Fur farmers, as with all farmers, have environmental best management practices to follow and must adhere to environmental laws and regulations.
If a farm is found to be out of compliance with environmental regulations the farmer must remedy the situation and is also liable for fines and penalties.
Requirements vary from province to province, but all farms including fur farms must meet the rules governing manure management and waste disposal, air and water quality, and other environmental farm practices.
In some provinces, fur farms must apply for an environmental permit to build or expand operations. This ensures that these farms meet the environmental requirements laid down by municipalities and or the province.
Farmers also self-regulate their own environmental activities by completing farm assessments and developing Environmental Farm Plans. Attending ‘how to’ workshops as well as studying and applying best management practices is proving effective in making farms even more environmentally friendly. Although voluntary, there are financial incentives through environmental project grants that have made these programs highly successful since their introduction in the 1990’s.
