Consult the archives of other years.2003 Archives
4 December 2003 Authorization for Seismic Exploration off Cape BretonThe announcement was made last Friday: the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board (CNSOPB) has authorized Halifax-based Corridor Resources Inc. to commence oil exploration off Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. Work is set to begin in the coming week in a 100 square kilometre area northwest of the Island. The $1.5 million project is based on a natural gas discovery made in the 1970s. The announcement had the effect of a bomb for groups that have been fighting to halt the project for the past five years. Fishermen are worried about what effects powerful sounds emitted during exploration will have on snow crab stocks– a major fishery for local communities–and on a cod population classified by COSEWIC as "threatened" in 2003. The Sierra Club of Canada estimates that the study of the effects of air gun sounds on snow crabs, their eggs and cod fish migration is incomplete and that it is careless to authorize this project due to limited understanding of the subject. Hal Whitehead, researcher at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, is also concerned about the impact of powerful sounds on marine mammals that depend in large part on sounds for their daily activities. Fisheries and Oceans Canada has stated that seismic exploration in the Gulf of St. Lawrence should not take place given the high level of productivity and the biological sensitivity of the area. In response to concerns of fishermen, scientists and environmental groups, one of the CNSOPB licence requirements is that Corridor Resources must evaluate the effects of seismic exploration on snow crab eggs … by conducting seismic testing. This condition has been judged inadequate by fishermen who believe that harm could already be done to the eggs. Corridor Resources must also have a biologist on board their vessel to scan the horizon for whales and interrupt exploration activities in their presence. Yet, exploration activities will also be carried out when visibility is reduced to zero, conditions in which observers will be unable to detect whales. Another project, this one in the western Gulf of St. Lawrence between the Magdalene Islands, the Gaspé Peninsula and Anticosti Island, is the subject of controversy. The National Energy Board of Canada is about to announce its decision concerning a licence request by Alberta-based GSI, mandated by Hydro-Quebec to carry out seismic surveys. Fisheries and Oceans Canada has recommended that this project not be authorized because of major risks to whales and snow crabs. A Common Front, made up of scientists, environmentalists, fisheries representatives, tourist industry representatives, artists and private citizens has been demanding a moratorium to allow time for public evaluation of Hydro-Quebec’s entire St. Lawrence oil and gas exploration plan. Quebec ministers of the Environment and of Natural Resources are about to announce a report on the project and a type of public evaluation. [Canadian Press, Radio-Canada, Cyberpresse, Sierra Club of Canada] I want to know more On Canada East site: N.S. Offshore Regulator Approves Disputed Seismic Testing Off Cape Breton On Whales Online: Oil exploration and exploitation On Radio-Canada site: Le projet d’exploration gazière dans le Golfe est mis sur la glace (French only) On Cyberpresse site: Québec suspend le programme d’exploration gazière (French only) 13 November 2003 Canadian Beluga Whale Populations Under COSEWIC ScrutinyThe seven beluga whale populations in Canada, including the St. Lawrence population, are being re-evaluated by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC). The situation report, presently being prepared by a scientist, will be examined by COSEWIC members in May 2005, at which time the new evaluation will be made public. For now, populations from the St. Lawrence, Ungava Bay, and Southeast Baffin Island Cumberland Sound are considered "endangered", the Eastern Hudson Bay population is listed as "threatened", the Eastern High Arctic/Baffin Bay population is considered to be "of special concern" and populations from Western Hudson Bay and Beaufort Sea/Arctic Ocean "not at risk". Some of these evaluations date back to 1985. The six aerial surveys carried out on St. Lawrence belugas by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) since 1988 are not sufficient to determine whether the population is declining, increasing or stable. Elsewhere, the three surveys carried out on northern belugas between 1985 and 2001 have demonstrated that the Ungava Bay population, with only 200 individuals, and the Eastern Hudson Bay population, with 2 400 animals, are declining. The Inuit do not give much credit to these studies and do not believe that certain populations are in decline. Although St. Lawrence beluga whales are no longer threatened by hunting, this activity still represents the main threat to northern beluga whales. Presently, DFO allows hunting quotas for Inuit subsistence