Organizations involved in the long-term cleanup of contaminants in Thunder Bay Harbour have concluded that wildlife deformities or reproduction problems should be delisted as areas of concern.
A news release issued Monday by groups involved in the Remedial Action Plan states that bird and animal deformities have not been reported within the harbour, and that current contaminant concentrations are below thresholds established for impairment of reproduction and protection of birds that eat fish.
Environment and Climate Change Canada research included examining herring gull eggs from Mutton Island and the Welcome Islands, and comparing them with eggs from a reference site on an island in Black Bay.
Among the findings:
- Zero per cent deformity rate among herring gull embryos following artificial incubation
- Zero per cent deformity rate in herring gull chicks
- Limited differences in contaminant concentrations between Thunder Bay and reference colonies
- Thunder Bay contaminant levels were some of the lowest across the Great Lakes
Thunder Bay harbour was first listed as one of over 40 environmental "Areas Of Concern" around the Great Lakes in 1987 under the Canada-U.S. Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. Contaminated harbour sediment, water quality issues and concerns about the health of fish and wildlife populations were cited as problems requiring remedial action.
Remedial Action Plan agencies include Environment and Climate Change Canada, the Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, and Lakehead University.
Comments about their recommendation to change the status of Bird or Animal Deformities or Reproduction Problems to "unimpaired" should be addressed to RAP coordinator Jim Bailey at 807-343-8514 or jfbailey@laekeheadu.ca.
