4.3 socioeconomic environment 4.3.1 4.3.1 · fisheries and related activities within and around the...

GXT GrandSPAN Marine Exploration Program Environmental Assessment

GXT GrandSPAN Marine Exploration Program Environmental Assessment March 2014 AMEC TF1486001 99

4.3 Socioeconomic Environment

The following sections provide an overview of the existing socioeconomic environment of the Study Area,

including a number of anthropogenic components and activities that occur in the region and which may

potentially interact with the proposed Project.

4.3.1 Marine Fisheries

Fisheries are an important and integral component of the socioeconomic environment of Newfoundland and

Labrador and other parts of Canada, including the various communities and regions that extend along the

coastline adjacent to the Study Area and elsewhere. The following sections give an overview of marine

fisheries and related activities within and around the Study Area, with a key focus on commercial fisheries, as

well as describing any aquaculture and Aboriginal and recreational fishing activity in or near the region.

4.3.1.1 Administrative Boundaries and Information Sources

There are several regulatory jurisdictions associated with marine fisheries within the Study Area. The

Government of Canada has jurisdiction over fish stocks and fishing activities within a 200 nautical mile limit

(the EEZ) and for benthic invertebrates across the continental shelf. Beyond that 200 mile limit, the North

Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) manages groundfish and other resources and activities. The area within

France’s maritime boundary (EEZ) around Saint Pierre and Miquelon is not included in the Project Area.

For administrative purposes, the Northwest Atlantic is divided into a series of NAFO Divisions, Subdivisions and

Unit Areas (Figures 4.63 and 4.64), and although fish harvesting activities and fisheries management

responsibilities do extend across these areas and their boundaries, they are generally used to regulate and

manage fishing activity. The Study Area overlaps with a number of NAFO Divisions and Unit Areas, which are

listed below, and are used in this section to describe fishing activity in and around the region:

NAFO Division 3k: Unit Areas 3Ka, 3Kd, 3Ke, 3Kf, 3Kg, 3Kh, 3Kj, 3Kk

NAFO Division 3L: Unit Areas 3La, 3Lb, 3Lc, 3Ld, 3Le, 3Lf, 3Lg, 3Lh, 3Li, 3Lj, 3Lq, 3Lr, 3Ls, 3Lt

NAFO Division 3M: Unit Areas 3Ma, 3Mb, 3Mc, 3Md, 3Mm

NAFO Division 3N: Unit Areas 3Na, 3Nb, 3Nc, 3Nd, 3Ne, 3Nf, 3Nn

NAFO Division 3O: Unit Areas 3Oa, 3Ob, 3Oc, 3Od, 3Oe, 3Of

NAFO Subdivision 3PN: Unit Area 3PNa

NAFO Subdivision 3PS: Unit Areas 3PSa, 3PSb, 3PSc, 3PSd, 3PSe, 3PSf, 3PSg, 3PSh

NAFO Subivision 4VS: Unit Areas 4VSb, 4VSc, 4VSe, 4VSv

NAFO Subdivision 4VN



Figure 4.63 NAFO Divisions and Subdivisions


GXT GrandSPAN Marine Exploration Program Environmental Assessment March 2014 AMEC TF1486001 Page 201

Figure 4.64 NAFO Unit Areas within and Adjacent to the Study Area



Commercial fish landings (recorded weight and landed value) information for each of these NAFO Unit Areas is

presented in the following sections for the years 2008 – 2012. These data were provided by Fisheries and

Oceans Canada (DFO) Statistical Services in Ottawa, ON, as was geospatial information on the location and

timing of fishing activity. The mapping information was provided by DFO as an aggregated data set which give

a general indication of fishing areas (by species, gear types, fleet and other pre-determined categories and

data classes) for a series of “cells” that are approximately 6 x 4 nautical miles in size that together comprise a

map grid that covers the Study Area.

The DFO datasets record reported domestic and foreign fish harvests that are landed in Canada. It should also

be noted that reporting of fishing information by NAFO Unit Areas in the DFO datasets used herein indicates

the area in which fish is caught, rather than where it was landed.

4.3.1.2 Commercial Fisheries

The following sections include an overview of past and current commercial fishing activity in the Study Area

(and particularly, for the NAFO Unit Areas described above). This begins with a brief overview of past fisheries

and the general evolution of fishing activity in the region in the past few decades. This is followed by a

description of the current commercial fishery, as reflected in the available fisheries data sets covering the

period 2008 – 2012, for which both annual and multi-year (cumulative) information is provided in the text,

tables and figures that follow. Additional information on key fisheries (time, quota, gear, etc) by species is also

provided.

Overview of Past Fisheries

In terms of key characteristics and developments in the region’s fishery over the past two decades, the cod

fishery was halted in 1992 by a moratorium in most areas of the east coast of Canada as fish stocks had

reached dangerously low levels. This moratorium for cod and some other groundfish species fisheries is still

substantially in place, although cod stocks have reportedly seen some improvement in certain locations, and

small-scale directed fisheries do take place in some areas (e.g. Subdivision 3PS).

Notwithstanding the decline of traditional groundfish harvests and their dominant position in the province’s

fishing industry, the overall landed value of seafood products in Newfoundland and Labrador has, however,

remained steady (and in fact, has increased somewhat) since the closures. Other species have since the

moratorium become the focus of harvesting activity, with snow crab and Northern shrimp having become the

two most important species since the closure of the cod fishery (DFO 2013d) (see later Figures). The landed

value of snow crab in Newfoundland and Labrador, for example, increased from almost $13 million in 1992 to

nearly $180 million in 2008 (DFO 2010d). Similarly, the landed value of Northern shrimp increased from $230

million in 1997 to $350 million in 2005 (DFO 2010e). These trends are described in the overview of historic

fisheries and associated catch statistics presented in recent SEAs that cover the Study Area (LGL 2003, 2010;

AMEC 2014), and further reflected in the overview of current commercial fisheries presented in the following

sections.



Commercial Fish Harvests (Weight and Value)

The 2012 commercial fish harvest within the Study Area (namely, all of the NAFO Unit Areas referenced above)

totalled approximately 156,000 tonnes and had a landed value of almost $405.6 million. Fish landings in that

area over the past five years, 2008 to 20123, were at their lowest quantities in 2011 and 2012, peaked at nearly

204,000 tonnes in 2008, and totalled almost 890,000 tonnes over the entire period from 2008 to 2012. The

landed value of fish harvested in the region during that period ranged from approximately $324.4 million (in

2010) to over $433 million (in 2011) and totalled almost $1.9 billion over the 2008 – 2012 period.

Table 4.30 Fish Harvests by Weight and Value (2008-2012, All Study Area NAFO Unit Areas)

Year Weight (kg) Value ($)

2008 203,957,534 379,615,763

2009 191,874,453 326,854,314

2010 181,154,904 324,375,699

2011 156,182,576 433,006,108

2012 156,263,659 405,584,316

Total 889,433,126 1,869,436,199

Average 177,886,625 373,887,240

3 The 2012 fisheries data are the latest available at this time.



Figure 4.65 Fish Harvests by Weight (2008-2012, All Species, All Study Area NAFO Unit Areas)

Figure 4.66 Fish Harvests by Value (2008-2012, All Species, All Study Area NAFO Unit Areas)

0

50,000

100,000

150,000

200,000

250,000

2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

We

igh

t (T

on

ne

s)

-

50,000,000

100,000,000

150,000,000

200,000,000

250,000,000

300,000,000

350,000,000

400,000,000

450,000,000

500,000,000

2008 2009 2010 2011 2010

Val

ue

($

)

2012



Table 4.31 Fish Harvests (all Species) by Weight and Value by NAFO Unit Area (2012 and 2008-2012)

Unit Area 2012 Weight 2012 Value Average

Weight / Year

(2008-2012)

