no evidence that any whales passing through the CRD have been impacted in any way by our sewage treatment system. (For scuba diving attractions in our Victoria area, see: http://www.vancouverisland.com/recreation/?id=161)