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Action on the water!Action on the water!

Who deals with all this?

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Working in the Arctic, Atlantic, Working in the Arctic, Atlantic, and Pacific oceans, and across and Pacific oceans, and across Canada, to ---Canada, to ---

(1) research our living resources

(2) protect our environment

(3) manage our fisheries

(4) maintain maritime safety

(5) foster maritime trade and ocean development.

Lead agency for the oceans ---Lead agency for the oceans ---

Fisheries and Oceans CanadaFisheries and Oceans Canada

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(1) (1) Researching our living resourcesResearching our living resources

Headlines reflect the challengesHeadlines reflect the challenges

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Tracing migrations

Forecasting abundance

Innovating in

aquaculture

Precautionary approach

--- BUT ---

ResearchResearch

DFO leads in fisheries science --DFO leads in fisheries science --

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ResearchResearch

Major challenges remain --Major challenges remain --

Un-forecasted declines of Un-forecasted declines of cod and salmoncod and salmon

******

Atlantic shellfish boom - Atlantic shellfish boom - and bust?and bust?

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EnvironmentalEnvironmentalchanges still achanges still a

puzzlepuzzle******

Fish counting Fish counting still imprecise still imprecise

******

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Research Research

DFO has a strong research team ---DFO has a strong research team ---

10 major centres10 major centres 18 research vessels18 research vessels

1,700 research1,700 research staffstaff

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(2) Protecting our environment(2) Protecting our environment

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DFO administers:DFO administers: the the Fisheries ActFisheries Act

the the Oceans ActOceans Act

Marine Protected AreasMarine Protected Areas

EnvironmentEnvironment

Canada possesses:Canada possesses: world’s longest coastlineworld’s longest coastline

most fresh water of most fresh water of any country any country

more lakes than the rest of more lakes than the rest of the world combinedthe world combined

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EnvironmentEnvironment

We face an ocean of work ---We face an ocean of work ---Land and

ocean-based pollution increasing

Oil, gas, and mineral

explorations cause conflicts

Arctic ice

thinning

Ocean environment changing in

ways unknown

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… in restless waters.

(3) Managing our fisheries ...(3) Managing our fisheries ...

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Recreational fishery - Recreational fishery - $8 billion$8 billion

Fisheries Fisheries

- Canada’s oldest industry - Canada’s oldest industry

- 26,000 boats - 26,000 boats

- more than 100,000 people - more than 100,000 people

- $1.4 billion landings- $1.4 billion landings

- 1999 seafood - 1999 seafood

exports --exports --

$3.7 billion$3.7 billion

Aquaculture - $434 Aquaculture - $434 millionmillion

Commercial industry helps support over 1,000 communitiesCommercial industry helps support over 1,000 communities

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DFO bases management DFO bases management on science ...on science ...

Enforces conservation ...Enforces conservation ...

Guards the 200-mile limit ...Guards the 200-mile limit ...

Consults with industry ...Consults with industry ...

Allocates the catch Allocates the catch ... ...

Working with First Nations…Working with First Nations…

FisheriesFisheries

--- BUT ---

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Communications, information often weakCommunications, information often weak

Advisory committees sometimes stalematedAdvisory committees sometimes stalemated

Fisheries Fisheries

Fish stocks are vulnerable --Fish stocks are vulnerable -- Technology outrunning biology Technology outrunning biology Ecological changes Ecological changes

Strong competition for Strong competition for limited resourceslimited resources

Conflicts complicate managementConflicts complicate management

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(4) Maintaining maritime safety ...(4) Maintaining maritime safety ...

… … against growing challengesagainst growing challenges

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Seabed mappingSeabed mapping

Paper and electronic charts Paper and electronic charts

Tide and Current Tables Tide and Current Tables Sailing Directions Sailing Directions

SafetySafety

With all that water… Who guides the mariners?With all that water… Who guides the mariners?

The The Canadian Canadian

Hydrographic Hydrographic ServiceService

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• IcebreakingIcebreaking• Aids to navigationAids to navigation• Vessel traffic controlVessel traffic control• Radio communicationRadio communication• Distress monitoringDistress monitoring

SafetySafety

The Canadian Coast GuardThe Canadian Coast Guard

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Fostering Maritime Trade and Ocean Fostering Maritime Trade and Ocean DevelopmentDevelopment

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• Helping promote fish trade

• Handling complex intergovernmental affairs: pushing for high-seas fisheries protection promoting fisheries co-operation

Fostering trade and developmentFostering trade and development

• Providing hundreds of

Small Craft Harbours

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Major research centres in the East Major research centres in the East include:include:

• Gulf Fisheries Centre, MonctonGulf Fisheries Centre, Moncton • Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Centre, St. John’s Centre, St. John’s • Bedford Institute of Bedford Institute of Oceanography, HalifaxOceanography, Halifax• St. Andrews Biological StationSt. Andrews Biological Station• Maurice Lamontagne Institute, Maurice Lamontagne Institute, Mont-JoliMont-Joli