Average

Value / Year

(2008-2012)

% of Total

Weight (2012)

% of Total

Value (2012)

3Ka 1,749,076 5,107,908 1,231,017 3,386,598 1.1% 1.3%

3Kd 3,635,744 4,725,791 6,460,520 4,609,141 2.3% 1.2%

3Ke 10,998,001 22,412,494 6,898,599 16,199,524 7.0% 5.5%

3Kf 1,346,396 4,175,590 4,888,887 8,363,212 0.9% 1.0%

3Kg 2,085,892 6,080,777 4,220,115 9,353,226 1.3% 1.5%

3Kh 6,704,265 5,696,597 7,952,490 6,624,096 4.3% 1.4%

3La 8,571,349 9,721,755 8,482,477 8,413,702 5.5% 2.4%

3Lb 8,665,942 9,112,142 8,768,309 7,336,200 5.5% 2.2%

3Lc 5,718,342 18,178,970 5,679,084 13,415,056 3.7% 4.5%

3Ld 3,690,245 10,812,083 3,540,474 8,914,890 2.4% 2.7%

3Le 494,935 1,027,247 1,158,262 2,310,828 0.3% 0.3%

3Lf 3,398,975 5,965,261 3,998,955 5,333,179 2.2% 1.5%

3Lg 6,452,896 27,636,924 4,703,672 17,866,597 4.1% 6.8%

3Lh 3,081,723 13,239,433 3,102,701 11,606,633 2.0% 3.3%

3Li 5,779,351 18,542,388 11,662,161 24,483,038 3.7% 4.6%

3Lj 2,005,963 7,840,655 1,930,862 6,218,306 1.3% 1.9%

3Lq 2,360,462 9,799,333 2,594,389 8,262,135 1.5% 2.4%

3Lr 597,818 1,956,293 976,568 2,427,659 0.4% 0.5%

3Ls 1,908,433 8,186,516 2,109,541 7,767,834 1.2% 2.0%

3Lt 2,154,599 9,264,663 1,944,359 7,260,216 1.4% 2.3%

3Na 644,933 373,181 0.0% 0.0%

3Nb 1,513,668 6,476,907 1,487,493 4,927,008 1.0% 1.6%

3Nc 508,088 1,523,974 1,630,725 1,422,610 0.3% 0.4%

3Nd 1,510,663 6,488,007 2,093,189 6,096,358 1.0% 1.6%

3Ne 107,358 369,947 0.0% 0.0%

3Nf 331,419 1,429,038 358,859 1,298,475 0.2% 0.4%

3Oa 895,561 3,520,762 1,045,202 3,699,573 0.6% 0.9%

3Ob 1,240,890 4,989,577 2,048,387 5,171,042 0.8% 1.2%

3Oc 351,626 1,263,318 367,693 777,692 0.2% 0.3%

3Od 400,560 669,784 1,279,169 1,020,464 0.3% 0.2%

3Oe 251,573 1,265,076 518,176 1,073,241 0.2% 0.3%

3Pn 466,510 2,331,168 3,052,008 3,370,638 0.3% 0.6%

3Psa 703,554 1,214,486 1,479,776 2,235,963 0.5% 0.3%

3Psb 4,131,719 11,302,029 4,824,446 11,011,604 2.6% 2.8%

3Psc 5,065,860 13,054,273 6,310,843 11,740,892 3.2% 3.2%

3Psd 1,345,022 2,102,630 1,528,549 2,030,873 0.9% 0.5%

3Pse 3,225,280 5,388,163 2,470,620 3,507,878 2.1% 1.3%

3Psf 4,466,546 14,886,971 5,044,372 14,428,005 2.9% 3.7%

3Psg 1,299,351 2,039,416 1,832,731 2,094,467 0.8% 0.5%

3Psh 3,527,105 7,468,614 4,863,987 7,340,138 2.3% 1.8%

4Vn 5,611,849 36,999,304 4,928,780 32,395,595 3.6% 9.1%

4Vsb 1,691,758 8,326,948 1,187,097 5,457,555 1.1% 2.1%

4Vsc 35,097,391 70,690,383 34,279,156 69,513,841 22.5% 17.4%



Unit Area 2012 Weight 2012 Value Average

Weight / Year

(2008-2012)

Average

Value / Year

(2008-2012)

% of Total

Weight (2012)

% of Total

Value (2012)

4Vse 25,535 151,796 0.0% 0.0%

Other Unit

Areas

1,227,259 2,670,666 2,174,099 2,226,335

0.8% 0.7%

Total 156,263,659 405,584,316 177,886,625 373,887,240 100.0% 100.0%

Commercial Fish Harvests (Overall Geographic Distribution: 2008-2012)

The following Figures provide a general indication of the overall geographic distribution of commercial fishing

activity within and adjacent to the Study Area for the May to December period. This includes, initially, data for

the year 2012 and then from 2008 to 2012 overall (rolled-up), for all species.

As indicated previously, the information provided in these maps is based on the geospatial data received from

DFO, and shows the general presence of recorded fishing activity for a series of 6 x 4 nautical mile “cells” that

together comprise a map grid that covers the region. For the multi-year fishing maps, where fishing activity

occurred within a single cell in two or more years, the Figure indicates only the most recent year in which

fishing activity occurred within that cell (i.e. the later year’s colour overlays the earlier year’s colour)..

Further information on commercial fishing activity by month / season, gear type, fleet, species and other

parameters is also provided in later sections.



Figure 4.67 Commercial Fishing Locations, All Species: 2012 (May to December)



Figure 4.68 Commercial Fishing Locations, All Species: 2008-2012 (May to December)



Commercial Fish Harvests by Species

Over recent years, the Study Area’s fishery has been strongly dominated by shellfish, in terms of both landed

weight and value. This is well reflected in the DFO fish landings statistics for the most recent year available

(2012), as summarized below.

Queen / snow crab comprised approximately 33 percent of the total fish landings by weight in this region in

that year, followed by other (unspecified) shellfish (15 percent), Northern shrimp (also referred to herin as

Pandalus borealis shrimp, 14 percent), and capelin (12 percent), with no other species accounting for greater

than five percent of total landings by weight.

In terms of landed value, queen / snow crab accounted for over half (56 percent) of the area’s fishery overall,

followed by Northern shrimp, lobster and other shellfish (each at approximately nine percent), and other

species. As described further in a later section, the lobster fishery takes place in near shore locations, and

therefore outside the Study Area.

Figure 4.69 Fish Harvests by Weight by Species (2012, All Study Area NAFO Unit Areas)

33%

15%

14%

12%

4%

4%

3%

3%

2% 2%

1% 1% 1% 5% Queen-Snow Crab

Shellfish, Unspecified

Pandalus Borealis Shrimp

Capelin

Cod

Redfish

Whelks

Herring

Lobster

Turbot-Greenland Flounder

Yellowtail Flounder

Sea Cucumber

Sea Scallops

Other



Figure 4.70 Fish Harvests by Value by Species (2012, All Study Area NAFO Unit Areas)

Figures 4.71 and 4.72 show the annual (2008-2012) landed weights and values for those fish species that

comprised the highest proportion of the area’s fishery over that five-year period.