hunting. These quotas are rarely respected. In 2003, the eleven Nunavik communities of Northern Quebec had to share a quota of 125 beluga whales in Hudson Straight. The Inuit maintain plenty of beluga whales pass through Hudson Straight. As well as the Ungava Bay belugas and those from Eastern Hudson Bay, the "not at risk" belugas from Western Hudson Bay, which number around 46 000 animals, also migrate through Hudson Straight. This could leave the Inuit with a mistaken impression of the true abundance of populations. And, although some Inuit affirm that they see fewer beluga whales in certain areas, they do not attribute this decrease to hunting, but rather to an increase in maritime traffic. A team composed of representatives from DFO and Inuit communities is presently working to develop a recovery plan for Ungava Bay and Eastern Hudson Bay populations. This team will consolidate knowledge acquired by DFO researchers, the Inuit people and their culture. Although the recovery plan will not be completed before March 2004, public awareness, research and management projects will already begin to be put into place. These projects include a meeting between Inuit elders and scientists and the pursuit of the genetic study of samples collected by Inuit hunters. In the year following the completion of the new COSEWIC evaluation, the Canadian government will decide if it is to include evaluated populations on the legal list of endangered species in Canada. This designation entails the legal protection of the listed population and prohibits, among other things, the killing, disturbing, capturing or harming animals classified as endangered or threatened. The Species at Risk Act became law in June 2003. [DFO] I want to know more On Whales Online: 2 October 2003 Spill Caused by Seismic Oil Exploration in Nova ScotiaHundreds of litres of kerosene and mineral oil were spilled off Nova Scotia during seismic oil exploration activities. Transport Canada and the Marathon Canada petroleum corporation carried out seismic surveys 80 km south of Sable Island from mid-June to August. This site is near Sable Gully, an area that is soon to be designated a Marine Protected Area due to the presence of an endangered bottlenose whale population and its massive underwater canyons. Seismic tests for this project produce high intensity sounds–that can attain 200 dB–to characterize the geological composition of the seabed and to evaluate potential oil deposits. Researchers working in the area of the surveys have confirmed that sound waves given off by the seismic air guns travelled 50 to 100 km in the Gully and that there were many whales in the area at the time. These sounds can have a serious impact on marine fauna. Adding to these concerns is the risk of chemical contamination of the marine environment. Machinery used for oil exploration is responsible for the spill. The seismic vessel tows an air gun array that produces sound waves which are captured by a network of hydrophones distributed on long cables known as streamers. These 6-km long streamers contain petroleum-based fluids for buoyancy. They ruptured on several occasions. As much as 500 litres of liquid leaked out at one point. Rough weather (huge waves), the rapid rise of water temperature, floating debris and even shark bites are likely causes of damage inflicted on the streamers. Despite the large amount of spilled liquid, environmental impacts were likely limited by the fact that kerosene and mineral oil evaporate quickly. This incident has revived the debate surrounding oil and gas exploration activities at sea. Keep in mind that last November, Hydro-Québec presented its seismic and drilling exploration plan to evaluate the St. Lawrence Gulf and Estuary’s oil production potential. This plan has a budget of CAN$300 million over eight years. Survey activities have already taken place near the Magdalene Islands, while other stages of the project are scheduled for this fall. [The Canadian Press, Whales Online] I want to know more On Whales Online: 4 September 2003 The Sedna IV Back in the St. LawrenceIn June 2002, the oceanographic sailing vessel Sedna IV was navigating the waters of the St. Lawrence on a promotional tour before the Big Departure for its Arctic Mission. The six-month voyage from the Magdalene Islands to Vancouver via the Northwest Passage allowed the crew to produce film documentaries on the effects of climate change on the Arctic, on its wildlife and on human populations in the North. This year, Sedna IV’s crew is working on the Right Whale Mission. With scientists from the New England Aquarium, the crew is seeking out the last North Atlantic right whales. Fewer than 325 representatives of this species remain. In order to complete this documentary and the scientific research mission on endangered whale species, Sedna IV’s crew will be returning to the St. Lawrence on September 9. They will be joining research teams already working on two other endangered species: the blue whale, being studied by the MICS research team, and the beluga whale, being studied by the GREMM/SLNIE