DFO works on the front lines:DFO works on the front lines:

About 11,000 staff spread across 6 regionsAbout 11,000 staff spread across 6 regions

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Welcome to DFO’s Gulf Region Moncton Headquarters

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Gulf of St. Lawrence

Atlantic OceanBay of Fundy

The dark green area is administered by the Gulf Region Office

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Although the smallest in size, the Gulf oversees several fisheries of

economic importance to the Atlantic Region

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DFO Gulf Region

- Approx. 450 employees

- Main Offices :Moncton (HQ)

Tracadie-Sheila (Eastern N.B.)

Charlottetown (P.E.I.)

Antigonish (Gulf Nova Scotia)

- 23 field offices

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•Shallow water that is rich in nutrients

•Largest freshwater input of any inland sea

•Warmest waters north of Cape Cod

•Most southerly sea ice in northern hemisphere

•Constitutes one of the Canada’s most productive marine areas

Highlights Gulf Region facts…

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•Represents less than 1 % of Canada’s exclusive maritime zone

•Accounts for approximately 20 % of the total catch of Canadian fisheries

•Over 35 species exploited commercially

•Valuable lobster, snow crab, cod, herring, salmon, mussels, scallop and oyster fisheries

•Valuable aquaculture: 63% of Canadian shellfish production

•Important recreational fisheries

Highlights Gulf Region facts…

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•Direct relationship with three provinces, three regions and 14 First Nations Communities

•A bilingual region; 40% francophone 60% anglophone

Highlights Gulf Region facts…

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The fishing industry is the main employer for most Gulf coastal communities

# of harbours 173

# of fishing enterprises 3,610# licences 28,596# of fishers 12,234# of aquaculture sites 1,753# of plants 145# of plant workers 9,000Value of exports $550 M

Highlights

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Canada’s Oceans Strategy (COS)Canada’s Oceans Strategy (COS)

Federal statement of oceans policy Federal statement of oceans policy based on the based on the Oceans Act (1997)Oceans Act (1997)

Promotes ecosystem-based Promotes ecosystem-based management approachmanagement approach

Based on three core principles:Based on three core principles:– Sustainable DevelopmentSustainable Development– Integrated ManagementIntegrated Management– Precautionary ApproachPrecautionary Approach

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Implementing COS by:Implementing COS by:

Integrated Management (IM)Integrated Management (IM) Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) Marine Environmental Quality (MEQ)Marine Environmental Quality (MEQ)

GULF OF ST LAWRENCEGULF OF ST LAWRENCEINTEGRATED MANAGEMENTINTEGRATED MANAGEMENT

Large Ocean Management AreaLarge Ocean Management Area

Identifying ecosystem highlights, Identifying ecosystem highlights, significant habitats, threats and conflictssignificant habitats, threats and conflicts

Public Integrated Management and Public Integrated Management and Coastal Management Area workshopsCoastal Management Area workshops

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Basin Head Area of InterestBasin Head Area of Interest StatusStatus

Conserve and enhance the Basin Head Conserve and enhance the Basin Head ecosystem including the unique form of Irish ecosystem including the unique form of Irish moss.moss.Expected designation as MPA: 2004Expected designation as MPA: 2004

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Marine Environmental QualityMarine Environmental Quality Indicators required to monitor Integrated Indicators required to monitor Integrated

Management Plans (IM)Management Plans (IM)

Strategy:Strategy: Develop toolsDevelop tools Improve knowledge of pollution in sGSLImprove knowledge of pollution in sGSL Collaborations on coastal & estuarine Collaborations on coastal & estuarine

health research health research

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Policy for the Management of Policy for the Management of Fish HabitatFish Habitat

RegulatoryRegulatory Freshwater and Oceans PlanningFreshwater and Oceans Planning Habitat EnhancementHabitat Enhancement Community Outreach & StewardshipCommunity Outreach & Stewardship Scientific SupportScientific Support Information ManagementInformation Management Program ManagementProgram Management

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Recreational FisheriesRecreational Fisheries Some rivers of the Gulf

Region are among the most important Atlantic salmon rivers in the Maritime Provinces and in the world!

The Miramichi River = approx. 15% of all Atlantic salmon returns in North America.

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AquacultureAquaculture

In the Gulf Region, aquaculture products exceed $30 million each year.

Main species are blue mussels and oysters.

Bay by Bay Management Approach

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Invasive Marine OrganismsInvasive Marine Organisms

Second only to habitat destruction as a Second only to habitat destruction as a cause of global extinction.cause of global extinction.

