Pollution
in The Tusket? his web site started
15
Apr 2009
at the request of Mr.John Halley Horton BSc(Agr) It is edited and commented
on by Godfrey LeBlanc BSc,Ed. Your comments, solutions
are welcome. Email webmaster@yarmouth.org (Subject line: Mink ). --------------2011 ------------
"Never doubt that a small
group of thoughtful , committed people can change the world. - Margaret
Mead"
While other provinces
and countries are phasing out mink farms they are increasing in our area.
The number of mink, in a few hundred square miles of our area, almost equals
the total number found in the whole of the USA (2.8 million). The concentration
of mink South West Nova is to great, the processing and containment
of pollutants inadicuate, the aquatic systems and habitats are breaking
down and realestate values drop.
The usual suspects are involved. The ranchers who want to make
a living, the government
the dept of Agriculture and Finance who want to increase revenu,
the dept of health and environment who don't want to step of the other
depts toes
regulations
Records show that the negative effects The government
Something else I find very troubling and expensive is the necessity
of hiring lawyers to "petition" the government to do what they have a legal
obligation to do anyway: Protect the Environment. The Government
has been aware of the situation since 1985 and nothing has been done.
Is it likely that now they will address a situation that could potentially
have catastrophic effects? In USA there are
2.8 million mink in we have 1.4
million. That's right we have half as many mink as all of
the USA combined, and it is said that there are plans to increase mink
in our area to 15 million. the rivers are dying
History does not inspire one to trust that government or ranchers will
expedited a quick solution to this "____________"
The Viking Fur Mink Farm is dumping mink carcasses and causing
stench and a crazy amount of flies to the poor locals of Newfoundland.
This MinkFarm is funded and supported by .
.
xxx
Introduction
This site will try to explore causes, effects and solutions to
the pollution on the Carleton river system in South west Nova Scotia. It
is hoped that you will be able to research and expand the knowledge-base
of one or more of these topics, and help determine their value in solving
the issue of pollution on the Tusket. New sections will be added
as they are presented or as I have time to research them. I do not
believe that anyone wants to destroy any Ecosystem but it happens.. Education
is key to preventing this from happening.
Their is a difference of opinion as to whether the emphasis of protests
should be on the source of the pollution or the pollution in the system.
If I were a major contributor to the pollution I would prefer latter.
However; there is enough evidence to identify the source so, in my humble
opinion, why make the situation and solutions more ambiguous. The problem
has been identified the source is known.
Something else I find very troubling is the necessity of hiring lawyers
to "petition" the government to do what they have a legal obligation to
do anyway: Protect the Environment. The Government has been aware
of the situation since 1985 and nothing has been done. Is it likely
that now they will address a situation that could potentially have catastrophic
effects? In USA there are
2.8 million mink in we have 1.4
million. That's right we have half as many mink as all of
the USA combined, and it is said that there are plans to increase mink
in our area to 15 million.
History does not inspire one to trust that government or ranchers will
expedited a quick solution to this "____________".
Hi John,
Just stumbled across this, but I've not had time to read through it
- apparently NS govt. released its official "water strategy" on December
16
http://www.gov.ns.ca/nse/water.strategy/ Thank GOD for the Nova Scotia Clean Water Strategy
This glossy professional-looking publication is
a Piece of Work.You gotta read it and check out where we, the people of
western NS, fit in the scheme of things . Some of the statements made are
incredulous, considering the state of pollution that has been thrust on
us by vested mink farm interests in Digby county. They don't
seem to understand that deliberate provincial government intervention has
PREVENTED the cleanup of our rivers, and presently ENABLES these
polluters to continue for years into the future.
They talk about cleaning up while they pass out million
dollar grants for more new mink farms. And they hope to convince
Nova Scotians that our waterways are being well cared for.
If you are one of those people who believe that our rivers
are OK, this document is for you.
John Horton
History
of Mink Ranching in South West Nova Scotia.
I moved to this area in the early 1970's and I remember hearing about
how someone in the area had developed a new breed of mink with a high quality
black fir. Even though I had nothing to do with it, I as well as many others,
took pride in the achievement of a local Nova Scotian. But now some
(not all) ranches are causing serious pollution problems and some ranches
are so large they can be classified as factory
farms.
Mink ranching has become a very important part of the local economy.
Some people have become relatively rich others have found seasonal
employment. Pollution is not an inevitable outcome of development.
Pollution is a result of greed and ignorance. The key to solving
the pollution problem is the mink ranchers themselves. ???
How do you safely process the millions of pounds of mink waste produced
daily ???Maybe it is to big of a problem form them to solve?
One thing is for sure you can't let it rot into the ground, you can't bury
it, you can't let it decompose on sight. If you move it then what?
Solution anyone???
Another problem that is common with "Factory Farms", be they aquatic
or terrestrial, be they fish, foul or mammalian, and that problem is the
spread of disease. Disease necessitates the use of drugs such as
antibiotics that enter the food chain as 3rd degree pollution. So
the mink farmers and government have a challenge, which is compounded as
mink populations increase. The future meets the past in the present.
We are living with the results of past "_________" and it is time to come
up with lasting solutions.