research team. The Sedna IV will be leaving the Magdalene Islands on September 9 heading for Mingan to work with MICS. It will then sail up the St. Lawrence towards the Estuary in search of blue whales, possibly making a detour by Gaspésie if the crew gets wind of concentrations of giants in this area. The ship should be in the Estuary as of September 21, either offshore or in port, while the film crew works aboard GREMM and SLNIE boats documenting research efforts on beluga whales. This is a good opportunity to admire the 51-metre vessel before it heads off to cruise the waters of the world on another mission. I want to know more On Whales Online: The North Atlantic Right Whale 14 August 2003 Annual Meeting of the American Fisheries Society in Québec CityThe 133rd annual meeting of the American Fisheries Society (AFS), organized by the Société de la faune et des parcs du Québec, will be held from August 10 to the 14 at the Québec City Convention Centre. In all, more than 1700 participants from around the world will be attending conferences, plenary sessions and symposiums on the universal decline in wild fish populations. Among the world-renowned specialists present will be Dr. Daniel Pauly from the University of British Columbia, Dr John Avise from the University of Georgia in the United States, Dr. John Casselman from the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Dr. Peter Maitland from the Fish Conservation Centre in Scotland. These experts will respectively speak about reducing fishing internationally and creating fishery-free zones, the genetic aspects of conservation, fish stocks and the ecosystem of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River and the decline of freshwater fish species in Europe. The AFS, created in 1870, now represents 10 000 members from 75 countries. The AFS mission is to improve resource management and ensure sustainable fisheries and water ecosystems through advancements in aquatic and fisheries sciences. The Society also promotes skills development among professionals in the fisheries industry. The decline in fish populations has been noted in all oceans of the world. A study published last May in Nature revealed a 90 percent decline in large fish in the global ocean over the past fifty years. Authors Ransom Myers and Boris Worm blame overexploitation and bad management of marine resources for the decline. In Canada, a new cod fishing moratorium was put into place last May for three maritime stocks that were showing no sign of recovery. Reduced quotas protect other fish stocks, such as Pacific salmon. Next year, the Fourth World Fisheries Congress, organized by the American Fisheries Society, will be held in Vancouver from May 2 to 6. [Société de la faune et des parcs du Québec, ENN] I want to know more On Société de la faune et des parcs du Québec site: Annual meeting of the American Fisheries Society On Whales Online: New Closures in the Cod Fishery 17 July 2003 Indianoak: On the Trail of the Basque WhalersA trainière, a 12-m long vessel nearly 2 m high with 14 rowers onboard, has been navigating the waters of the St. Lawrence’s North Shore since July 10. For three weeks the rowers will be heading upstream from Sept-Îles to Trois-Pistoles. Going beyond the physical challenge, these Basque rowers are attempting to delve into their past and to revive the tradition of their ancestors who, from 1510 to 1730, came here to hunt whales in the St. Lawrence. Indianoak was the name given to Basque whalers who returned home after a hunt of several months. The Indianoak team plans on covering the 500 kilometres between Sept-Îles and Trois-Pistoles in 13 stages of approximately forty kilometres each. They will have to bear the bad weather, strong tidal currents, fog, cold water and the dominant winds of the St. Lawrence. Be that as it may, the determination and enthusiasm of the rowers will carry them through to their destinations. At each stage of the journey, team members will participate in various activities organized by the communities they will be visiting. In this way they will share their culture through songs, music, stories and legends. The general public can keep track of the progress of the expedition by visiting their Internet site. [Indianoak] I want to know more Indianok site: Whales Online site : 3 July 2003 Zoom in on the WhalesFrom July 3 to 5, an intense session of whale watching will take place throughout the maritime portion of the St. Lawrence. The skilled observers of the Whale News Network will report their sightings to the Group for Research and Education on Marine Mammals (GREMM), which will post them on the Zoom map (French only) on the Whales Online internet site. As well as being able to follow whale sightings on a daily basis during this period, members of the general public will also have the option of asking GREMM specialists questions by telephoning 1-877-722-5346. At the same time they may participate in a draw for numerous prizes. The contest and other Zoom in on Marine Mammal activities are organized by the Marine Mammal Ecowatch Network (ROMM). With Zoom in on Marine Mammals and Zoom in on the Whales we hope to give the general public a better idea of the diversity and abundance of the whales of the St. Lawrence and encourage them to go out to meet these fantastic animals. Zoom in on the Whales is an interregional activity of the Fêtes du Québec maritime. The Fêtes du Québec maritime are being celebrated from June 20 to July 6 in the Bas-Saint-Laurent, Gaspésie, North Shore and Magdalene Islands regions. I want to know more On Whales Online: Les Fêtes du Québec maritime site 5 June 2003 Phénix for whale-watching regulations in the Marine ParkOn May 22, Phénix de l’environnement prizes were handed out at the Métropolis in Montreal. This gala event was held to honour environmental excellence in the province of Quebec. Seventeen prizes in the categories of Preservation, Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity; Reutilization of Residual Matter; Sustainable Development Know-how; Education and Public Awareness, as well as a Phénix for Youth, were given to individuals, organizations, municipalities or private enterprises. The Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park was awarded one of the four Phénix awards in the category Preservation, Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity for having reduced the impact of its activities on biodiversity. The Marine Activities in the Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park Regulations, which were approved in 2002, are aimed at managing whale-watching activities at sea and ensuring the adequate protection of marine mammals. These regulations are the result of a concerted approach that included tour-boat operators, the scientific community and those involved in tourism, social and economic activities in the region. All participated with the Canadian and Quebec governments in the development of these regulations. The Marine Park regulations are a first in Canada. They ensure better protection of marine mammals from potential disturbance associated with observation activities. I want to know more On Phénix de l’environnement site: Lauréat Parc marin Sagueny–Saint-Laurent Tadoussac (in French only) On Whales-online: New regulations for whale watching in the Saguenay—St. Lawrence Marine Park (14 March 2002) 15 May 2003 A Small Year for Snow CrabOn April 25 and May 2, 2003, the Honourable Robert G. Thibault, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, announced snow crab quotas for Quebec and Atlantic Canada. Essentially, quotas for the year 2003 have decreased in relation to 2002. Scientific studies have shown that snow crabs are declining both in abundance and average size. Fisheries and Oceans Canada maintains that snow crab populations are subjected to natural fluctuations that are not related to pressure from the crab fishery or other fisheries. In the province of Quebec, Areas 17, 16, 15, 14 and 13 (from the St. Lawrence Estuary to the Lower North Shore and Newfoundland and Labrador) will face quota rollbacks from 15 per cent to complete closure of commercial fishing. Area 17, the St. Lawrence Estuary, is faced with the smallest drop in its quota; the total allowable catch for this Area between April 1, 2003 and July 31, 2003 will be 2 567 t, which works out to a drop of 15.2 per cent with respect to 2002. Areas 14, 15 and 16 of the North Shore will see their quotas decline by 42 per cent (351 t), 18 per cent (326 t) and 57 per cent (2 167 t) respectively. In Area 13, where the situation for snow crab stocks is critical, the commercial fishery will be closed for 2003. This closure affects 49 crab fishermen. The snow crab stock in Area 12 (Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence) represents 25 per cent of the total snow crab stocks in Atlantic Canada and Quebec. The quota for this Area has been set at 17 148 t compared to 21 869 t in 2002. It is important to note that, this year, this quota will be shared among approximately 190 fishermen instead of 160. Scientists at Fisheries and Oceans Canada are concerned with the heavy fishing pressure placed on the stock during the 2002 fishing season. Considering the high mortality rate of soft-shelled crabs and the drop in the average size of crabs in recent years, scientists are concerned that fishing will be overly dependent on new recruits. Something else that is new for Area 12 that has raised a fair amount of controversy is the transformation of temporary allocations, granted to ground fishermen since 1996, into stable allocations. These allocations of snow crab grant 15 per cent of the take to these fishermen, a measure aimed at helping them get through the difficult times faced by their traditional fishery. [Fisheries and Oceans Canada] I want to know more Fisheries and Oceans site: News Release: 2003 Snow Crab Management Plans for Crab Fishing Areas 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 (Download the document in pdf format)Backgrounder: Snow Crab — Area 12 8 May 2003 New Status for Humpback Whales and Harbour Porpoises in the Western North