Download CO # 14: Ensure that the unique species biodiversity on the

Unique species biodiversity on the Southwest Shelf Edge and Slope
Potentially Harmful Activity (X)
Bottom trawl
Fishing
Scallop dredges
Clam dredges
Midwater trawl
Gillnets
Gillnets (pelagic)
Long line
Scottish seining
Purse seining
Recreational cod
Crab pots
Lobster pots
Whelk pots
Otter trapping
Other
Seal hunt
harvest
Seabird hunt
Seaweed harvest
Anchor drops/drags
Seabed
Ore spill
alteration
Fish offal dumping
Finfish aquaculture
Dredge spoil
Dredging
X
X
X
Mining/Oil & gas
drilling
Cables
Freshwater
Coastal
alteration
Disturbance
Subtidal construction
Intertidal/coastal
construction
Other (specify)
Vessel traffic
Ship strikes
Ecotourism
Marine construction
Seismic surveys
Navy sonar
Other (specify)
Potentially Harmful Stressor (X)
Oil pollution
Marine
Industrial effluent
pollution Fishplant effluent
Sewage
Historic military waste
Long range transport of
Acid rain
Persistent Organic Pollutants
Eutrophication
Ghost nets
Litter
Other contaminants (specify)
Ice distribution
Climate
Temperature change
Change
Sea-level rise
Ocean acidification
Current shifts
Increased storm events
Increased UV light
Oxygen depletion
Changes in freshwater runoff
Other (specify)
Green crab
Harmful
Membranipora
species
Golden Star Tunicate
Violet Tunicate
Vase Tunicate
Codium fragile
Clubbed Tunicate
Didemnum
Toxic Algal Blooms
X
X
X
X
X
Disease organisms (human waste)
Disease organisms (from aquaculture)
Other (specify)
X
Other
1
Background Information
The CP of ‘unique species diversity’ includes species of groundfish, coldwater corals,
seabirds, cetaceans and leatherback turtles. The complex topography of the Southwest Shelf
Edge and Slope EBSA, in combination with other factors including wind and currents, results
in upwellings of nutrient-rich deep water to the photic zone stimulating high primary
productivity which in turn supports a high concentration of marine species (Templeman,
2007; Templeman & Davis, 2006). The EBSA encompasses 16,580km2 with depths ranging
from ~100m to 2000m, and its more southerly location results in considerably higher bottom
temperatures than the remainder of the Grand Bank (Kulka et al., 2003). The EBSA is
influenced by the Labrador Current, carrying relatively cold water of Arctic origin, which
flows along the shelf edge, but at various times, Labrador Slope Water flows southwest
between the shelf break and Warm Slope Water adjacent to the north wall of the Gulf
Stream, mixing with Warm Slope Water along the way. This wide range of ecosystem
features results in a unique diversity of marine species.
The high density and diversity of the EBSA includes:
 The highest density of pelagic seabird feeding within the LOMA (Templeman, 2007).
 The highest cold-water coral species diversity and concentration within the LOMA
(Edinger et al., 2007a).
 The greatest number of groundfish species on the Grand Banks (Kulka et al., 2003). This
includes high concentrations of Atlantic cod, cusk, monkfish, white hake, yellowtail
flounder, Atlantic halibut, pollock, roundnose grenadier, thorny skate, witch flounder and
Greenland halibut (Kulka et al., 2003), as well as the northernmost population of haddock
in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean (Templeman, 2007), and a major spawning area for
haddock, redfish and white hake (Templeman, 2007).
 Frequent occurrence of cetaceans including the humpback whale, blue whale, fin whale,
sei whale and the minke whale, sperm whale, long-finned pilot whale, the northern
bottlenose whale, the killer whale, Atlantic white-sided dolphin, white-beaked dolphin,
short-beaked common dolphin, and harbour porpoise (Templeman & Davis, 2006).
 Depleted or rare species’ include: cod, 3LNO American plaice, 2J3KL and 3NO witch
flounder, 3LN redfish, and haddock, Porbeagle shark, leatherback seaturtle, blue whale
and large gorgonian corals. These species are already in need of recovery. Ecologically
Significant Species include: Atlantic cod >35cm, Greenland halibut <40cm, Greenland
halibut >40cm and cetaceans.
This EBSA includes areas within Divisions 3Psh, 3Oa, 3Oc, 3Od and 3Oe. A small area on
the southwest corner of the EBSA, in 3O, is outside the EEZ.
Scoping
Bottom trawl:
Trawls are long, wedge-shaped nets of synthetic webbing that narrow into a funnel-shaped
bag. The bottom trawl is dragged along the seafloor and kept open during a tow with large,
oval, metal plates (doors). Footropes are often rigged with heavy steel rollers or chains to
keep the net on the seafloor. Multi-year studies of the impacts of groundfish trawling carried
out in the Atlantic by DFO show short-term disruption of benthic communities, including
2
reductions in the biomass and diversity of benthic organisms. Some previously fished
seafloor habitats showed recovery within one to three years but frequently trawled habitats
remain in an altered state. It is generally accepted that bottom trawling have adverse effects
on benthic habitat and marine biodiversity (Fuller & Myers, 2004).
Kulka and Pitcher (2001) found that trawling occurred in a continuous band along the
southwest slope of the Grand Bank, and it was identified as the only place on the Grand
Banks where fishing was sustained over the entire study period (Kulka et al., 2003) (Kulka &
Pitcher, 2001). Bottom trawl was the most commonly used gear type in the EBSA, resulting
in 62% of NL fisheries landings by weight over the period 1998-2007, with average annual
landings of 3,186 tonnes (Appendix A, Table 16). These fisheries target Greenland halibut,
skate, white hake, redfish and yellowtail. Bycatch species in 3O trawls include haddock,
American plaice, pollock, roughead grenadier, and cod.
