Environmental Assessment
Volume B-4.3
Mine
Fish and Aquatic Resources
Ambatovy Project
239
January 2006
4.3
FISH AND AQUATIC RESOURCES
4.3.1
Introduction
This section presents the Environmental Assessment (EA) for the effects of the
mine site on fish and aquatic resources, and specifically addresses fish
communities, aquatic macro-invertebrates and habitat in compliance with the
Ambatovy Project (the project) Terms of Reference.
The EA presents a summary of baseline survey results and issues, followed by
the impact assessment. Detailed aquatic resources baseline information is
presented in Volume J, Appendix 3.1, Attachments 1, 2 and 3.
4.3.2
Study Area
The primary mine Local Study Area (LSA) for fish and aquatic resources falls
within the aquatics study area (Volume A, Figure 7.2-1), and includes the
watersheds draining the ore bodies, portions of the Torotorofotsy Wetlands, and
the proposed freshwater pipeline from the Mangoro River to the mine site.
4.3.3
Baseline Summary
4.3.3.1 Introduction
The mine study area was surveyed on a reconnaissance inventory level for fish
taxa in 1997, with additional limited seasonal sampling for fish, aquatic
invertebrates, aquatic macrophytes and general habitat characteristics in 1998
(Volume J Appendix 3.1, Attachment 3). Programs in 2004 and 2005 extended
the sampling to additional sites during both wet and dry seasons, including fish
and aquatic invertebrate communities and aquatic habitat characteristics
(Volume J, Appendix 3.1, Attachments 1 and 2).
4.3.3.2 Methods
The overall objectives of the sampling program in the mine LSA were to:
•
map and describe the aquatic habitat in LSA watercourses and water
bodies;
•
inventory aquatic communities to determine species richness, diversity,
distribution, relative abundance and key habitats of fish and benthic
macro-invertebrates;
