Environmental Assessment
Volume E-4.3
Tailings Facility
Fish and Aquatic Resources
Ambatovy Project
174
January 2006
(
Anguilla bicolor
and
A. marmorata
) were collected in the study area only at
TMT002 during the high water, likely in response to the availability of riffle
habitats. These species spawn at sea and use freshwater habitats principally for
feeding.
Occasional wetlands or marshes which are not severely disturbed remain in the
area. These habitats are important as they generally have a high biodiversity of
aquatic fauna, and are likely important for their role in maintaining and
regulating water levels and water quality in the systems. Site TMT006 was
located in a large, intact wetlands, and although the habitat integrity was affected
by surrounding land use and the invasion of exotics, it retained a high diversity of
fish and aquatic invertebrate taxa.
4.3.4
Issue Scoping
4.3.4.1 Issues and Key Questions
Although the tailings area is extensively man-modified, consultation recorded a
concern that biological resources not be heavily impacted by the project
(Volume A, Section 6). The primary issues identified with respect to the
potential impact of the project on the aquatic biota and environment in the tailing
facility area are:
•
Loss of fish habitat (riparian vegetation canopy food source, instream
habitat and invertebrate communities) and impairment of stream water
quality (sedimentation) as a result of disturbance associated with
clearing and development of the tailings facility and ancillary facilities
(service roads and pipelines).
•
Loss of locally endemic fish or aquatic invertebrate populations as a
result of the total removal or disturbance of aquatic habitat in streams
and wetlands during tailings facility construction and operation.
•
Alterations to stream flow (increased or decreased runoff to downstream
water bodies) below the tailings facility affecting the life history of fish
and aquatic biota, and critical habitat functions.
•
Water quality changes during construction and operation of the tailings
facility affecting the health, abundance and survival of endemic fish and
aquatic fauna in downstream drainages.
•
Effects on harvest of local fish or invertebrates (crustaceans or
molluscs).
•
The effectiveness of post-closure aquatic habitat and biota reclamation
or compensation.
