Environmental

Prior to the establishment of Elijah Fish farm in Bonaire, extensive research was done into the possible impact on the islands’ ecological environment. The results of these studies point out, that the characteristics of the surrounding area as well as the company’s operations result in a virtually 0 impact of Elijah Fish Farm on the land and water surface and the ecological system surrounding it. The research was done in deliberation with DROB (Dienst Ruimtelijke Ontwikkeling en Beheer) and STINAPA (Stichting Nationale Parken Bonaire).

• Contamination risks
  Elijah Fish Farm is located about 2.5-2.6 KM from the nearest coast. This, together with the fact that the production system is a closed one, reduces the risk of eventual contamination coming from the fish farm to 0. Even if a fish would manage to travel through the piping system and end up in the EFF segmentation pond, it would never survive the salty conditions in the surrounding Evaporation pond of local salt producer Cargill.
• Effluent discharge
  There is no effluent discharge from EFF into any public or natural surface waters on or around Bonaire; effluent discharge from the EFF fish production facility goes directly into its segmentation pond, then into the Cargill Salt Works Lima Salt Evaporation Pond, and from there (if it hasn’t already evaporated completely) into Cargill’s salt evaporation process.
• Groundwater pollution
  Prior research by Akzo-Nobel already reported the surrounding soil as not permeable, reducing the risks of eventual groundwater pollution to zero.
• Use of chemicals
  The company’s policy is not to use any unnatural chemicals related to hormones, antibiotics, therapeutic substances and disinfectants in any part of their production processes.
• Fish Health
  Fish health is safeguarded by buying fingerlings only from reliable suppliers.
• Use of new seawater
  With a water recirculation factor of ± 99.5%, the amount of new seawater required remains limited to a maximum of 5 m³ per hour/day.
• Effluent production
  EFF’s effluent production process is part of Cargill’s salt production system.
• Compliance
  EFF complies with strict effluent testing protocols. These include a number of requirements with respect to collecting, examining and reporting to Cargill and DROB about samples, taken from a number of designated points in the process.