56%

9%

9%

9%

3%

2% 2%

2% 1%

7%

Queen-Snow Crab


Lobster


Atlantic Halibut


Cod

Whelks

Redfish

Other



Figure 4.71 Fish Harvests by Weight for Key Species (2008-2012)

Figure 4.72 Fish Harvests by Value for Key Species (2008-2012)

-

10,000

20,000

30,000

40,000

50,000

60,000

2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

We

igh

t (T

on

ne

s)

Queen-Snow Crab Shellfish, Unspecified Pandalus Borealis Shrimp Capelin

Cod

Redfish

Whelks

Herring

Lobster

-

50

100

150

200

250

300

2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Val

ue

($

Mill

ion

s)

Queen-Snow Crab


Lobster


Atlantic Halibut


Cod

Whelks

Redfish



Table 4.32 Fish Harvests by Species by Weight and Value (2008-2012, All Study Area NAFO Unit Areas)

Species (by Year, 2008-2012) Weight (kg) Value ($)

2008 184,627,953 358,205,482

Cod 13,723,644 22,280,869

Redfish 3,461,546 2,171,753

Atlantic Halibut 692,847 6,014,330

Yellowtail Flounder 10,302,368 6,484,755

Turbot-Greenland Flounder 2,080,314 3,295,978

Herring 7,262,793 1,350,633

Capelin 24,516,173 6,288,252

Whelks 5,862,952 6,472,950

Lobster 4,210,469 43,138,204

Pandalus Borealis Shrimp 43,731,186 58,490,902

Queen-Snow Crab 49,319,199 173,713,329

Shellfish, Unspecified 19,464,462 28,503,527

2009 170,072,704 306,900,281

Cod 11,422,272 12,287,401

Redfish 6,155,396 4,109,617




Herring 7,260,504 1,600,963

Capelin 21,083,059 3,253,616

Whelks 5,020,999 4,433,205

Lobster 3,482,137 28,930,981


Queen-Snow Crab 49,184,246 153,299,847


2010 154,225,606 301,857,735

Cod 9,807,186 9,886,280

Redfish 7,084,202 4,670,513




Herring 6,280,326 1,242,827

Capelin 15,078,264 1,828,305

Whelks 5,378,028 4,740,525

Lobster 3,946,078 32,849,519


Queen-Snow Crab 51,494,974 161,783,352


2011 145,256,132 412,381,747



Species (by Year, 2008-2012) Weight (kg) Value ($)

Cod 8,441,939 9,969,935

Redfish 6,188,364 4,028,526




Herring 3,505,613 919,487

Capelin 16,152,528 2,884,429

Whelks 5,949,715 7,672,852

Lobster 3,713,307 37,968,819


Queen-Snow Crab 52,075,540 254,095,260


2012 146,649,972 386,982,407

Cod 7,098,008 8,312,667

Redfish 6,206,378 5,314,072




Herring 4,436,029 1,466,785

Capelin 18,826,954 4,026,120

Whelks 4,770,567 6,789,333

Lobster 3,839,402 38,209,448


Queen-Snow Crab 51,736,855 227,252,799


Total (2008-2012) 800,832,367 1,766,327,652

Overview of Key Species Fisheries

The preceding provides an overview of recent (2008-2012) fisheries for key species with the various NAFO Unit

Areas that overlap with the Study Area for this EA, which covers portions of NAFO Divisions 3KLMNOPsPn and

4VnVs. In some cases, these include important species that currently dominate the commercial fishery in the

offshore areas that comprise the Study Area (such as crab, shrimp, halibut, turbot, cod and redfish). In other

cases, however, certain species are fished primarily in more inshore locations within these NAFO Unit Areas,

and thus, such activity occurs primarily outside of the Project Area and Study Area (such as for lobster, herring,

most capelin, etc).

Summary information for key fisheries that take place within the Study Area is provided below for the species

of greatest commercial importance (by weight or value) and for additional fisheries that may be prone to

potential seismic interactions (such as gear conflict) if coincident in time and location.



Snow Crab

The snow crab fishery is the most important fishery in the region in relation to both quantity and value, and

poses a relatively high potential for gear interactions with seismic surveys if both activities were to occur

together. Snow crab fishing occurs in some parts of all the NAFO Divisions (3KLMNOP and 4V) in the Study

Area (DFO 2013q). It is relatively widespread along parts of the Newfoundland Shelf, the Flemish Pass, the

northern, eastern and southern edges of the Grand Banks, along St. Pierre Bank, the eastern edge of the

Scotian Shelf, and closer to shore from the southern Burin Peninsula northward (Figure 4.73). Historically, the

majority of landings within the Study Area have been from NAFO Divisions 3KL. Landings from Divisions 3KL

were over 37,000 tonnes in 2008 compared to total landings of 52,749 tonnes for the 3KLMNOP area (DFO

2010f). Landings for 4VNVSbVSc were 603 tonnes in 2012 (DFO 2013q).

The crab fishery is managed using licenses, individual quotas, and maximum numbers of traps based on an

Integrated Fisheries Management Plan (IFMP) for each region (DFO 2013e). Approximately 3,455 enterprises

with vessels less than 65 feet participated in the Newfoundland and Labrador crab fishery in 2009 (DFO 2010f).

There is also an offshore fishery that occurs outside the EEZ utilizing full-time large supplementary vessels with

quotas of 2,053 tonnes and 2,351 tonnes in Divisions 3L and 3N respectively (DFO 2014d). Crab Fishing Areas

(CFA) were previously used to manage the fishery, although it is currently administered primarily through

NAFO Divisions in NL Region (DFO 2010f). For the 2013 season, dates ranged from April to June in Division 3K

and April to July in Division 3NLOP. In 2013, in 4VN (CFA N-ENS) there was a spring fishery (April 13 – May 13)

and a summer fishery (July 13 – August 23), and in 4VS (CFA S-ENS) the fishery was from April 2 to September

23 (DFO 2013r,2013s). The combined area (NAFO Division 3KLNOPsand 4VNVs) had a total quota of 61,361

tonnes in 2013 (DFO 2013f,2013r,2013s).

Conservation measures are employed to avoid capture of female crabs, undersized males and recently

moulted or soft shell crab. Accidentally captured female and small male crabs are also returned alive to the

ocean (DFO 2013e). As part of the IFMP, areas with soft shell crabs comprising approximately 20 percent of

catches are closed to fishing (DFO 2013q).

The fishery is conducted using conical baited crab pots utilizing mandatory biodegradable twine to mitigate

ghost fishing of lost traps (DFO 2013f). Traps utilize minimum mesh sizes of 13.5 cm to allow female and small

crabs to escape. The traps are weighted on the seafloor and attached to surface buoys by ropes / lines, often in

strings with many traps between buoys. Snow crab gear strings may have a “highflyer” radar reflector at one

end and a large buoy at the other end. A 50-60 trap string may range in length from 1.8-km to 2.3-km long.

Traps may be left unattended several days or longer if weather makes it difficult to retrieve the catch. Seismic

streamers pose a potential for conflict with crab fishing gear because of the possibility of snagging the buoys or

lines.

Shrimp

The Northern shrimp fishery is one of the most important commercial species in the area based on landings.

The Canadian fishery export value in 2011 for shrimp, including P. borealis, P. montagui, and other species was

approximately $394 million (DFO 2013g). Fishing can take place from Baffin Bay to the Flemish Cap and the

northern edge of the Grand Bank (DFO 2010g) as well as in parts of the Gulf of St Lawrence and the Scotian



Shelf. In the Study Area, shrimp fishing is concentrated primarily in the northeast quadrant / Flemish Pass area

(Figure 4.74).

The shrimp fishery is managed using licences, quotas, seasons, gear specifications, and Shrimp Fishing Areas

(SFAs). SFAs are defined based on different rates of growth and maturation of shrimp populations across its

distribution range. The SFAs along the east coast of Newfoundland are SFA 6 and 7 (DFO 2010g). The 2013

total allowable catch (TAC) for SFA 6 and 7 are 60,245 tonnes and 7,162 tonnes respectively (DFO 2012d,

2013h). SFAs 2, 4, 5, and 6 from Baffin Island to northeastern Newfoundland represent the principal fishing

grounds and generally account for approximately 80 percent of the catch (DFO 2010g).

To enhance research efforts, the Canadian Association of Prawn Producers and Northern Coalition have

established the Northern Shrimp Research Fund (NSRF), which is a non-profit initiative that provides funding

and a vessel for shrimp surveys from SFA2 to SFA7. Information is also collected from fishing vessels for the

stock assessment process.

