Environmental Assessment
Volume E-4.3
Tailings Facility
Fish and Aquatic Resources
Ambatovy Project
194
January 2006
An overall residual impact classification is presented in Table 4.3-12; the overall
environmental consequence scores were based on the screening system described
in Volume A, Section 7.
Table 4.3-12 Residual Impact Classification for Effects on Artisanal Fisheries
Phase
Direction Magnitude
Geographic
Extent
Duration
Reversibility Frequency
Environmental
Consequence
Effect: Change in Availability
construction
negative
moderate
local
long-term
no
long
moderate
operations
negative
moderate
local
medium-
term
yes
medium
low
Effect: Changes in Fish Health
construction
negative
low
local
medium-
term
no
short
low
operations
negative
low
regional
medium-
term
no
medium
moderate
closure
positive
low
local
long-term
no
medium
low
Effect: Change in Species Composition
operations
neutral
low
local
long-term
no
low
low
closure
positive
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
= Criteria not ranked for positive effects.
Monitoring
Closure monitoring of flow and water quality to ensure protection of downstream
aquatic environments.
4.3.8
Conclusions
High environmental consequences for local aquatic habitat and endemic fish
species abundance and survival are predicted due to residual impacts from
construction and operation of the tailings facility. For this reason, monitoring,
coupled with support for local fishery management initiatives, will be pursued.
Downstream impacts on aquatic habitat and species are expected to be high in the
LSA because of the consequences of flow reduction. The effects on local use and
harvest of fish are expected to be of moderate to low consequence.