Although only a small portion of the EBSA is outside Canadian Exclusive Economic Zone,
fish are not confined within the EBSA boundary or Canadian waters, and foreign trawlers
have a significant impact on groundfish stocks (Kulka, 2001). Catches peaked in 2003 when
foreign trawlers landed ~25,000t of groundfish from 3O alone (Figure 2). Species under
moratorium have been significantly impacted: Foreign trawlers were responsible for over
80% of the total cod bycatch in 3NO in 2003 (Rosenberg et al., 2005). Since 2003 foreign
trawler landings have declined considerably, but are still significant. In 2007 foreign
trawlers landed 10,906 t of Greenland Halibut in 3LMNO, 4,939t of skate in 3LNO, 6,948t in
3O, 722t of white hake in 3NO and 4,647t of yellowtail in 3LNO. NAFO fisheries vary
tremendously as fish stocks are often fished out within the space of a few years and vessels
move on to new areas or target new species (Gianni, 2004). This level of harvest clearly has a
significant impact on the unique species biodiversity of the EBSA.
Edinger et al. (2007) found that trawls caught high densities of corals along the southwest
Grand Banks (Edinger et al., 2007b). The level of harm to fragile benthic habitats resulting
from bottom trawls is generally considered to be high (Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 2007a).
Cetaceans, leatherback turtles, and seabirds can also become entangled in trawl gear,
especially as it is being hauled up, although reports of entanglement in fixed gear are more
common (Benjamins et al., 2008; Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 2007b; FRCC., 1997). The
level of harm to cetaceans, leatherback turtles, and seabirds resulting from bottom trawls is
considered to be very low (Ollerhead et al., 2004) (Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 2007a).
The unique species diversity of the EBSA can be affected by the substantial loss of
groundfish biomass, as well as the adverse effects on benthic habitat and biodiversity as the
trawl moves over the seabed (Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 2006; FRCC., 1997; Wallace,
2007). Multi-year studies of the impacts of groundfish trawling carried out in the Atlantic by
DFO show short-term disruption of benthic communities, including reductions in the biomass
and diversity of benthic organisms. Some previously fished seafloor habitats showed
recovery within one to three years but frequently trawled habitats remain in an altered state.
It is generally accepted that bottom trawling have adverse effects on benthic habitat and
marine biodiversity (Fuller & Myers, 2004). Screened in
3
Gillnets (bottom):
Gillnets are vertical walls of mesh, with the mesh openings sized such that target species in
the desired size range are caught as they attempt to swim through the webbing, entangling
their gills. Bottom gillnets are secured in direct contact with the seafloor by weights and
have a high incidence of bycatch. Within the LOMA, offshore license holders are limited to
200-500 nets that are 91m in length and are usually joined together (Appendix A, Table 5).
This amounts to a maximum of 45.5km of net per license holder.
Gillnets were responsible for 30% of landings by weight in this EBSA over the period 19982007, with average annual landings of 1,557 tonnes (Appendix A, Table 16). Foreign vessels
predominantly use bottom trawls, and gillnet landings are insignificant. The unique species
biodiversity can be affected the reduction on biomass resulting from gillnet fisheries
(directed and bycatch), but total landings are low in comparison to landings by bottom trawl
fleets.
Edinger et al. (2007a) found that gillnets caught high densities of corals along the southwest
Grand Banks, with 32.6% of gillnet sets resulting in coral bycatch in their study of the Grand
Banks. In fact, gillnets had a higher percentage of sets containing corals than did trawls,
likely because it is deployed deeper and targets rough-bottom (un-trawlable) areas that are
good coral habitats and have not sustained trawl damage. The level of harm to fragile
benthic habitats resulting from bottom gillnets is generally considered low or moderate
(Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 2007a).
Gillnets result in bycatch of seabirds, cetaceans and leatherback turtles, but by catch is
limited in deep offshore areas since nets are deployed at depths below those frequented by
these species. The document ‘How we fish: Ecological Impact Analysis of Canadian Fishing
Gears’ states that all fixed gear (longlines, gillnets, pots and traps) were responsible for 1122 humpback whale entanglements from 2000-2002 (Ecology Action Centre et al., 2007).
This information comes from voluntary reports, and likely underestimates the entanglement
rate. During the time period from 1979 to 2006, 770 humpback whales, 158 minke whales,
and more than 180 other types of large whales were reported entrapped in fishing gear (all
types) in Newfoundland and Labrador to the Whale Research Group of Memorial University
and the Whale Release and Strandings Program (Ledwell & Huntington, 2007). It is difficult
to estimate the percentage of the total marine mammal entanglements in offshore areas such
as this EBSA, which are not serviced by the Whale Research Group, but it is likely low in
areas where gear is set at depths below those frequented by these species. The level of harm
to seabirds, cetaceans and turtles resulting from bottom gillnets in the offshore is generally
considered very low (Ollerhead et al., 2004) or low (1-25% of the time) (Fisheries and
Oceans Canada, 2007a). Screened out
Longline:
Longlines are often deployed deeper than trawls (>500m), precisely targeting rough-bottom
(“un-trawlable”) areas. Longlines were responsible for 7% of landings by weight for
Newfoundland and Labrador vessels in this EBSA over the period 1998-2007, with average
annual landings of 343 tonnes (Appendix A, Table 16). Foreign vessels predominantly use
bottom trawls, and longline landings are minimal. The unique species biodiversity can be
4
affected the reduction on biomass resulting from gillnet fisheries (directed and bycatch), but
total landings are minimal in comparison to landings by bottom trawl fleets.
