Environmental Assessment
Volume C-4.3
Slurry Pipeline
Fish and Aquatic Resources
Ambatovy Project
144
January 2006
4.3.8
Conclusions
The difficulty of generalizing results from surveyed streams for those un-
surveyed, because of high variability found, has presented a challenge for this
pipeline assessment. However, the use of standard mitigations, plus additional
surveys just prior to construction, will ensure that impacts are minimized and of
short duration.
Low environmental consequences are predicted for local aquatic habitat and
endemic fish species abundance and survival, due to residual impacts from
construction and operation of the slurry pipeline; however, impacts of higher
magnitude with unknown consequences may occur due to water quality (TSS)
changes in watercourses along the pipeline.
The effects on local resource use and artisanal harvest of fish or biota are
expected to be of low to high magnitude, as a result of access changes resulting
from the pipeline. However, effects are local and predicted to be of low
consequence, except during the short construction period, when they would be
moderate.