Likely modes of transport: Likely modes of transport:

ballast water, ballast water,

hull fouling of ships, hull fouling of ships,

trade of live fish, trade of live fish,

aquatic vegetation in packaging marine aquatic vegetation in packaging marine

products.products.

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Invasive SpeciesInvasive Species

In the Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence there In the Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence there are over 30 aquatic invaders are over 30 aquatic invaders

Five Species are expanding:Five Species are expanding:

• green crab green crab Carcinus maenasCarcinus maenas; ;

• clubbed tunicate clubbed tunicate Styela clavaStyela clava;;

• oyster thief alga oyster thief alga Codium fragile: andCodium fragile: and

• MSX parasiteMSX parasite

• diatomdiatom Pseudo-nitzschia fraudulenta Pseudo-nitzschia fraudulenta (Domoic acid)(Domoic acid)

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Strategy: Prevention and ControlStrategy: Prevention and Control

Understanding the distribution of invaders, modes of Understanding the distribution of invaders, modes of transport, rates of spread, and their ecologytransport, rates of spread, and their ecology

Studying environmental tolerances, life cycle, predator-Studying environmental tolerances, life cycle, predator-prey and competitive relationships with native species, prey and competitive relationships with native species, and environmental impacts on native species and and environmental impacts on native species and habitats.habitats.

Inter-agency coordinationInter-agency coordination

Public EducationPublic Education

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Commercial vesselsCommercial vesselsGuidelines for ballast water Guidelines for ballast water

managementmanagement

– Great Lakes since 1989Great Lakes since 1989– All coasts since 2000All coasts since 2000– Applies to all vessels entering EEZApplies to all vessels entering EEZ– Mandatory reporting to TCMandatory reporting to TC– VoluntaryVoluntary management (e.g., ballast management (e.g., ballast

water exchange)water exchange)

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Marine Oil & Gas Marine Oil & Gas ExplorationExploration

Regulated by Federal/Provincial Boards Regulated by Federal/Provincial Boards

Lease holders are required to undertake an Lease holders are required to undertake an Environmental Assessment (EA) Environmental Assessment (EA)

Developers complain that the regulatory process is Developers complain that the regulatory process is too cumbersome too cumbersome   

  

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Seafood Plant EffluentsSeafood Plant Effluents

848,000 tonnes landed = 90,000 tonnes product848,000 tonnes landed = 90,000 tonnes product– 148 plants, 201 processing methods148 plants, 201 processing methods very large volume of solid/liquid wastesvery large volume of solid/liquid wastes

Effluent Working Groups established with 3 Effluent Working Groups established with 3 goals:goals:– Improve communicationsImprove communications– Establish Best Management Practises guidelinesEstablish Best Management Practises guidelines– Pilot Projects on pollution preventionPilot Projects on pollution prevention

BMP guidelines now ready; pilots in preparationBMP guidelines now ready; pilots in preparation

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Environmental Codes of PracticeEnvironmental Codes of Practice

AquacultureAquaculture :  : Molluscan shellfishMolluscan shellfish

ForestryForestry: : best management practices (BMPs) for forest road best management practices (BMPs) for forest road construction and tree harvestingconstruction and tree harvesting

TransportationTransportation: : technical guidelines and fish passage technical guidelines and fish passage criteria for the construction of stream crossings (Culverts and criteria for the construction of stream crossings (Culverts and Bridges)Bridges)

Wetland ManagementWetland Management: international conservation : international conservation organizations (such as Ducks Unlimited)organizations (such as Ducks Unlimited)

AgricultureAgriculture: agricultural associations improving : agricultural associations improving environmental practices on farmsenvironmental practices on farms

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Southern Gulf Research NetworkSouthern Gulf Research Network

Academia, government, industry, Academia, government, industry, communitiescommunities

Share information on cooperative research Share information on cooperative research programsprograms

Improves collaboration and understandingImproves collaboration and understanding

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Areas of InterestAreas of Interest Oceans Integrated ManagementOceans Integrated Management Fish Habitat/Sport Fisheries/Community Fish Habitat/Sport Fisheries/Community

Based ManagementBased Management Molluscan Aquaculture ManagementMolluscan Aquaculture Management Invasive Species Prevention and ControlInvasive Species Prevention and Control Ballast Water ManagementBallast Water Management Marine Oil & Gas ExplorationMarine Oil & Gas Exploration Fish Plant EffluentFish Plant Effluent Environmental Codes of PracticeEnvironmental Codes of Practice

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For Additional Information Contact

Catherine Vardy

Science Liaison Officer / Agent de liaison scientifique

Fisheries and Oceans Canada / Pêches et Océans Canada

Gulf Region / Région du Golfe

P.O. Box 5030 / C.P. 5030

Moncton, N.B.  E1C 9B6

Tel/tél : (506) 851-3179  Fax/téléc : (506) 851-2387

E-mail / courriel : vardyc@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Or any DFO Office in your Area