Habitat damage from bottom longlines depends on the gear configuration including weights,
number of hooks, type of line, as well as hauling speed and technique (Fuller et al., 2008).
Edinger et al. (2007a) found that longlines caught high densities of corals along the
southwest Grand Banks, with 24.3% of longline sets (for all directed species) resulting in
coral bycatch. In fact, longline fisheries had a higher percentage of sets containing corals
than did trawls, likely because it is deployed deeper and targets rough-bottom (un-trawlable)
areas that are good coral habitats and have not sustained trawl damage. The level of harm to
fragile benthic habitats resulting from longlines is generally considered very low (Ollerhead
et al., 2004) or low (1-25% of the time) (Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 2007a).
Longlines are also responsible for by catch of seabirds, marine mammals and leatherback
turtles, with seabird mortalities of greatest concern. As longlines are set or retrieved off the
rear of fishing boats, the birds dive after the free buffet of squid or fish used as bait. They
swallow baited hooks or are impaled, then are dragged underwater and drown as the gear
sinks (Bull, 2007). Sometimes birds take as much as 70% of the bait. Some species (e.g.
sooty shearwaters) may dive as deep as 60 meters below the surface to grasp the bait (Bull,
2007). The level of harm to seabirds resulting from longlines is generally considered high
(>75% of the time), but very low (Ollerhead et al., 2004) for cetaceans and leatherback
turtles (Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 2007a).
Although longlines may impact groundfish, corals and seabirds, the overall impacts are not
expected to compromise the unique biodiversity of the EBSA. Screened out
Seismic exploration:
There are currently no active licenses in the EBSA, and although the South Whale Basin,
which overlaps with the top northwest portion of the EBSA, is an area of interest to the
offshore oil industry, the exploration licence for the area is expired, and no further drilling
plans have been reported for the area. Screened out
Oil pollution:
Potential sources of oil pollution relate to ship traffic, and offshore oil exploration. The
Southwest Shelf Edge and Slope has between 1500-4,799 total vessel transits in an average
year. This is considered ‘low’ within the LOMA. However, 300-549 of those vessel transits
are tankers, which rank among the 'medium' density of tanker traffic in the LOMA.
The South Whale Basin, which overlaps the EBSA, was the first area to be drilled in the
Newfoundland offshore area. Fifteen wells were drilled in the South Whale Basin between
1966 and 1974. Although good reservoirs and several oil and gas shows were indicated, there
were no commercial discoveries. The South Whale Basin Property was comprised of three
exploration licences (1060, 1061, 1062) covering 1,644,255 acres. In July 2005, the first
Jack-up rig on the Grand Banks, drilled a well on Husky Energy’s Lewis Hill prospect in the
5
South Whale Basin. This was the first well drilled since 1987. This exploration licence is
expired, and no further drilling plans have been reported for the area. Screened out
Ghost nets:
Ghost nets are fishing gear that have been lost or discarded at sea. Since the 1960s, fishing
nets have been constructed from highly durable plastic materials such as nylon which do not
biodegrade. Unlike their natural predecessors, the new materials can last for years or decades
in the marine environment, are largely impervious to biodegradation, are resistant to
chemicals and abrasion (National Academy of Sciences, 2008). Sun exposure can lead to
photodegradation of some synthetic materials, but on the sea bottom, protected from UV
radiation, there is no evidence that these nets weaken or degrade over time and as a result,
lost gear can continue to fish for decades.
Gillnets, traps, trawls and line fisheries are considered the most harmful in relation to derelict
fishing gear (National Academy of Sciences, 2008). Bottom trawl are responsible for 62% of
the landings in the EBSA, gillnets for 30% and long line for 7% over the period 1998-2007
(Appendix A, Table 15). Lost gillnets are thought to be the most problematic for coral
diversity because of their widespread use in the EBSA and the fact that they are the most
commonly lost gear type. Within the EBSA, gillnets are are restricted to a maximum of 91m
in length, with 100 to 400 nets allowed per license depending on the fisheries (Appendix A,
Table 5). This amounts to a maximum of 36.4km of net per license holder. Set bottom
gillnets, by virtue of their fixed, anchored framing, may remain fully deployed and fishing
long after they are lost or abandoned. Even when nets collapse, forming tangled balls, they
move over the seafloor, detaching and crushing corals and perpetuating the cycle of
destruction. Storm events may cause gear to move along the sea floor, crushing fragile
habitats.
In north Atlantic fisheries, the amount of lost and discarded nets associated with each fishery
is unknown, but anecdotal evidence suggests that in some fisheries, 30km of net are lost or
discarded during a typical 45-day trip, which translates into 1,254km of lost or discarded
netting per year (Hareide et al., 2005). In Canada, fish harvesters are required to report lost
nets to DFO, and although the loss of nets appears to be common, the Department receives
very few reports and therefore useful data is not available. For example, 67% of fish
harvesters reported experiencing loss of gear in a recent survey of over 1,000 fish harvesters
currently operating within Placentia Bay (FFAW, 2007). Although most research has been
focused on inshore waters, a number of factors indicate that the problem is significantly
worse in the offshore where water is deeper, fish harvesters use larger amounts of gear, and
weather conditions are more severe, all factors which lead to increased rates of gear loss
(Hareide et al., 2005)
Due to high intensity of fishing activity in the area and the dynamic nature of the
environment, loss of gear is likely significant, and can cause significant mortalities to a
variety of organisms through entanglement, but will not have a major impact species
biodiversity, or on the structure and oceanographic features that makes the area unique.