In the Study Area there is an inshore shrimp fishery from spring to fall and an offshore shrimp fishery that

harvests year round (DFO 2013g). The inshore fleet operates mainly within SFA 6 and 7 and with vessels less

than 100 feet. The Eastern Canada offshore fleet has approximately 12 factory freezer trawlers that range in

length from 49-75 m and fish under 17 licenses. Each license holder is given an equal quota (TAC / 17 licenses)

within each SFA. These vessels utilize otter-type shrimp trawls or beam trawls as their primary fishing gear.

These nets are towed at or near the sea floor, and typically extend more than 300 m behind the ship (DFA

2001a). The tow duration is dependent on the catch rate; if it is high then the tow length is less. The offshore

ships typically try to maintain a fill level in the cod end for maximum quality. For the larger ships, tows can be

typically about three hours, travelling at speeds of 3-4 knots, depending on the processing rate of the on-board

facilities (R. Ellis, pers. comm. 2014).

Inshore fishing is regulated through industry-designated trip limits and harvesting caps of 17-15 tonnes to

manage processing bottlenecks (SIWG 2003). Other conservation measures include minimum trawl mesh sizes,

bycatch minimizing devices and monitoring by fisheries observers. Otter and beam trawls utilize a minimum

mesh size of 40 mm and are required to have a Nordmore Grate to minimize bycatch of groundfish and other

shellfish. The fishery is monitored by at-sea observers that supervise the vessel for bycatch, gear restrictions,

and closed time provisions (DFO 2010g).

Capelin

The capelin fishery is a very important one (by weight of landings) in the Study Area, but is not amongst the

leaders in terms of overall commercial value. In the Newfoundland and Labrador region, it consists of an

inshore fishery in NAFO Divisions 2J3KLP using quotas for mobile and fixed gear, but distribution data for this

fishery within the Study Area is sparse (Figure 4.75). Historically there have been peak landings of 80,000

tonnes; however, recent reported landings are generally closer to 30,000 tonnes (DFO 2013i, 2013j).

Quotas for capelin are divided among fixed gear (capelin trap) and mobile gear (purse seine and tuck seine)

(DFO 2013i). The TAC for NAFO Divisions 3KLP for mobile gear and fixed gear is 7,567 tonnes and 16,733

tonnes respectively (DFO 2013j). The capelin fishing season opens under industry recommendations to DFO

(DFO 2013j).



Regulation of the capelin fishery is through quotas, gear restrictions, and monitoring by fisheries observers.

There is a daily limit of 32 tonnes for the mobile gear fishery and a 13-23 tonnes daily limit for the fixed gear

fishery (DFO 2011g). Capelin trap mesh sizes are regulated to be between two to seven inches to reduce

bycatch of Atlantic salmon. The maximum length of tuck seines is also limited to 80 fathoms (DFO 2013j). The

fishery is monitored by at-sea observers that supervise the vessel for bycatch, gear restrictions, and closed

time provisions (DFO 2013j).

Atlantic Cod

The only directed fishery for Atlantic cod in the Study Area since the establishment of the moratoria in the

early 1990s is in NAFO Subdivisions 3Pn and 3Ps where there is a fixed gear (i.e. gillnet, longline and handline)

fishery for groundfish including cod. The TAC is set at 11,500 tonnes for 3Ps and 1,500 for 3Pn4RS (DFO 2012h;

2013t,k). Otherwise the fishery in NAFO Divisions 3KL consists of a bycatch and recreational fishery. Although

historically a commercially important groundfish, the value of the current fishery is relatively low overall. In

recent years, cod catches have occurred largely along the Laurentian Channel and the southern Grand Banks,

but also in inshore areas, the Newfoundland Shelf and the Flemish Cap (Figure 4.76). There is also a cod fishery

outside the 200 mile limit with a TAC of 9,280 tonnes and 14,113 tonnes in NAFO Division 3M in 2012 and 2013

respectively. There is a NAFO moratorium on cod fishing in 3LNO (NAFO 2012).

The bycatch fishery for NAFO Divisions 3KL is managed using fishing seasons, licenses, individual quotas, gear

restrictions and landings monitoring. Fish harvesters are assigned individual quotas of 5,000 lbs (2.27 tonnes)

per license holder for all less than 65 foot vessels. Fishing gear is restricted to six gillnets, handlines or longlines

with 2,000 hooks (DFO 2013u). Small fish that are captured as part of the fishery are also released. Mobile gear

fisheries, including the shrimp fishery, utilize sorting grates to separate and release groundfish (DFO 2010g).

In the Study Area, the recreational fishery occurs in 3Pn, 3PS and 3KL during the summer from July to August

and during fall in September. Fishers are limited to a total of five groundfish per day, with a maximum boat

limit of 15 groundfish (DFO 2013l).

Redfish

The redfish fishery consists of two species: Sebastes mentella and S. fasciatus and they are almost exclusively

captured using bottom trawls (Goetting 2010). Stocks for the S. mentalla fishery, that fall within the Study

Area, are divided across NAFO areas 3PnVn south west of Newfoundland (DFO 2010h) and the Northern

Population Stock (NAFO Divisions 23KLNO) (DFO 2012e). S. fasciatus in the Study Area is spread across the Gulf

of St. Lawrence and Laurentian Channel Stock and the Laurentian Shelf Population Stock (NAFO Divisions 23K)

(DFO 2012e).

In the mid to late 1990s, redfish stocks in NAFO Division 2J3KLN were closed to directed fishing, but the fishery

reopened in 3LN in 2010 (COSEWIC 2010d). Since then, the fishery has been conducted primarily along the

Laurentian Channel, off St. Pierre Bank, the Flemish Cap and the northeastern Newfoundland shelf slope

(Figure 4.77). Recent landings from the area are about 5,132 tonnes with an 8,500 tonnes TAC (DFO 2010h).



Redfish surveys are funded through industry partnerships including the Groundfish Enterprise Allocation

Council (GEAC) that supported surveys in NAFO area 3P from 1997-2007 (McClintock and Teasdale 2009), and

which continue in alternating years in 4V and 3P (B. Chapman, pers. comm 2014).The fishery is managed using

TACs, minimum fish sizes (22 cm), dockside monitoring, at-sea observer coverage and bycatch protocols. There

are also closure periods in place to protect migration, redfish fertilization and larval extrusion periods (DFO

2010h; Goetting 2010).

Whelk

The whelk fishery is undertaken in three subdivisions (North, South, West) within NAFO Division 3Ps on the

south coast of Newfoundland (DFO 2013m; Figure 4.78). Whelk fishing is conducted from April to September,

at depths of 50-100 m (DFO 2013n; DFA 2001b). There are approximately 58 licenses for the whelk fishery and

an annual overall quota of 5,000 tonnes. Peak landings occurred in 2011, when 5,819 tonnes of whelk were

landed (DFO 2013m).

Whelk are harvested using twine conical pots or traps made from plastic tubs (DFO 2013k; DFA 2001b). Traps

are weighted on bottom and attached to a surface buoy. The fishery is managed using licenses, minimum

whelk sizes (5 cm) and number of pots (500 pots per area throughout the year) (DFA 2001b). Like other buoyed

fixed gear, there is a potential for conflict with the seismic streamer if coincident in location and time.

