Environmental Assessment
Volume C-4.3
Slurry Pipeline
Fish and Aquatic Resources
Ambatovy Project
137
January 2006
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changes to fish health.
Community (Habitat) Modification
Presence, abundance and survival of fish and aquatic biota is directly linked to
habitat. Disturbance of fish and aquatic biota will occur during watercourse
crossings associated with the slurry pipeline, the service road and access roads.
Fish Health
Change in fish health can result from construction activities and /or operation of
the slurry pipeline and associated infrastructure. Fish health effects result when
the physical or chemical characteristics of water vary outside the normal
tolerance range of fish. Fish health can be affected by contaminants (from spills,
effluent discharges), changes in water quality (high levels of entrained
sediments) and construction techniques (i.e., use of explosives) with lethal, sub-
lethal or chronic effects on fish.
4.3.6.2 Assessment Methods
Habitat loss data generated for watercourses (Key Question FA-1) and habitat
integrity information developed during the baseline site surveys was related to
the species taxonomy and community composition data described by qualitative
and quantitative population sampling during the baseline survey within the LSA.
The conservation status of endemic and native fish species was reviewed from
recent published checklists and the IUCN Red List (2004). Fish and ecosystem
health was judged by interpretation of predicted hydrology and water quality data
(Volume C, Sections 3.6 and 3.7).
4.3.6.3 Mitigation
Mitigations that will minimize the loss of fish and invertebrate communities from
activities associated with the pipeline construction and operation are the same as
those described in Section 4.3.5.4
4.3.6.4 Results
Community (Habitat) Modification
The fish fauna encountered within the slurry pipeline LSA consisted of 70%
endemic and native fish species. In total, eight endemic species, five of which
are IUCN Redbook listed (2004), were encountered along the pipeline route.
Endemic fish were present in 12 of the 15 sites surveyed. (Table 4.3-9). Native
fish (11 species) were encountered at 10 of the surveyed watercourses. Species