Screened out
6
Temperature change:
Drinkwater (UNEP and UNFCCC, 2002) predicts a temperature increase of 2-4oC in
Southern Newfoundland waters by 2100 based on IPCC 2001 models. Rise will likely not be
linear, but is expected to accelerate over time, but even given the worst case scenario, an
increase in 0.4oC is likely the most we can expect over the next ten years. This predicted rise
in temperature may be balanced by a potential drop in temperature resulting from a reduced
flow of the warm Gulf Stream Current and increased flow from the Labrador Currents as a
result of increased ice melt.
This is an average change and may be characterized by temperature fluctuation over a wider
range and may have minor affects on some species, but groundfish species that inhabit
deeper, hydrographically more stable waters will likely be less affected. However, spawning
success and egg survival may be more dependent on a specific temperature range. Deepwater
corals do not appear to be extremely sensitive to temperature change and are not expected to
be significantly affected. Seabirds, cetaceans and leatherbacks can tolerate a wide
temperature range. Zooplankton and other species on the food chain may also be affected by
change in ocean temperature, affecting survival. The ability to locate new feeding grounds
when changing oceanographic conditions lead to a significant shift in prey distribution.
Temperature rise expected over the next ten years is not expected to significantly impact this
CP, but may be a serious threat in the future.
Natural and anthropogenic perturbations have interactive and synergistic effects on fish
distributions and populations and, hence, on seabird feeding ecology and reproductive
success. It is also apparent that slight changes in ocean thermal regimes can induce profound
changes in the temporal and spatial (both vertical and horizontal) distributions and migratory
patterns of pelagic fish. Changes in prey distributions determine their availability to
piscivorous and planktivorous seabirds. Such interactions imply that slight changes in
oceanographic conditions associated with climatic warming might have large-scale and
pervasive effects on vertebrate trophic interactions that could influence seabird reproductive
success and population change. Furthermore, we might also expect to detect the initial
influences of such oceanographic changes near the limits of seabird ranges (Barrett et al.,
2006) and most especially near the margins of oceanographic regions, such as the
Newfoundland Shelf where low-arctic water makes its southernmost penetration
(Montevecchi & Myers, 1997). Screened out
Ocean acidification:
The global oceans represent earth’s greatest natural carbon sink, holding more than 88% of
all CO 2 on the planet and cycling a significant portion of human CO 2 emissions every year.
Over the next few centuries, ocean uptake of CO 2 and its acidifying reaction with seawater is
expected to substantially decrease oceanic pH. Acidification results in a reduction in the
availability of carbonate ions essential to calcifying organisms. Forms of calcium carbonate
become more soluble with increasing acidity, and this leads to erosion of the existing calcium
carbonate shells/skeletons and affects the ability of organisms to grow or construct new
shells/skeletons. Calcium structures become more soluble with decreasing temperature and
increasing pressure (depth), so organisms inhabiting deeper waters are most at risk.
7
Food sources could be affected as acidification slows growth of major groups of planktonic
calcifiers (coccolithophores, foraminifera, and pteropods) with resulting changes to the
marine food chain. Silica- based dinoflagelates make up the majority of the spring blooms in
the area, but calcifers contribute significantly to the fall blooms as water warms, and rising
temperatures may cause a shift toward calcifers over time, even as ocean acidification
reduces their ability to grow.
Rising ocean acidity could have adverse affects on planktonic eggs and larvae which are
sensitive to pH. Ocean acidification is not expected to increase to a significant level over the
next decade, but may have potentially devastating effects over the next century. More
research is needed in relation to pH, temperature and ecosystem response to changes in the
LOMA. Screened out
Current shifts:
The flow of major ocean currents is driven by the sinking of super-cooled (heavy) water in
specific areas of the ocean - as cold water sinks, warm water flows in to replace it, driving
the large scale circulation of the ocean. Global warming is weakening this process. This
weakening could cause changes in the currents over the next few years or decades. The exact
effect and timing of such changes is hard to predict because currents and weather systems
take years to respond and because there are other (unstudied) areas around the north Atlantic
where water sinks, helping to maintain circulation. A decline in sub-polar circulation in the
North Atlantic has been detected in recent years (Hakkinen & Rhines, 2004), potentially
indicating a weakening of the Labrador Current. At the same time, rising temperatures
leading to increased polar ice melt may at least temporarily increase the volume and decrease
the salinity of the Labrador Current. The progress and consequences of these changes are
difficult to forecast and research and monitoring are required to produce more informed
predictions.
Aggregations, spawning, migrations, and feeding of certain species could be affected. The
Southwest Shelf Edge and Slope has bathymetric features which are considered good habitat
for corals, because they are associated with strong currents that winnow away fine sediment,
exposing harder substrates, and provide a reliable source of fine particulate organic matter for
suspension feeding corals (Wareham & Edinger, 2007). Corals are thought to depend on
zooplankton and organic matter (transported by currents or deposited by productivity at the
sea surface above) and are expected to be affected by changes in both surface and deep water
circulation. Groundfish depend indirectly on zooplankton and smaller fish as sources of food,
which may be impacted. Marine mammals could potentially be indirectly impacted through
redistribution or lack of food sources that are impacted by current change, but they have a
very large range, with some species only inhabiting the LOMA for a portion of the year.