AtlanticThe Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) held its annual meeting in Whitehorse, Yukon, from April 28 to May 2. The committee evaluated the situation of 40 Canadian animal and plant species and added 19 of them to its List of Species at Risk. Two whale populations that were on the Canadian List of Species at Risk were re-evaluated and downlisted to a lower category of risk. The Western North Atlantic population of humpback whales, listed in the special concern category since 1985, was removed from the list. COSEWIC maintains that fewer humpback whales are becoming entangled in fishing nets and teams involved in disentanglement have become more proficient. The Northwest Atlantic population of harbour porpoises was also downlisted. It went from threatened, a listing that dates back to 1990, to special concern. Due to reduced fishing activities and measures to reduce bycatch in the Bay of Fundy, COSEWIC estimates that fewer porpoises are killed accidentally. However, the Committee maintains that bycatch remains a potentially limiting factor for this population and that further monitoring is required. On the other end of the scale, two populations of Atlantic cod, the Newfoundland and Labrador population and the Laurentian North population, have been designated at risk. The Newfoundland and Labrador population, which has declined by 97 percent over the past 30 years, has been designated as endangered. The Laurentian North population, which extends from the northern Gulf of St. Lawrence to Newfoundland’s south coast, was assessed as threatened. Overfishing in recent decades is to blame for drops in cod stocks. Following on the announcement by Fisheries and Oceans Canada last April 24, commercial and recreational fisheries have been closed in these areas. COSWEWIC is an independent committee that evaluates wild species in Canada and determines their level of risk of extinction. The Committee is composed of government, non-government, university and aboriginal community members. COSEWIC’s List of Species at Risk now includes 431 species. This list is used as a reference for the List of Wildlife Species at Risk that is given legal status under the Species at Risk Act. This Act will come into effect in 2003. [COSEWIC, ENS, Environment Canada] I want to know more COSEWIC site: News Release: Two Atlantic Cod populations designated at risk Environment News Service site: Canada lists Atlantic Cod as Endangered Whales Online site: New Closures in the Cod Fishery (1st May 2003) Will Canada’s endangered species soon be protected? (18 October 2001) 1st May 2003 New Closures in the Cod FisheryLast week the Government of Canada announced new closures in the cod fishery. The closures are for an indeterminate length of time and affect three cod fisheries in Canadian waters: the Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence, the Northern Gulf of St. Lawrence and the Northern cod (off the east coast of Newfoundland and the southern coast of Labrador). Fisheries and Oceans Canada maintains that cod stocks are at their lowest historical level and that they show now sign of recovery. The Government of Canada announced the first closure of the commercial cod fishery in 1992. It was to last two years and allow stocks to recover. After 10 years, the closure was still in effect and had not produced the desired results. In fact, the net worth of the three cod stocks targeted by the new closures continued to decline; in 2000 they were only worth about $23 million, compared to $163 million in 1990. The Government of Canada plans to invest $50 million to help communities affected by the closure. Fisheries and Ocean’s action plan provides for community-based economic development assistance, increased sustainability of local economies, the establishment of new conservation measures and expanded scientific research. As for conservation measures, the government aims to create seal exclusion zones (such as Bay St. George and Smith Sound where cod aggregate and spawn) and no trawling zones, close recreational cod fishing in the three zones targeted by the closures and reduce the capelin fishery by 40 per cent over the next three years as it is a food source for cod. Seals are considered a major cod predator and increased predation is one of the factors that could be responsible for the low growth and survival rates of cod. The scientific programme of the action plan is aimed exclusively at understanding the interaction between seals and fish stocks. As for seal exclusion zones, borders and the way they will be implemented have yet to be determined. This is a job that Fisheries and Oceans Canada will conduct in collaboration with provincial governments and the fishing industry. Along with predation and over fishing in Canadian and international waters, environmental factors could also have an influence on cod stocks. Researchers believe that the particularly low temperatures of the 1990s could have had a negative effect on the growth and survival of fish. More than 300 tonnes of Atlantic cod were found dead, frozen, last April 3 in the glacial waters east of Newfoundland.