Atlantic Halibut

The main Atlantic halibut fishery is divided into two stocks that include the Gulf of St Lawrence (4RST) and the

Scotian Shelf and Southern Grand Bank Region (3NOPs3VWX5ZC). Halibut are captured from directed fisheries

and bycatch (Trzcinski et al 2011). There is also a small foreign fishery in 2NOPs (DFO 2011d). From 1960-2009

the fishery had average annual landings of 1,800 tonnes along the Scotian Shelf and Southern Grand Bank

Region. Halibut fishing in NAFO Division 3Pn is not included in the designated stocks (DFO 2011e) and in 2012

this area had a TAC of 194 tonnes (DFO 2012f). Fishing activity in recent years has largely been focused along

the Laurentian Channel, southern Grand Bank and the northeast Newfoundland Shelf edge (Figure 4.79) where

longline and trawl methods are used.

Fisheries management for Atlantic halibut include TACs, minimum fish size (85 cm), vessel size limits, gear

restrictions, hook size limits, and dockside monitoring (This Fish 2013). At-sea observers are required for 10

percent of vessels less than 45 feet and 15 percent for vessels above 45 feet. The fishery may also be closed if

bycatch limits are reached for cod, white hake, sharks and other species (DFO 2012f). The longline component

of the halibut fishery utilizes sets of a few kilometres long and hook spacings of 6 m. They are set near the

bottom with moorings on either end marked with buoys and floats. Like other buoyed fixed gear, there is a

potential for conflict with a seismic streamer if occurring in the same location and time.

Greenland Halibut (Turbot)

The Greenland halibut fishery is largely pursued along the Laurentian Channel, off St. Pierre Bank, on the on

the southernmost portion (the “Tail”) of the Grand Bank and along the northeast Newfoundland Shelf edge

(Figure 4.80) using longlines, gillnets and trawls. In NAFO Divisions 3KLMNO, the fishery had landings of 6,525

tonnes in 2010. Average annual landings from the 2002-2004 longline fishery was 550 tonnes, whereas the



average annual landings since 2003 for the otter trawl fishery ranged from 1,800-2,400 tonnes. In 3Ps there

were landings of approximately 83 tonnes between vessels <65 ft and vessels from 65-100 ft (DFO 2014e). The

majority of fish captured are from the trawl fishery that primarily targets juveniles (Brodie et al 2011).

Fisheries management for Greenland halibut varies across fishing areas. The fishery for the Gulf of St.

Lawrence area is managed domestically. There is bilateral management for the Greenland and Davis Strait area

and international management for NAFO Divisions 2GHJ3KLMNO. The majority of the Greenland halibut

resource resides in Canadian waters, with much of the fishing effort outside the 200 mile EEZ limit in 3LMNO

(DFO 2001). Management for the fishery includes bycatch regulations, restricted mesh sizes, at-sea observer

coverage and minimum fish sizes (DFO 2001).

Deep Sea Clams

Deep sea clam fishing within or near the Study Area takes place primarily on the eastern Grand Bank. To the

west, the Study Area also overlaps slightly with the other main harvesting area in eastern Canada that occurs

on the eastern Scotian Shelf (Figure 4.84). This fishery targets Arctic surfclam and Stimpson’s surfclam,

employs 450 people and is annually valued at $50 million (BIO 2013). Quahogs may also be taken as part of the

bycatch fishery, and some other coincident species are now being investigated. Based on 2002-2009 surveys

on the Grand Bank, Arctic surfclams, Greenland cockles, and northern propeller clams are the main species

harvested. Quahogs are also captured in relatively low quantities (Roddick et al 2011). The greatest abundance

of surfclams in the Study Area has been observed on the eastern edge of the Grand Bank in NAFO Division 3N

(Ollerhead et al 2004).

The Scotian Shelf and Grand Bank Offshore Fisheries Areas are managed under a single plan where license

holders have equal access to quotas in both areas (Roddick et al 2011). The industry provides funding under a

multi-year Joint Project Agreement (JPA) to survey shellfish throughout the Scotia-Fundy and Grand Bank

regions (Roddick et al 2011).

The industry utilizes large factory freezer vessels equipped with hydraulic side dredges (approximately 9

tonnes) to harvest these shellfish year round. The gear, which operates by fluidizing the seafloor material with

high-power water jets and allowing the underlying clams to be scooped up into the dredge baskets, is

generally used at depths of 45-65 m and can only be used on sandy bottoms (IMM 2013, Roddick 2013).

Quotas for the Grand Bank were 14,765 tonnes in 2011 based on 2.64 percent of the biomass. Bycatch fishing

of quahogs is limited to 10 percent of the catch, with a maximum limit of 500 tonnes. Fisheries management

approaches for clams include licenses, logbooks, at-sea observers, dockside monitoring and vessel monitoring

systems (DFO 2011f).

Clearwater Fisheries, which currently holds these licences, reports that the usual pattern is to concentrate on

the eastern Scotian Shelf / Banquereau Bank area one year, and then the Grand Banks the following year. If

this pattern holds, during the scope of the EA, the Grand Banks fisheries will be active in 2015 and 2017. (C.

Boyd, pers. comm. 2014). Because the gear is deployed directly from the harvesting ship, which is relatively

stationary during harvesting, there is little potential for conflict from the seismic survey since communications

will be maintained and the harvesting operation can be avoided by the seismic ship.



Swordfish, Tunas and Sharks

These high-value fisheries are harvested with similar gear in the Study Area, often together (directed or as

bycatch) in offshore areas. These fisheries also occur in the same general areas (focused on the shelf break or

in deeper waters to the south (see Figures 4.81 to 4.83), and use similar large pelagic longline gear. Most

fishing effort for these species is concentrated in the Maritimes Region but some harvesters frequently follow

the fish eastwards to and around the Grand Bank area.

Although different gear may be used to harvest these species in some areas (e.g., rod and reel for tunas, and

harpoons for swordfish), the common use of large pelagic longlines poses a potential for conflicts with seismic

ships and their towed gear (especially the streamer) when sharing an area. These longlines may be very long

(with mainlines trailing 60 km or more behind the boat) and float near the ocean surface. Along the length of

the mainline there are hundreds of shorter lines (gangions) with baited hooks on the ends. Although mainlines

may be marked with buoys and highflyers, they are difficult to track and/or observe in darkness, heavy swells

or fog.

Swordfish: The swordfish fishery in Atlantic Canada is conducted primarily on the edges of Georges Bank, the

Scotian Shelf and the Grand Bank from April to December (DFO 2009). TACs are assigned by the International

Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna (ICCAT) and in Canada ranged from 1,338-1,348 tonnes from

2003-2005. Canada’s TACs made up approximately 10.5 percent of the TAC available internationally (DFO

2009). Recent Atlantic landings were valued at $14.4 million (DFO 2013o). The majority of fishing licenses are

held in the Maritimes Region, with two longline licenses held in Newfoundland and Labrador in 2013 (DFO

2009; DFO 2013p). Typically swordfish longlines are set out for a day or less and then pulled back aboard the

ship with its catch.

The Nova Scotia Swordfishermen’s Association (which represents all 77 swordfish licences in Atlantic Canada)

notes that harvesters usually concentrate their effort on Georges Bank and the western Scotian Shelf early in

the season, and move gradually eastward, and on to the Grand Banks if needed to complete quotas,

sometimes working as far north as the Flemish Cap (T. Atkinson, pers. com. 2014).

Canadian landings within the Study Area are largely derived from the southwestern edge of the Grand Bank

(Figure 4.81). International fishing for swordfish also occurs outside the Canadian EEZ, however the resolution

of available data does not allow for spatial comparisons of fishing effort and harvest rates within the Study

Area (ICCAT 2013a). Catches for swordfish for the North Atlantic were approximately 13,972 tonnes in 2012

and included fleets from Japan, Portugal, Morocco, Canada, Spain and USA. Swordfish aged 2-3 years were the

most frequently captured fish (DFO 2014b, ICCAT 2013b).

Tuna: Within the Study Area, the tuna fishery occurs primarily in the waters off the southwestern Grand Bank

and the mouth of the Laurentian Channel (Figure 4.82). Tunas harvested include bluefin, bigeye and albacore.