Current shifts are unlikely to reach a level where the CP is seriously harmed within the next
ten years, but has the potential to permanently impact groundfish in the future. Screened out
Key Activities/Stressors
 Bottom trawl
8
Reference List
1. Allsopp, M., Costner, P., & Johnston, P. (2001). Incineration and Human Health: State
of Knowledge of the Impacts of Waste Incinerators on Human Health University of
Exeter, U.K.: Greenpeace Research Laboratories.
2. Barrett, R. T., Chapdelaine, G., Anker-Nilssen, T., Mosbech, A., Montevecchi, W.,
Reid, J. B. et al. (2006). Seabird numbers and prey consumption in the North Atlantic.
ICES Journal of Marine Science, 63, 1145-1158.
3. Benjamins, S., Kulka, D. W., & Lawson, J. (2008). Incidental catch of Seabirds in
Newfoundland and Labrador gillnet fisheries, 2001-2003. Endang.Species Res.,
preprint.
4. Bull, L. S. (2007). Reducing seabird bycatch in longline, trawl and gillnet fisheries.
Fish and Fisheries, 8, 31-56.
5. Ecology Action Centre, Living Oceans Society, & Marine Conservation Biology
Institute (2007). How We Fish: Ecological Impact Analysis of Canadian Fishing Gears
Lunenburg, NS: Expert Workshop.
6. Edinger, E., Baker, K., Devillers, R., & Wareham, V. (2007a). Coldwater Corals off
Newfoundland and Labrador: Distribution and Fisheries Impacts Halifax, Canada:
World Wildlife Fund.
7. Edinger, E. N., Wareham, V. E., & Haedrich, R. L. (2007b). Patterns of groundfish
diversity and abundance in relation to deep-sea coral distributions in Newfoundland and
Labrador waters. Bulletin of Marine Science, 81, 101-122.
8. FFAW (2007). Appendix C: Co-existance? Fishing Activity and Tanker Traffic in
Placentia Bay, June 2007 (Rep. No. Provincial Environmental Assessment,
Environmental Impact Statement, Volume 4, Socio-Economic Assessment, Volume 2).
Newfoundland and Labrador Refining Corporation.
9. Fisheries and Oceans Canada (2006). Impacts of trawl gears and scallop dredges on
benthic habitats, populations and communities (Rep. No. Science Advisory Report
2006/025). Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat, National Capital Region.
10. Fisheries and Oceans Canada (2007a). Draft proceedings of the Workshop on
Qualitative Risk Assessment of Fishing Gears. In Government of Canada.
11. Fisheries and Oceans Canada (2007b). National plan of action for reducing the
incidental catch of seabirds in longline fisheries (Rep. No. ISBN 978-0-662-498834). Communications Branch.
12. FRCC. (1997). A Report on Gear Technology in Eastern Canada. FRCC, 97, 1-42.
9
13. Fuller, S. D. & Myers, R. A. (2004). The Southern Grand Bank: a marine protected
area for the world Halifax: World Wildlife Fund Canada.
14. Fuller, S. D., Picco, C., Ford, J., Tsao, C.-F., Morgan, L. E., Hangaard, D. et al. (2008).
How we fish matters: Addressing the Ecological Impacts of Canadian Fishing Gear
Ecology Action Centre, Living Oceans Society, and Marine Conservation Biology
Institute.
15. Gianni, M. (2004). High Seas Bottom Trawl Fisheries and their Impacts on the
Biodiversity of Vulnerable Deep-Sea Ecosystems: Options for International Action
Gland, Switzerland: IUCN - The World Conservation Union.
16. Hakkinen, S. & Rhines, P. (2004). Decline of Subpolar North Atlantic Circulation
During the 1990s. Science, 304, 555-559.
17. Hareide, N.-R., Garnes, G., Rihan, D., Mulligan, M., Tyndall, P., Clark, M. et al.
(2005). A preliminary Investigation on Shelf Edge and Deepwater Fixed Net Fisheries
to the West and North of Great Britain, Ireland, around Rockall and Hatton Bank.
18. Kulka, D. W. (2001). Distribution of Greenland Halibut and By-catch Species that
Overlap the 200-mile Limit Spatially and in Relation to Depth - Effect of Depth
Restrictions in the Fishery (Rep. No. NAFO SCR Doc. 01/40, Serial No. N4418).
Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization.
19. Kulka, D. W., Antle, N. C., & Simms, J. M. (2003). Spatial Analysis of 18 Demersal
Species in Relation to Petroleum License Areas on the Grand Banks (1980-2000) (Rep.
No. Canadian Technical Report of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 2473). Fisheries and
Oceans Canada.
20. Kulka, D. W. & Pitcher, D. A. (2001). Spatial and Temporal Patterns in Trawling
Activity in the Canadian Atlantic and Pacific (Rep. No. ICES CM 2001/R:02).
21. Ledwell, W. & Huntington, J. (2007). Whale and leatherback sea turtles incidental
entrapment in fishing gear in Newfoundland and Labrador and a summary of the
Whale Release and Strandings Program during 2006 A Report to the Department of
Fisheries and Oceans, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
22. Montevecchi, W. & Myers, R. A. (1997). Centurial and decadal oceanographic
influences on changes in northern gannet populations and diets in the north-west
Atlantic: implications for climate change. ICES Journal of Marine Science, 54, 608614.
23. National Academy of Sciences (2008). Tackling Marine Debris in the 21st Century.
24. Ollerhead, L. M. N., Morgan, M. J., Scruton, D. A., & Marrie, B. (2004). Mapping
spawning times and locations for 10 commercially important fish species found on the
Grand Banks of Newfoundland. Canadian Technical Report of Fisheries and Aquatic
Sciences, 2522, iv-45.