Presently there are many challenges in the industry, the aleutian
mink disease virus is one. In a report titled "A
survey of Aleutian mink disease virus infection of feral American mink
in Nova Scotia" it states "More than 80% of mink ranches in Nova Scotia
are located in the 2 adjacent Yarmouth and Digby counties, and a considerable
number of the ranches have been infected with AMDV in the last 10 y."
This is another problem that farmers must contend with. This disease
effects members of the weasel family, but is not dangerous to humans.
To learn more go to
Aleutian Disease in Mink Fact sheet
Fur
Farming: For
centuries, different species of fur bearers were trapped in their natural
habitat; FUR
TRAPPING is still practiced today.
Mink
farming in Digby County: Published on May 22nd, 2007
Economic contribution of the mink industry to Nova
Scotia
Can
we keep the Mink and protect the Rivers?
It is a gigantic problem. For example "in a tributary to Placides
Lake (223.8 Kg TP / day)" (S
page18), just this one tributary has the potential of producing 250,000
pounds of algae growth per day. The 1.4 million mink in this
area produce about as much waste as a city the size of Halifax. 15
million mink would be "fecally" equivalent to a city the size of Chicago.
This gives some idea of the magnitude of the problem. Financially
1.4 million mink generate about 80 million dollars. There should
be enough money here to find and support the cost of solutions.
It may even be possible to create an industry from mink waste.
Solutions:?
Phosphate Recovery
The chemicals in the manure are too valuable
to just throw away. In my opinion it is almost as _______ to waste
a valuable resource (mink manure) as it is to allow it to pollute a river. I
believe the Government and Ranchers should work to insure that facilities
are available to properly process wastes which can then be profitably sold.
This will increase jobs in our area and protect our environment.
( Much of the information below deals with human waste but since mink waste
contains a much higher % of phosphate it would be more economical.
Presently Europe is having difficulty getting enough phosphates. In
2008 and 2009 prices increased tenfold. (S)
Phosphates and other minerals can be recovered from manure. This
combustion process, though, does not really solve the mineral problem.
Minerals like phosphorus and copper are harvested as ash. Typically, for
every 1000 pounds of dry fecal material, approximately 130 pounds of ash
are formed. This ash is rich in minerals, such as phosphorus, calcium,
potassium, and magnesium.(S)
1. In this section explore methods that are used to
recover phosphates from waste.
http://www.phosphaterecovery.com. "The demand for phosphate is increasing. Global stocks
are finite. " "According to experts all the phosphate in the world
will have been used within the foreseeable future."
2. This website aims to provide an information platform
on the recycling of phosphates.
3. Sustainable Phosphorus Futures: The Story of Phosphorus: 8 reasons why we need to rethink the management
of phosphorus resources in the global food system
www.phosphatesfacts.org Phosphorus is essential for all living matter, including
bacteria, plants and animals. We get our phosphorus from the food we eat,
which in turn comes from the phosphate fertilizers we apply to crops. P
fertilizer is essential for modern food production and is the limiting
factor in crop yields. P is a critical global resource, along side water
and energy resources.
This
web site started 15 Apr 2009 at the
request of Mr.John Horton
The records from then to now Nov 11 1010 are located
HERE! Pictures of polluted lakes can be found in this section.
Ecological Concepts and Misconceptions
Biodegradability
If you were to be asked if it were better that something be biodegradable
or non biodegradable, you would probably choose the latter. In some
cases you would be correct but in others very wrong. Example;
If I dumped a million clean non biodegradable glass bottles into the town
water system it would have very little, if any, effect on the quality of
that water. An equal amount of biodegradable material, be it plastic,
manure or what ever would have a catastrophic effect. A manure pile
that does not rot does not pollute. But manure rots, it is biodegradable,
and when it is gone and rotted away, it now has the biggest potentially
negative effect. Out of sight out of mind but not out of danger.
The latest trend to manufacture biodegradable plastic and other materials
will help to reduce levels at land fills but the material does not disappear
it goes into the aquuifers and food chains.
Degrees of pollution.
Kenny, a friend of mine, threw a sandwich out his car window that would
have provide some creature with it's daily supply of nutrition He was caught
by the RCMP and fined several hundred dollars. Ecological speaking
what he did helped out the ecosystem but he did break a law and was fined.
However; their are very serious situations where aquatic systems are being
destroyed and very little is done to correct the situation.
It is helpful to view pollution in degrees thereof. The
model of Gaia looks at the planet as a living entity.
Mother Nature is a concept that helps us to grasp the importance of a harmonized
interaction between us and our biosphere. Common since tells us that
if ecosystems are dying something is wrong. There are however degrees
of severity. A ton of nutrients may kill a lake but a smaller amount
may benefit the lake.
Though not a conventional method of comparison, the following will help
somewhat to categorize degrees of pollution.
1st degree ;
Minor invasion. A discharged pop bottle, sandwidge...
2st degree :
Excess nutrients such as fertilizers that, if not kept under control ,
can cause eutrification and the death of an aquatic system, very serious.
3rd degree :
Materials such as mercury, radioactive materials, some pharmaceuticals,
"DDT" and many others, that enter the tissue of organisms and become concentrated
as they are recycled through the food chain. The effects of these are long
lived and far reaching.
Ecosystems, Watersheds
and Aquifers
Name.......
Location:..
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