[Fisheries and Oceans Canada, ENN] I want to know more Fisheries and Oceans Canada site: Environmental News Network site: Cold water appears to freeze Newfoundland cod Whales Online site: Cod: the moratorium 10 years later, still no recovery (4 July 2002) Mike Hammill: Are seals responsible for the collapse of cod fish stocks in the Gulf of St. Lawrence? 17 April 2003 Amendments to sealing practicesFisheries and Oceans Canada has amended the Marine Mammal Regulations as they relate to sealing. These amendments aim at enhancing conservation, improving management and ensuring that the seal hunt is conducted in a humane manner. Here are a few of the amendments: clearer determination of death before bleeding and skinning, restriction of the use of nets for commercial sealing, rendering illegal the harvesting of seals for the purpose of taking only certain body parts such as flippers and organs, establishing separate licences for commercial and personal use sealing, establishing licences for large vessels that collect seals from other vessels. There will also be the establishment of a management structure for the killing of nuisance seals, where there is a danger to property, or where they are inflicting damage on migrating fish stocks in estuaries, fishways, or river areas. On the same topic, the Fisheries Resource Conservation Council advocates the establishment of seal exclusion zones in areas that are critical for cod. The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) believes that there are still gaps in the regulations, that hunting methods remain cruel in many cases and that since the regulations came into effect on March 20, there have been many infractions in the field. [Fisheries and Oceans Canada, ENN] I want to know more Fisheries and Oceans Canada site: News Release: Amendments to the Marine Mammal Regulations Published in Canada Gazette Environmental News Network site: Whales Online site: Mike Hammill: Are seals responsible for the collapse of cod fish stocks in the Gulf of St. Lawrence? 20 March 2003 A Marine Protection Area in the Estuary?The Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada is presently examining the possibility of designating a Marine Protection Area (MPA) in the St. Lawrence Estuary in order to protect marine mammal habitat. This area would be adjacent to the Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park that has been in place since 1998. The whale-watching industry in this area is evaluated at more than $100 million annually. In total, 13 zones are being examined for designation as MPAs in Canada, including the Gully near Sable Island, an underwater canyon situated approximately 200 km from Nova Scotia. The official designation of the first MPA, the Endeavour Hydrothermal Vents Area, situated south-west of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, was announced on March 7. [Fisheries and Oceans Canada] I want to know more Fisheries and Oceans Canada site: News Release: Minister Thibault announces Canada’s first Marine Protected Area 6 March 2003 Monitoring the state of the St. LawrenceOn February 27, the State of the St. Lawrence Follow-Up Program presented a global portrait of the St. Lawrence. This program is part of the 1998-2003 phase of the St. Lawrence Vision 2000 Action Plan. Twenty one indicators were evaluated pertaining to water, the riverbed, banks, biological resources and uses of the River. In some cases, results are positive: contamination by toxic substances has diminished, certain animal populations, like the northern gannet and the great blue heron, have recovered, and freshwater fish and marine organisms are, for the most part, fit for human consumption. However, numerous problems continue to preoccupy those in charge of the program: bacteriological contamination still restricts swimming and the gathering of shellfish, while contaminants contained in sediments constitute a long-term threat, the introduction of exotic species have a negative impact on biodiversity and belugas are still threatened. [St. Lawrence Vision 2000] I want to know more St. Lawrence Vision 2000 site: Whales Online site: Émilien Pelletier : Is the St. Lawrence in better shape than it was 20 years ago? 20 February 2003 The Great Lakes more threatened than ever by alien invasive speciesOn February 12, the International Joint Commission (IJC) shared its concerns over the threat of alien invasive species with the House of Commons. Exotic species are introduced through the discharge of untreated merchant vessel ballast into the Great Lakes. This is a form of biological pollution that has major repercussions on ecosystems. Effects on biodiversity are serious and often irreversible. Costs for treatment and control of zebra mussels and sea lamprey in the Great Lakes have topped $100 million in the past decade. Despite measures taken in recent years, the introduction and spread of alien invasive species continue to alter the biological integrity of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Basin ecosystem. These are the declarations