10
25. Rosenberg, A., Mooney-Seus, M., & Ninnes, C. (2005). Bycatch on the High Seas: A
Review of the Effectiveness of the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization Toronto,
Canada: WWF-Canada.
26. Templeman, N. D. (2007). Placentia Bay-Grand Banks Large Ocean Management
Area Ecologically and Biologically Significant Areas (Rep. No. 2007/052). Canadian
Science Advisory Secretariat Research Document, Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
27. Templeman, N. D. & Davis, M. B. (2006). Placentia Bay-Grand Banks Ecosystem
Overview and Assessment Report (DRAFT) Newfoundland & Labrador: Fisheries and
Oceans Canada.
28. UNEP and UNFCCC. (2002). Climate Change Information Kit.
Ref Type: Generic
29. Wallace, S. (2007). Dragging our Assets, Toward an Ecosystem Approach to Bottom
Trawling in Canada David Suzuki Foundation.
30. Wareham, V. E. & Edinger, E. N. (2007). Distribution of deep-sea corals in the
Newfoundland and Labrador region, Northwest Atlantic Ocean. Bulletin of Marine
Science, 81, 289-313.
11
Unique species biodiversity on the Southwest Shelf Edge and Slope
Bottom trawl
Magnitude of Interaction
Areal extent:
 The CP of ‘unique species diversity’ includes wide range of groundfish species,
coldwater corals, seabirds, cetaceans and leatherback turtles as well as other marine
species.
 Based on this information the entire EBSA (16,580km2) is considered the area occupied
by the CP.
 Bottom trawl is used extensively in this area. Kulka and Pitcher (2001) found that
trawling occurred in a continuous band along the southwest slope of the Grand Banks
from 1980 to 2000, and it was identified as the only place on the Grand Banks where
trawling was sustained over the entire study period (Kulka & Pitcher, 2001). Numerous
locations in the EBSA were trawled over 100%, in any year of the study (see figure
below) (Kulka & Pitcher, 2001).
Figure 1. Area of bottom trawling by Newfoundland and Labrador vessels within the LOMA
and EBSA (Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 2008).

Although only a small portion of the EBSA is outside Canadian Exclusive Economic
Zone (Kulka, 2001), fishing by foreign bottom trawlers in this area has been intense.
NAFO vessel positions for 2006 are shown in Figure 2.
Figure 2. NAFO Fisheries Vessel positions (2006) within the LOMA (NAFO, 2009).
1

Most trawling is concentrated on the shallowest half of the EBSA in an area
encompassing 7,117km2. We have therefore estimated an area of overlap as 7,117km2 /
16,580 km2 % = 43%.
Score 4.3
Contact:
 Five groundfish species that contribute to the CP are subject to directed trawl fisheries in
the EBSA and another five species are major species reported as bycatch, therefore
contact for the groundfish component of the CP must be considered high
 In relation to bottom trawl, Quantitative Fishing Gear Scores (Fisheries and Oceans
Canada, 2007a) for “contact” are high (75-100%) for bony fish species, corals, and other
benthic substrates and fauna, but low (1-25% of the time) for seabirds, turtles and
cetaceans (Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 2007a).
 Based on this information we have selected a moderate score which reflects an average
likelihood of contact for the CP.
Score 5
Duration:
 Bottom trawl fisheries occur within the EBSA throughout the year, therefore average
annual duration = 100%.
Score 10
Intensity:
 Global maps (Halpern et al., 2008) for demersal destructive fisheries such as bottom
trawling show a high intensity (80-100%) along the eastern slope of the northern and
southern Grand Banks, but lower levels on the Southwest Slope:
Map
colour
Red
Orange
Yellow
Light
Blue Dark
Blue
Intensity
80100%
60-80%
40-60%
20-40%
0-20%
Figure 3. Global Intensity of Demersal Destructive Fisheries 1999-2003 (Halpern et al.,
2008)
2




Halpern’s fishing maps are based on data from 1999-2003, and better represent NAFO
fisheries, which are notoriously variable year to year, than Canadian fisheries, and are not
as spatially precise on a local scale as long term local data.
Kulka and Pitcher (2001) found that trawling occurred in a continuous band along the
southwest slope of the Grand Banks, and it was identified as the only place on the Grand
Banks where fishing was sustained over the entire study period 1980 – 2000 (Kulka &
Pitcher, 2001). Bottom trawl is responsible for more landings than any other gear type in
this EBSA, with average annual landings of 3,187t, followed by gillnet at 1,557t, and
longline at 343t (Appendix A, Table13).
The Grand Bank of Newfoundland: Atlas of Human Activities maps the distribution of
landings for 2000-2003. Significant landings of groundfish were taken from the
Southwest Shelf Edge and Slope EBSA during 2000-2003 (Fisheries and Oceans Canada,
2007c).
Based on both global and local data, we have estimated an intensity of 90%.
Score 9
Magnitude of Impact: (4.3 x 5 x 10 x 9)/1000 = 1.9
Sensitivity
Sensitivity of the CP to acute impacts:
 The unique species diversity of the EBSA can be affected by the substantial loss of
groundfish biomass, as well as the adverse effects on benthic habitat and biodiversity as
the trawl moves over the seabed (Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 2006; FRCC., 1997;
Wallace, 2007).
