Nordic Aquafarms US News

Humboldt CA

Environmental Concerns

Could the facility lead to algae blooms?

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No. Our wastewater system removes 99% of phosphorous, total suspended solids, and biochemical oxygen demand, and 90% of the nitrogen in the effluent. The residual discharge is going into a bay containing trillions of gallons of water- like a drop of water in a bucket. Even though we go far beyond current industry standards by removing 90% nitrogen, we do have elevated levels of nitrogen compared to background levels. The residual discharge is, however, less than 1% of the nitrogen already going into the bay. If other current dischargers raised their treatment level to only 50 % of our level, we would see material reductions in nutrient discharge along the entire coastline.

The Gulf of Maine Research Institute and the Conservation Law Foundation have reviewed our application and not found cause for concern. We will remain diligent in contributing to the health of the bay as a part of our environmental stewardship strategy.

Will Nordic drain the Mad River by taking 2 million gallons a day?

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No. The Humboldt Bay Municipal Water District has carefully studied the water supply. Approximately 2 million gallons of fresh water will be diverted from the Mad River using existing industrial infrastructure. This is approximately 6-7% of the previous water volume supplied to the pulp mills through the industrial water line when they were operational.

Freshwater will only be needed for processing and for employee use. Atlantic salmon require freshwater in the early portions of their lifecycle, where yellowtail kingfish do not. Yellowtail kingfish are a marine fish.

I thought the EPA cleaned up the site. Why does Nordic say they need to clean the site?

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The Harbor District worked with the EPA to conduct initial site clean-up of most hazardous substances, including several million gallons of black liquors used in producing pulp.

Other debris had been left on site and now includes scrap metal, decaying buildings covered with lead, asbestos and other public hazards such as open pits and buildings with material falling off of them, and areas of contaminated soil.

Nordic will be responsible for the remaining clean-up of industrial debris and demolish abandoned buildings, addressing lead, asbestos and other hazardous materials remaining on-site. Nordic will also remove any potential contamination ensuring clean-up of the site and create a new, environmentally sustainable stormwater system that treats all the stormwater.

Will your discharge hurt the ocean, cause algae blooms or come into Humboldt Bay on incoming tides?

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No. Nordic’s high-level filtering and disinfection means that discharge is essentially filtered water with traces of nutrients. More than 99% of phosphorus, biological oxygen demand (BOD) and total suspended solids (TSS) are removed before the effluent is discharged into the ocean. High discharge treatment ensures that there is no significant impact to the surrounding waters or marine life at the point of discharge.

RAS aquaculture has been endorsed by multiple agencies, including the Monterey Bay Aquarium, The Atlantic Salmon Federation (wild salmon conservation), Nature Conservancy, Food and Water Watch, Global Aquaculture Alliance, Sierra Club, Wild Fish Conservancy and more.

I’ve heard/read that fish farming is bad for the environment.  How is Nordic any different? 

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Nordic uses Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS) instead of net pens, flow-through raceways or ponds. Land-based RAS farming was developed to mitigate impacts of these other types of fish farming.

For example:

  • Nordic cleans and reuses our production water. Others don’t.
  • Nordic treats all water coming in and out of the farm for disease-causing pathogens.
  • Nordic removes all solid waste from effluent and only discharges treated water.
  • Nordic has extensive barriers to prevent fish escape.
  • Nordic does not need medication and pesticides to treat parasites such as sea lice as they cannot enter the farm due to our extensive filtration and water treatment before the water enters the farm.