Plan for mink farm examined

An environmental assessment is underway for a proposed mink farm in Springton, P.E.I.

The province has an application from Ryan MacPhee to build two mink barns that would house about 2,000 breeding female minks.

The barns would house up to 10,000 animals during peak periods after the females give birth.

Jay Carr, an environmental impact officer with the Department of Environment, Energy and Forestry, said the property is currently an open field in Queens County.

"We're looking for what they're going to do for odour control and manure management mostly. Also, there is a stream in the area," he said.

"It's not close, but we're making sure that it's not going to be impacted. If [residents] have any concerns, they have the opportunity to comment to our department."

The barns would be more than 300 metres from the nearest homes. That distance is nearly twice what the province requires.

The owner said concrete floors and troughs would contain manure and it would be trucked away daily for disposal off-site.

Call for public feedback

Carr said a final decision on a building permit will be made after the public consultation deadline of Sept. 20.

Residents in the area have 10 days to respond to the application.

There are about a dozen mink farms on P.E.I.

MacPhee is from Meadowbank and is a butcher by trade, but he said he has been working with a mink farmer for a few years to learn the ropes.  

He will be raising the mink on contact, which means he will only own the barns, feed and equipment. The animals will be owned by someone else and he will raise them for a fee.  

The mink would be killed at the site and shipped to Nova Scotia to be skinned.

"The price has gone up and down a lot in the last few years but it has finally stabilized. It looks like a good time to give mink farming a try," MacPhee told CBC News.

"I prefer to keep out of the spotlight. Fur farming attracts a lot of attention from people like animal rights activists. I can do without it."

Neighbour Mark Chenier had no objections to the plan.

"I think it's fine. It doesn't bother me. As long as they keep all their animals contained, not free ranging or anything," he said.

"We're out in the country.You've got to expect things like that."