Fish and Seafood Processing Wastes. Wastes composed of solid or settling organic matter, including seafood processing, sport fish wastes, and food or fecal matter resulting from aquatic culturing. Vessel Traffic Small or large vessels that may cause injury through contact or propeller wash, disturbance from noise or movement, release of fuels and other chemicals from normal operation, release of sewage wastes, or release of ballast water. Construction and Development Activities such as land clearing, building, and road and dock construction that directly alter habitat, release debris or sediment, or change physical conditions such as water flow.
Fish and Seafood Processing Wastes. Fish parts and carcasses discharged into Port Valdez are from seafood processing plants (Nautilus, Xxxxx Pan, and Seahawk Seafoods), the Solomon Gulch Hatchery, and sport and commercial fishing. Because these wastes contain rich organic matter that settles to the seafloor, fish culturing in netpens is included in this category since excess food and feces accumulate within or near netpens (Xxxxx et al., 1991). Seafood processing plants discharge fish wastes from sites near the city docks under an NPDES permit (Table 5-4). Table 5-4 Wastewater discharges permitted for seafood processing plants in Xxxxxx (pers. comm. Xxxxx Xxxxx, ADEC, 1995). Seafood Processing Discharge Characteristics Plants Quantity (April-Sept.)* Approximate Depth Xxxxx Pan 7,607,000 lbs (1995) 60 m Seahawk Seafoods Not Operating (1994) 20 m Nautilus 1,291,494 lbs (1994) 18 m * Heaviest discharges in July and August Processing permits require that the wastes be ground into one-half inch or smaller pieces. Much of the processing waste was, until recently, discharged in shallow water near the head of the Port (Xxxxx and Shaw, 1996; Xxxxx and Xxxxxxxxx, 1996a). The general NPDES permit for seafood processing was reissued in 1995 (#AK-G52-000). The discharge points are now required to be deeper than 60 ft (18 m) in order to protect kelp beds in the shallow subtidal (pers. comm. Xxxxxx Xxxx, U.S. EPA, 1995). The permit also allows the discharge of disinfectants (e.g., sodium hypochlorite and ammonium chloride), sanitary wastewaters, and other process wastewaters from the plant. Carcasses of adult fish left after egg extraction at the Solomon Gulch Hatchery produce an additional waste source. The Solomon Gulch Hatchery disposes of pink and silver salmon carcasses in the deep water of Port Valdez unless a market for them can be found or they can be given away. The hatchery has also obtained a processing permit that requires grinding of these wastes. The Solomon Gulch Hatchery on the south shore raises silver salmon in net pens during the summer. Returning adult pink salmon are also kept in net pens before the eggs are harvested in years when overfishing of this population is a concern (Xxxxxx Fisheries Development Association, 1995). Sediments below net pens are known to collect fecal matter and uneaten food. Sport fish wastes in the Valdez Small Boat Harbor have been a problem in the past. The harbor is currently experimenting with five fish cleaning stations where fish wastes are collected and...