 Figure 4 shows landings by bottom trawl within area 3O (which comprises most of the
EBSA) peaked in 2003 at levels considered to be unsustainable (Power et al., 2005;
Rosenberg et al., 2005). This level of harvest clearly has a significant impact on the
unique species biodiversity of the EBSA.
Figure 4. Landings in 3O from 1998-2004 (NAFO, 2009).

Multi-year studies of the impacts of groundfish trawling carried out in the Atlantic by
DFO show short-term disruption of benthic communities, including reductions in the
biomass and diversity of benthic organisms. Bottom trawl was assigned an ecological
rating of “high impact” (the highest of 5 categories) in relation to ground fish as well as
invertebrates, corals and sponges and the seafloor (Fuller et al., 2008). Edinger et al.
3


Cetaceans, leatherback turtles, and seabirds can also become entangled in trawl gear,
especially as it is being hauled up, although reports of entanglement in fixed gear are
more common (Benjamins et al., 2008; Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 2007b; FRCC.,
1997; Ledwell & Huntington, 2007). The level of harm to cetaceans, leatherback turtles,
and seabirds resulting from bottom trawls on the Grand Banks is considered to be very
low (Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 2007a). Bottom trawl was assigned an ecological
rating of “medium-low impact” (second lowest of 5 categories) in relation seabirds and
marine mammals (Fuller et al., 2008).
Since the CP includes arrange of species with varying acute sensitivity to bottom trawls,
we have selected a moderate score of 6
Score 6
Sensitivity of the CP to chronic impacts:
 Over-fishing of groundfish populations in the EBSA, largely by foreign trawlers, has led
to the depletion of a number of groundfish species which contribute to the unique
biodiversity of the EBSA, and many of these species are in need of recovery. Therefore
the chronic sensitivity of this component of the CP to bottom trawling is considered to be
high.
 It is generally accepted that bottom trawling have adverse effects on benthic habitat and
marine biodiversity (Fuller & Myers, 2004). Multi-year studies of the impacts of
groundfish trawling carried out in the Atlantic by DFO show that some previously fished
seafloor habitats recovered within one to three years but frequently trawled habitats
remain in an altered state.
 The impacts of bottom trawls on other components of the CP including seabirds,
cetaceans, and turtles low to moderate, and mortality rates are not expected to have
significant long term impacts on the population.
 Since the CP includes a range of species with varying chronic sensitivity to bottom
trawls, we have selected a moderate score of 6.
 Depleted or rare species’ which contribute to the CP include Atlantic cod, 3LNO
American plaice, 2J3KL and 3NO witch flounder, 3LN redfish, and haddock, leatherback
turtle, blue whale and large gorgonian corals. These species are already in need of
recovery. Since these species represent a significant component of the CP we have added
1 point.
Score 7
Sensitivity of ecosystem to harmful impacts to the CP:
 The EBSA’s unique species biodiversity includes species of groundfish, coldwater corals,
seabirds, cetaceans and leatherback turtles, and relates largely to physical features which
lead to the high productivity of the area.
4







The complex topography of the Southwest Shelf Edge and Slope EBSA, in combination
with other factors including wind and currents, results in upwellings of nutrient-rich deep
water to the photic zone stimulating high primary productivity which in turn supports a
high concentration of marine species (Templeman, 2007; Templeman & Davis, 2006).
The EBSA is influenced by the Labrador Current, carrying relatively cold water of Arctic
origin, which flows along the shelf edge, but at various times, Labrador Slope Water
flows southwest between the shelf break and Warm Slope Water adjacent to the north
wall of the Gulf Stream, mixing with Warm Slope Water along the way.
The EBSA encompasses 16,580km2 with depths ranging from ~100m to 2000m, and its
more southerly location results in considerably higher bottom temperatures than the
remainder of the Grand Bank (Kulka et al., 2003).
These wide range of ecosystem features combine to support in a unique diversity of
marine species:
o The highest density of pelagic seabird feeding within the LOMA (Templeman,
2007).
o The highest cold-water coral species diversity and concentration within the
LOMA (Edinger et al., 2007).
o The greatest number of groundfish species on the Grand Banks (Kulka et al.,
2003). This includes high concentrations of Atlantic cod, cusk, monkfish, white
hake, yellowtail flounder, Atlantic halibut, pollock, roundnose grenadier, thorny
skate, witch flounder and Greenland halibut (Kulka et al., 2003), as well as the
northernmost population of haddock in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean
(Templeman, 2007), and a major spawning area for haddock, redfish and white
hake (Templeman, 2007).
o Frequent occurrence of cetaceans including the humpback whale, blue whale, fin
whale, sei whale and the minke whale, sperm whale, long-finned pilot whale, the
northern bottlenose whale, the killer whale, Atlantic white-sided dolphin, whitebeaked dolphin, short-beaked common dolphin, and harbour porpoise
(Templeman & Davis, 2006).
Although the EBSA is considered to be a highly productive area of the LOMA with some
unique features, many areas of the shelf edge and slope share several of these features,
and are also considered to be highly productive.
Based on this information we have selected a moderate score (7.5) in the high range.
Ecologically Significant Species which contribute to the CP include Atlantic cod,
Greenland halibut and cetaceans, as well as the phytoplankton and zooplankton which
provide the basis of the EBSA’s high productivity. Since these species represent a
significant component of the CP we have added 1 point.
Score 8.5
Sensitivity: (6 + 7 + 8.5)/3 = 7.2
Risk of Harm: MoI x S = 1.9 x 7.2 = 13.7
5
Certainty Checklist
Answer yes or no to all of the following questions. Record the number of NO’s to the 9
questions, and record certainty according to the scale provided below:
1
No’s = High certainty
2- 3 No’s = Medium certainty
No’s= Low certainty
>4
Y/N
Y Is the score supported by a large body of information?