They are captured as part of a directed fishery and as bycatch in other fisheries, such as swordfish (DFO

2014c). ICCAT assigns Canada a quota for harvesting bluefin tuna. The quota is divided among fishing fleets

based on historical landings. In 2012, the quotas for Newfoundland and Labrador were 55.8 tonnes, whereas

quotas for Atlantic Canada were 488.7 tonnes (DFO 2012g).



Tuna are harvested between spring and late fall, with the majority of landings occur between late July and late

September (DFO 2014c). The tuna fishing season is based on migratory patterns of tuna that are present in

Canadian waters from July to November (DFO 2014c).

International fishing for tuna also occurs outside the EEZ, however the resolution of available data does not

allow for spatial comparisons of fishing effort and harvest rates within the Study Area (ICCAT 2013a).

Sharks. Shark fisheries in Atlantic Canadian waters have mainly targeted porbeagle, blue and shortfin mako

sharks in the waters from the Scotian Shelf, and eastward to the southwestern Grand Bank, off St. Pierre Bank

and along the Laurentian Channel (Figure 4.83). However, the Atlantic Shark Association reports that directed

fishing for sharks is now under moratorium, although the industry is working to have this removed. For 2014

(and perhaps through the duration of this EA’s temporal scope), only shark bycatch is permitted in the other

pelagic longline fisheries (D. Hart, pers. comm. 2014).

When the directed fishery was active, along the Scotian Shelf and southern Grand Banks, peak fishing occurred

during the summer to early winter (DFO 2006c). The shortfin mako shark is also of commercial interest and is

captured as part of the bycatch. There are also 15 other species of shark, including tiger and thresher shark,

that may be captured as bycatch in Canadian waters with annual average landings of less than 1,000 tonnes

(DFO 2007c).

Fishing has been conducted almost exclusively using pelagic longline gear, though rod and reel gear are also

used for recreational fishing in nearshore areas. The longlines are similar to swordfish and tuna gear, and are

usually set for several hours at night and then taken back in.

As part of ongoing research and bycatch reduction strategies there have been season and area restrictions for

the shark fishery, including a fall closure in NAFO Division 4Vn3LNOP to protect pupping females (BIO 2014;

DFO 2006c) The shark fishery were also be closed in any year if bycatch limits for tuna are reached (DFO

2006c).



Figure 4.73 Fishing Locations –Snow Crab (May - December, 2008-2012)



Figure 4.74 Fishing Locations – Northern Shrimp (May - December, 2008-2012)



Figure 4.75 Fishing Locations – Capelin (May - December, 2008-2012)



Figure 4.76 Fishing Locations – Cod (May - December, 2008-2012)



Figure 4.77 Fishing Locations – Redfish (May - December, 2008-2012)



Figure 4.78 Fishing Locations – Whelk (May - December, 2008-2012)



Figure 4.79 Fishing Locations – Atlantic Halibut (May - December, 2008-2012)



Figure 4.80 Fishing Locations – Turbot – Greenland Halibut (May - December, 2008-2012)



Figure 4.81 Fishing Locations – Swordfish (May - December, 2008-2012)



Figure 4.82 Fishing Locations – Tuna (May - December, 2008-2012)



Figure 4.83 Fishing Locations – Sharks (May - December, 2008-2012)



Figure 4.84 Fishing Locations – Clams (May - December, 2008-2012)



Commercial Fish Harvests - Seasonality

Fishing activity in the Study Area during the 2008 to 2012 period occurred throughout the year, with the

highest landings by weight occurring in the May – July period, which also accounted for the majority of the

total value of fish harvested (Figures 4.85 and 4.86, Table 4.33).

Figure 4.85 Monthly Fish Harvests, All Species, by Weight (2008-2012, All Study Area NAFO Unit Areas)

Figure 4.86 Monthly Fish Harvests, All Species, by Value (2008-2012, All Study Area NAFO Unit Areas)

0

50000

100000

150000

200000

250000

J F M A M J J A S O N D

We

igh

t (T

on

ne

s)

0

100,000,000

200,000,000

300,000,000

400,000,000

500,000,000

600,000,000

J F M A M J J A S O N D

Val

ue

($

)



Table 4.33 Fish Harvests by Month by Weight and Value (2008-2012, All Study Area NAFO Unit Areas)

Month 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Total (2008-2012)

Weight (kg)

January 3,995,947 2,057,018 3,689,724 2,465,101 2,353,738 14,561,528

February 5,281,221 4,635,889 4,133,874 2,268,377 1,944,548 18,263,909

March 4,408,278 2,385,546 4,693,611 4,898,416 3,308,044 19,693,895

April 12,918,074 18,224,659 10,413,881 16,221,430 19,303,022 77,081,066

May 24,355,862 26,674,670 28,922,611 29,367,384 29,146,918 138,467,445

June 32,747,491 28,040,032 29,981,428 23,946,898 28,669,676 143,385,525

July 56,842,962 33,552,031 40,629,830 38,661,477 39,428,324 209,114,624

August 23,027,799 28,906,594 17,853,516 14,903,043 12,585,672 97,276,624

September 18,992,183 17,028,979 9,211,419 7,744,430 6,467,212 59,444,223

October 7,723,846 12,460,876 13,131,337 4,867,456 3,758,247 41,941,762

November 6,858,532 10,109,592 13,478,646 6,555,227 4,094,180 41,096,177

December 6,805,339 7,798,567 5,015,027 4,283,337 5,204,078 29,106,348

Total 203,957,534 191,874,453 181,154,904 156,182,576 156,263,659 889,433,126

Value ($)

January 6,607,081 2,744,133 5,443,086 4,139,830 5,931,949 24,866,079

February 9,446,872 7,519,401 5,778,904 4,400,841 3,177,220 30,323,237

March 6,140,495 2,958,083 5,637,743 9,083,723 5,534,503 29,354,547

April 31,402,470 46,175,730 20,683,605 63,114,775 66,328,290 227,704,869

May 81,344,235 71,199,703 84,029,772 131,881,070 120,876,237 489,331,018

June 92,942,281 74,132,286 81,611,116 91,717,971 97,557,675 437,961,329

July 71,142,131 44,011,037 58,864,877 68,887,512 55,944,938 298,850,496

August 28,445,529 26,160,991 25,972,599 26,842,304 21,630,625 129,052,048

September 22,422,283 17,926,792 9,875,075 10,935,338 9,984,886 71,144,373

October 11,664,195 10,524,852 10,792,330 6,615,583 6,133,331 45,730,291

November 7,321,254 11,673,961 10,013,865 8,671,205 6,010,404 43,690,689

December 10,736,936 11,827,344 5,672,727 6,715,956 6,474,259 41,427,223

Total 379,615,763 326,854,314 324,375,699 433,006,108 405,584,316 1,869,436,199

The Figures that follow also show the monthly distribution of recorded fishing activity (all species) for 2008 –

2012 (May to December period).



Figure 4.87 Commercial Fishing Locations, All Species: May (2008 - 2012)



Figure 4.88 Commercial Fishing Locations, All Species: June (2008 - 2012)



Figure 4.89 Commercial Fishing Locations, All Species: July (2008 - 2012)



Figure 4.90 Commercial Fishing Locations, All Species: August (2008 - 2012)



Figure 4.91 Commercial Fishing Locations, All Species: September (2008 - 2012)



Figure 4.92 Commercial Fishing Locations, All Species: October (2008 - 2012)



Figure 4.93 Commercial Fishing Locations, All Species: November (2008 - 2012)



Figure 4.94 Commercial Fishing Locations, All Species: December (2008 - 2012)



Commercial Fish Harvests – Gear Types

The available DFO data reflect that a range of fishing gear types were used as part of the commercial fishery

within the Study Area from 2008 to 2012 (Table 4.34). Of these, pots (unspecified) accounted for

approximately 34 percent of the total fish landings over that period by weight, followed by shrimp trawls (15

percent), dredges (14 percent) and others.