of Herb Gray, president of the Canadian section of the IJC. He has requested that the federal government act without delay, and legislate in order to improve the management of ships’ ballast water. Ships are already required to change ballast water at sea before entering the Great Lakes. However, this regulation is not very efficient. As a matter of fact, since its adoption, scientists have discovered at least four new exotic species in the Great Lakes. Invertebrate eggs can remain in a ships hold for extended periods, only to develop later. This is why it is important to consider technology for the treatment of holds, such as deoxygenation of ballast water, which would help to eliminate these invaders. There is also the possibility of a different design for ships. These solutions require action and adequate government funding. Alien invasive species can enter the Great Lakes in other ways. Efforts have been made to stop the Asian carp from entering through the Chicago Canal, which connects the Mississippi Basin to the Great Lakes. These invasive fish have no predators and represent a serious threat to the food sources of indigenous fish. The trade in live fish, bate fish and aquarium fish, along with fish that escape from fish farms also represent a danger. I want to know more International Joint Commission site: IJC Presentation to House of Commons on Alien Invasive Species Whales Online site: Exotic species help each other out invading the Great Lakes (7 September 2000) 6 February 2003 Seal hunt: quota increaseLast Monday, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) announced the 2003-2005 Atlantic Seal Hunt Management Plan, which also includes the St. Lawrence. Over the next three years, a total of 975 000 seals can be killed. The maximum annual take is 350 000 for two of the three years. Last year’s quota was 275 000 animals. These quotas are for the harp seal population that increased from 1.8 million in 1970 to 5.2 million. According to DFO estimates, the quotas announced will reduce the population to a total of 4.7 million by 2006. Representatives from the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) are at odds with this management plan. They believe that the new quotas will have a devastating effect on the seal population. The reasons invoked in favour of the seal hunt are positive economic fallout for people living in Atlantic Canada (approximately 12 000 hunters for whom the hunt represents a substantial revenue) and the control of the seal population to help build up cod stocks. However, many scientists underline the fact that it is very difficult, some say impossible, to declare with certainty that increased hunting will result in augmented commercial fish stocks. Some scientific models predict just the opposite. This is the conclusion of the United Nations Environmental Programme’s Scientific Advisory Committee. As well, the main reason for the collapse of codfish stocks in the St. Lawrence is essentially over fishing. A recent study brought to light another factor to be considered in the case of seal populations: the drop in ice cover that could have a negative impact on reproduction. These conditions, combined with an expanded hunt, could result in an even greater decline in the harp seal population than predicted. [Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Reuters] I want to know more Fisheries and Oceans Canada site: Thibault Announces Multi-Year Atlantic Seal Hunt Management Measures Environmental News Network site: Canada expands seal cull as environmentalists fume Protocol for the scientific evaluation of proposals to cull marine mammals Whales Online site: Does the drop in ice cover threaten seals? (23 January 2003) Mike Hammill: Are seals responsible for the collapse of cod fish stocks in the Gulf of St. Lawrence? 23 January 2003 Does the drop in ice cover threaten seals?In February and March of each year, harp seals and hooded seals converge on the ice pack of the Gulf of St. Lawrence and on the "front" off Newfoundland and Labrador in order to mate and give birth. A team of scientists has analyzed data concerning the ice cover on the East Coast of Canada and has just made the preliminary results of their study public. In six of the past seven years, ice cover was below the seasonal average of the past twenty years. In the years with the least ice, the ice cover in certain areas was as much as 60 percent less than the annual average observed between 1969 and 2002. It is not known if this drop is linked to a cyclical change or to global warming. Whatever the case may be, this phenomenon could harm seals, as they require the ice pack for whelping and nursing. The authors of the study believe that the variability in ice cover should be taken into account for the management of the seal hunt. [Report by Johnston et al.] I want to know more Johnston, D.W., L.G.Torres, A.S. Friedlaender and D.M. Lavigne. Variation in Ice Cover on the East Coast of Canada: 1969 to 2002, Project Report #1: Preliminary Results, December 13 2002. (Download the document in pdf format) |