Y Is the score supported by general expert agreement?
Y Is the interaction well understood, without major information gaps/sources of error?
Y Is the current level of understanding based on empirical data rather than models,
anecdotal information or probable scenarios?
Y Is the score supported by data which is specific to the region, (EBSA, LOMA, NW
Atlantic?
Y Is the score supported by recent data or research (the last 10 years or less)?
Y Is the score supported by long-term data sets (ten years or more) from multiple surveys
(5 years or more)?
Y Do you have a reasonable level of comfort in the scoring/conclusions?
Y Do you have a high level of confidence in the scoring/conclusions?
Score: High
6
Reference List
1. Benjamins, S., Kulka, D. W., & Lawson, J. (2008). Incidental catch of Seabirds in
Newfoundland and Labrador gillnet fisheries, 2001-2003. Endang.Species Res.,
preprint.
2. Edinger, E., Baker, K., Devillers, R., & Wareham, V. (2007). Coldwater Corals off
Newfoundland and Labrador: Distribution and Fisheries Impacts Halifax, Canada:
World Wildlife Fund.
3. Fisheries and Oceans Canada (2006). Impacts of trawl gears and scallop dredges on
benthic habitats, populations and communities (Rep. No. Science Advisory Report
2006/025). Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat, National Capital Region.
4. Fisheries and Oceans Canada (2007a). Draft proceedings of the Workshop on
Qualitative Risk Assessment of Fishing Gears. In Government of Canada.
5. Fisheries and Oceans Canada (2007b). National plan of action for reducing the
incidental catch of seabirds in longline fisheries (Rep. No. ISBN 978-0-662-498834). Communications Branch.
6. Fisheries and Oceans Canada The Grand Banks of Newfoundland: Atlas of Human
Activities. The Grand Banks of Newfoundland: Atlas of Human Activities, (in press).
7. FRCC. (1997). A Report on Gear Technology in Eastern Canada. FRCC, 97, 1-42.
8. Fuller, S. D. & Myers, R. A. (2004). The Southern Grand Bank: a marine protected
area for the world Halifax: World Wildlife Fund Canada.
9. Fuller, S. D., Picco, C., Ford, J., Tsao, C.-F., Morgan, L. E., Hangaard, D. et al. (2008).
How we fish matters: Addressing the Ecological Impacts of Canadian Fishing Gear
Ecology Action Centre, Living Oceans Society, and Marine Conservation Biology
Institute.
10. Halpern, B. S., Walbridge, S., Selkoe, K. A., Kappel, C. V., Micheli, F., D'Agrosa, C.
et al. (2008). A Global Map of Human Impact on Marine Ecosystems. Science, 319,
948-952.
11. Kulka, D. W. (2001). Distribution of Greenland Halibut and By-catch Species that
Overlap the 200-mile Limit Spatially and in Relation to Depth - Effect of Depth
Restrictions in the Fishery (Rep. No. NAFO SCR Doc. 01/40, Serial No. N4418).
Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization.
12. Kulka, D. W., Antle, N. C., & Simms, J. M. (2003). Spatial Analysis of 18 Demersal
Species in Relation to Petroleum License Areas on the Grand Banks (1980-2000) (Rep.
No. Canadian Technical Report of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 2473). Fisheries and
Oceans Canada.
7
13. Kulka, D. W. & Pitcher, D. A. (2001). Spatial and Temporal Patterns in Trawling
Activity in the Canadian Atlantic and Pacific (Rep. No. ICES CM 2001/R:02).
14. Ledwell, W. & Huntington, J. (2007). Whale and leatherback sea turtles incidental
entrapment in fishing gear in Newfoundland and Labrador and a summary of the
Whale Release and Strandings Program during 2006 A Report to the Department of
Fisheries and Oceans, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
15. NAFO. (2009). NAFO Annual Fisheries Statistics Database: STATLANT 21A.
Ref Type: Data File
16. Power, D., Healey, B. P., Murphy, E. F., Brattey, J., & Dwyer, K. (2005). An
Assessment of the Cod Stock in NAFO Divisions 3NO (Rep. No. NAFO SCR Doc. No.
05/67). Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization.
17. Rosenberg, A., Mooney-Seus, M., & Ninnes, C. (2005). Bycatch on the High Seas: A
Review of the Effectiveness of the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization Toronto,
Canada: WWF-Canada.
18. Templeman, N. D. (2007). Placentia Bay-Grand Banks Large Ocean Management
Area Ecologically and Biologically Significant Areas (Rep. No. 2007/052). Canadian
Science Advisory Secretariat Research Document, Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
19. Templeman, N. D. & Davis, M. B. (2006). Placentia Bay-Grand Banks Ecosystem
Overview and Assessment Report (DRAFT) Newfoundland & Labrador: Fisheries and
Oceans Canada.
20. Wallace, S. (2007). Dragging our Assets, Toward an Ecosystem Approach to Bottom
Trawling in Canada David Suzuki Foundation.
8
Summary Table: Unique species biodiversity on the Southwest Shelf Edge and Slope.
Key
as
cs
es
a
c
d
i
S
MoI
Risk
Activity/Stressor
(a x c x d x i)
(as+cs+es) of
1000
3
Harm
Bottom trawl
4.3 5
10 9
6
7
8.5 7.2
1.9
13.7
Cumulative CP Score 13.7
Certainty
High