Stimulating investment in pearl farming in ... - World Fish Center

Page 195.6. Other environmental requirementsA number of other measures are suggested to ensure that pearl farming operations safeguardthe marine and coastal environment and avoid creating public nuisances. Some of theseshould be incorporated into regulations or licence conditions as requirements which incur apenalty if not followed. Others are measures that should be encouraged as part of aresponsible approach to pearl farming, but are not appropriate for inclusion as regulatorymeasures.Measures proposed for inclusion in regulations include the following:• farm lines must be secured to concrete anchors dropped on a sediment (not coral)seafloor. The practice of tying farm lines and spat collectors to coral heads,common in some countries, should not be permitted;• over-water structures should be built with minimum excavation and in such a wayas to minimise damage to corals and the adjacent environment. Use of anti-foulingpaints or building materials treated with toxic chemicals that might leach into thewater (such as tanalised timber products) should be prohibited;• cleaning and removal of fouling organisms from pearl shell under culture shouldtake place on a barge, raft or boat. Fouling and other waste should be taken ashoreand disposed of on land, not dumped in the water;• waste from over-water structures (cleaning products, food refuse, toilet flushingwaste and other pollutants) should be taken ashore for disposal, and not dumped inthe water;• containers that may have previously contained industrial chemicals should not beused for floats. Containers that have previously contained food or other non-toxicproducts should be thoroughly cleaned and labels removed before use;Licenses should also require the provision of basic data on pearl farming and spat collectionoperations using standard forms and logsheets that will be developed as part of the licensingprocess.Measures that would be good practice, but which are not suitable for inclusion in regulations,include:• daily operations require the use of fuel and oil. Employees should be trained inspill prevention and precautions taken to ensure spills are avoided;• use of four-stroke rather than two-stroke outboard engines for pearl farmoperations;• rubbish and litter not to be thrown into the sea;• animals not to be kept on over-water structures;• regular information meetings and consultation with stakeholders, includingcommunity representatives, landowners, local government officers, and FisheriesDepartment personnel.As part of the pearl farming application process, proposers should be encouraged to submitan environmental management plan (EMP) which addresses the above issues and specifieshow the requirements will be met. The EMP should describe the physical and operationalsystems and measures that the pearl farming operation will put in place to ensureenvironmental management goals are monitored and met, including human resourcemanagement measures (staff training, incentives to encourage good practice, performancemonitoring, etc).