Labrador Shelves Bioregion

Home , Burgeo, Hudson Complex

Incorporating Representativity into Marine Protected Area Network Design in the Newfoundland- