ENVIRONMENTAL RISK ASSESSMENT & MANAGEMENT PLANNING: A CASE STUDY

Environmental risk assessment is increasingly becoming essential in considering major aquaculture developments.  This is not just about minimising disease risks and ensuring a suitable environment for hatcheries and grow out, but is directly relevant to export quality guarantees associated with necessary accreditation for entry into high priced markets.

In Malaysia major aquaculture projects (greater than 50 hectares) may require a Detailed or Special EIA.  This usually means well documented assessments of likely impacts on the environment by the project and how such effects can best be mitigated.  By the same token, much of the work done for an EIA is directly relevant to assessing the environmental risk to the project and how these should be managed.

An environmental risk assessment for a proposed Lobster grow out facility near   Semporna, South East Sabah, Malaysia is presented as a case study.  The project is notable as it is intended to cover a sea space area of 9,300 ha and at full production produce 18 thousand metric tonnes of Panulirus ornatus lobster.

During the assessment a number of natural and anthropomorphic hazards were identified as risks to the project.

The geographic scale of this project means that ambient water quality may well be affected by land based, catchment scale processes over time. Water quality can also be impacted by marine based sources including oil spills and ballast discharges from shipping, and ecological hazards such as algal blooms. Tsunamis and pathogen introduction and transmission are also potential operational realities.

Key considerations within the environmental risks assessment and management process are:

∙βIdentification and assessment of environmental risks, recommended mitigation and management measures.

∙βA comprehensive environmental monitoring programme.

∙βA strategy for communicating with the potential polluters and regulatory authorities.