In terms of landed value, pots used in the shellfish (especially crab) fisheries accounted for the large majority

(63 percent) of the total value of the fishery in that area over that time period, followed by dredges (12

percent), shrimp trawls (10 percent), and others.

Table 4.34 Fish Harvests by Gear Type by Weight and Value (2008-2012, All Study Area NAFO Unit

Areas)

Gear Type Weight (kg) Value ($)

Mobile Gear Types

Bottom Otter Trawl (Stern) 80,214,549 83,898,404

Shrimp Trawl 132,122,258 187,699,134

Danish Seine 1,076,946 939,716

Beach and Bar Seine 17,692,099 4,144,534

Tuck Seine 40,364,568 8,160,912

Purse Seine 84,268,418 23,765,386

Troller Lines 54,464 524,595

Mechanical Jigger 1,276,272 571,471

Hand Line (Baited) 3,698,323 4,319,048

Dredge (Boat) 127,276,851 214,690,150

Diving 651,174 1,182,923

Sea Cucumber Drag 4,049,255 2,732,476

Hunting 575,596 7,884,272

Other Gear, Unspecified 1,666,065 5,400,056

Fixed Gear Types

Gillnet (set of fixed) 50,360,368 73,667,658

Fyke Net 36,565 221,218

Longline 20,499,141 61,841,355

Trap Net 22,322,978 5,443,886

Pot (Unspecified) 301,227,236 1,182,349,007

Total 889,433,126 1,869,436,199



Figure 4.95 Fish Harvests by Gear Type by Weight of Catch (2008-2012, All Study Area NAFO Unit Areas)

Figure 4.96 Fish Harvests by Gear Type by Value of Catch (2008-2012, All Study Area NAFO Unit Areas)

34%

15% 14%

9%

9%

6%

5% 3% 2% 2% 1% Pot (Unspecified)

Shrimp Trawl

Dredge (Boat)

Purse Seine

Bottom Otter Trawl (Stern)

Gillnet (set of fixed)

Tuck Seine

Trap Net

Longline

Beach and Bar Seine

Other

63% 12%

10%

5%

4% 3% 1% 2%

Pot (Unspecified)

Dredge (Boat)

Shrimp Trawl

Bottom Otter Trawl (Stern)

Gillnet (set of fixed)

Longline

Purse Seine

Other



Figure 4.97 Fish Harvests Using Fixed Gear Types (May to December, 2008-2012)



Figure 4.98 Fish Harvests Using Fixed Gear Types (Bi-Monthly Periods, 2008-2012)



Figure 4.99 Fish Harvests Using Mobile Gear Types (May to December, 2008-2012)



Figure 4.100 Fish Harvests Using Mobile Gear Types (Bi-Monthly Periods, 2008-2012)



Potential Future Commercial Fisheries

In recent oil and gas related consultations in areas of Eastern and Southern Newfoundland, fishers and

fisheries organizations have noted that notwithstanding the significant changes in the nature and focus of the

province’s commercial fishing industry over recent decades, on-going changes within the marine environment

are also being reflected in an ever-changing fishing industry, especially in terms of fishing locations, times and

gear types. For example, as the ocean warms, fishers expect that they will fish more for groundfish again,

similar to pre-moratoria times, and many have kept their groundfish licences in anticipation of this trend in the

future (AMEC 2014). Similarly, extended warm water periods in the Study Area may increase the prevalence of

valuable large pelagics (e.g. tuna). Fishers have therefore stated that is important to consider not only what

the fishery looks like now, but how it may look like in the future (e.g., if cod come back, there may be an

increased use of mobile gear similar to pre-1992), and how that future fishery might interact with and be

influenced by the oil and gas industry (AMEC 2014).

In terms of fish species that are currently considered to be underutilized and possible future fisheries in the

Study Area, identifying and evaluating this potential requires consideration of a wide range of factors,

including biological (species presence, abundance, status) and socioeconomic (market demand and price, skills

and equipment needs) considerations. Moreover, determining whether and when a fishery is indeed a

potentially viable one falls within the purview and responsibility of relevant government regulatory and

resource management authorities and others. As noted above, there is some potential for future increases in

certain fisheries in the region, such as cod and large pelagics, the nature of which would be determined by a

number of biological and commercial factors, including markets, transportation systems, competing product or

product sources, monetary values and exchange rates, willingness to make capital investments by fishers, DFO

licencing decisions, etc. As for species under moratoria, that will be a science-based decision by relevant

government departments and agencies regarding species and quotas. GXT is not aware of any upcoming

changes for 2014, or which are likely to occur within the five year time span of this Project.

If, however, the current situation changes and a new fishery, or a currently closed fishery, should become

active within the Study Area during the temporal scope of this Project, this will be identfiied in the on-going

fishery information updates and analysis (Section 5.2) and considered in the annual update that GXT will file

before its application for a GPA in any Project year.

Commercial Fishing Activity by Foreign Countries

The preceding analysis has described recent commercial fishing activity within the various NAFO Unit Areas

that occur completely or partially within the Study Area, based on commercial fish landings (weight and landed

value) and location information for the period 2008 – 2012.

As indicated, the DFO datasets record domestic and foreign fish harvests that are landed in Canada only. The

waters off Newfoundland and Labrador have long been subject to commercial fishing activity by the fleets of a

number of foreign countries (AMEC 2014). Much of this fishing activity is, as outlined above, not likely to be

reflected in the available DFO fisheries databases as presented in the preceding sections.

Table 4.35 provides a summary overview of foreign fishing activity in various NAFO Divisions that overlap the

Study Area, for the period 2008-2012. The NAFO Division level is the highest resolution these data allow.



Table 4.35 Foreign (non-Canadian) Fishing Activity by NAFO Division (tonnes) (2008 – 2012)

NAFO Division 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Total

3K 0 1 1 208 0 210

3L 14,606 14,822 9,442 12,949 11,902 63,721

3M 25,554 18,132 20,514 24,732 26,583 115,515

3N 10,318 6,996 12,424 11,467 12,753 53,958

3O 5,852 8,253 7,331 7,526 7,392 36,354

Total 56,330 48,204 49,712 56,882 58,630 269,758

Source: NAFO (2013c)

4.3.1.3 Industry and Government Research Vessel Surveys

A number of fisheries survey programs by government and/or industry also occur in the Study Area.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) Multispecies Research Vessel (RV) Trawl Surveys

DFO conducts annual standardized bottom-trawl surveys to collect information for managing and monitoring

fish resources in the Newfoundland and Labrador Region. Spring surveys have been conducted in NAFO

Divisions 3LNOPs since 1975, while fall surveys commenced in NAFO Divisions 2HJ3KLMNO in 1977. The spring

and fall surveys take place in different but overlapping areas. While the survey design has remained somewhat

consistent, additional bottom types have been surveyed in recent decades (Bishop 1994). Since 1995,

government surveys have been conducted by Canadian Coast Guard research vessels using a Campelen 1800

shrimp trawl. The tentative 2014 schedule for DFO RV surveys in the Study Area is indicated in Table 4.36.

Table 4.36 Tentative Timing of DFO RV Surveys in the Study Area (2014)

Vessel Activity NAFO Division Tentative Start Date Tentative End Date

CCGS Needler NL Spring Survey 3P March 28 April 15

3P + 3O April 16 April 29

3O + 3N April 30 May 14

3L + 3N May 15 May 27

3L May 28 June 16

NL Fall Survey 3O September 17 September 30

3O + 3N October 1 October 14

3N + 3L October 15 October 28

3L October 29 November 11

3K + 3L November 12 November 25

CCGS Teleost NL Spring AZMP1 3P + 3KLMNO April 11 April 29

Greenland Halibut

Survey

2J + 3KL April 30 May 9

Capelin Survey 3KL May 10 May 27

NL Fall Survey 2J + 3K October 28 November 11

3K November 12 November 25

3K + 3L Deep November 25 December 9 1

Atlantic Zone Monitoring Program

Source: G. Sheppard, pers. comm (2014)



In 2003, an Industry - DFO Collaborative Post-season Trap Survey was developed and implemented for snow

crab in NAFO Divisions 2J3KLOPs4R, in order to more accurately assess and manage that resource. The annual

survey is conducted using commercial and modified snow crab traps. The 1,500 trap stations across all

management areas are determined by DFO and do not change from year to year. The survey usually starts in

late August or early September after the commercial snow crab season has ended. It continues until all the

stations are finished, sometimes into late November.

The start and end dates of past surveys in each NAFO Division are presented in Table 4.37. Not all stations are

sampled annually, and DFO relies on a subset of stations that are referred to as “core” stations.

Figure 4.101 illustrates the “core” survey stations for the snow crab survey in relation to the Study Area (D.

Stansbury, pers. comm. 2014).

Table 4.37 Timing of the Industry-DFO Collaborative Post Season Crab Survey (2003 – 2012)

NAFO Division Year Start Date End Date No. of Days

2J

2005 October 1 October 2 1

2007 August 21 October 27 67

2008 September 26 October 27 31




2012 August 29 November 17 80

3K

2003 October 1 November 17 47










3L


2004 September 6 November 23 78



2007 August 20 September 26 37






3O





NAFO Division Year Start Date End Date No. of Days


2007 September 6 September 21 15






3Ps











Source: D. Stansbury, DFO, pers. comm. (2014)

Groundfish Enterprise Allocation Council Survey

Groundfish Enterprise Allocation Council (GEAC) and DFO-GEAC surveys in 3Psn4Vsn occurred annually from

1997-2001 and biannually since 2001 (DFO 2013v). DFO provides advice to GEAC on stratified random design

and catch sampling. Groundfish surveys are conducted using bottom trawls and a commercial trawler. Tows

are approximately 15-30 min in duration and typically utilize a Campelan 1800 trawl with cod end liner (Brattey

et al 2004; McClintock 2010). GEAC reports that the surveys occur during a three-week period in September

and will occur in 2014, 2016 and 2018; DFO generates the locations shortly before the survey is conducted (B.

Chapman, pers. comm. 2014).

CAPP Northern Shrimp Survey

To enhance research efforts, the Canadian Association of Prawn Producers and Northern Coalition have

established the Northern Shrimp Research Fund (NSRF), which is a non-profit initiative that provides funding

and a vessel for shrimp surveys from SFA2 to SFA7. Information is also collected from fishing vessels for the

stock assessment process (DFO 2010g). The surveys utilize a Campelen 1800 research shrimp trawl with a cod

end mesh size of 40 mm (DFO 2010g).



Figure 4.101 Locations of Industry - DFO Collaborative Post-Season Snow Crab Trap Survey Stations



Atlantic Halibut Longline Survey

This halibut survey (Longline Survey for Atlantic Halibut on the Southern Grand Banks and Scotian Shelf) is

conducted annually in recent years within the Project Area, on the Grand Banks, by two ships from Nova

Scotia. It is coordinated by the Eastern Shore Fisherman’s Protective Association and the Shelburne County

Quota Group. The survey has set stations provided by DFO (Maritimes Region) and the ships fish them each

year, usually within the May – July period. The halibut longlines used are the same as those of the commercial

halibut longline fishery and consist of baited lines set out on the sea floor over a distance of up to 40 km. They

are marked at the surface but can be difficult to observe at sea (D. Hart, pers. comm. 2014; N. Baker-Stevens,

pers. comm. 2014; G. Dedrick, pers. comm. 2014). The coordinate positions will be provided to GXT.

4.3.1.4 Sealing

DFO issues an average of 16,000 seal harvester licenses annually in Atlantic Canada, and the quota is allocated

to provincially-based fleets. Approximately 12,500 licensed harvesters (78 percent) reside in Newfoundland

and Labrador (DFO 2011c). The provincial seal hunt is mainly for harp seals for which the season is November

15 to June 14 annually. Within the Study Area, the harvest occurs at “The Front” in Sealing Zones 5, 6, 7, 8, and

9 which are all adjacent to the Newfoundland coastline (Figure 4.102). Approximately 70 percent of the

Canadian harvest occurs at The Front, beginning around the second week of April and ending when individual

quotas are achieved or ice conditions are unfavourable (DFO 2011c).

4.3.1.5 Aquaculture

There are currently more than 120 licensed aquaculture sites along the coastlines of Newfoundland that

border the Study Area (Figure 4.103), though none are within the Project Area. These sites include: 68 Atlantic

salmon spawning facilities, 23 steelhead trout farms, 12 Atlantic cod grow-out facilities, 11 blue mussel farms,

three rainbow trout farms, two Arctic char facilities, one oyster farm, one cunner farm and one eel facility (T.

Budgell, pers. comm., 2014).



Figure 4.102 Study Area Seal Harvesting Zones



Figure 4.103 Aquaculture Sites



4.3.1.6 Aboriginal Fisheries

The Miawpukek Reserve is located on the south coast of Newfoundland, and was designated under the Indian

Act in 1987. The Reserve is often referred to as Conne River, and the Miawpukek Band’s membership consists

of 787 on-reserve (plus 80 non-Aboriginal) residents and 1,779 persons who reside off-reserve (Miawpukek

First Nation 2014).

The Miawpukek First Nation harvests a number of fish species in and around the Study Area as part of on-going

commercial fisheries. The community owns and operates a number of fishing vessels (the Aloysius B, Arlene &

Adonna, Dream Catcher, Little Jack, Miawpukek Pride, Miawpukek Provider, Moreton Harbour Mist, and the

new Ocean Otter), and has 23 commercial fishing licenses under the federal Aboriginal Fisheries Strategy

(Table 4.38). Several of these are currently active, and are utilized within or near the Study Area for harvesting

snow crab, groundfish / cod and whelk, particularly in NAFO 3Ps (J. Drake, pers. comm., 2014). Much of the

fish that is harvested by the Miawpukek First Nation is processed at Netukulimk Fisheries Limited, a facility

that was established in 1999 and is owned and operated by the Miawpukek First Nation.

Table 4.38 Commercial Fishing Licenses held by the Miawpukek First Nation

Species # of Licenses

Groundfish 4

Herring 2

Lobster 2

Mackerel 3

Scallop 2

Snow Crab 4

Bluefin Tuna 1

Whelk 3

Baitfish 2

Source: DFO (undated)

4.3.1.7 Recreational Fisheries

In Newfoundland and Labrador, recreational fishing takes place in both coastal and inland waters.

Newfoundland and Labrador has nearly 200 scheduled salmon rivers that are subject to specific angling (fly

fishing). Regulations and requirements vary depending on the river and special management measures applied

to some rivers or sections of rivers. Smelt angling in coastal waters is permitted throughout the year, and there

is no bag limit or possession limit for this species. For specified periods during the summer and fall, residents

and non-residents are permitted to participate (with licences or tags not being required) in a recreational /

food fishery for groundfish (Table 4.39). Commercial fishing and sale of catch from the recreational fishery are

not permitted (DFO 2014).

Table 4.39 Recreational Groundfish Fishery (2014)

Species Season(s) Individual Retention Limit Boat Retention Limit

Groundfish (with

some fish prohibited)

July 19-August 10

September 20-28

5 groundfish (including

cod) per fisher per day

15 groundfish when 3 or more persons

are fishing in one boat

Source: DFO (2014)

4.3 socioeconomic environment 4.3.1 4.3.1 · fisheries and related activities within and around the...

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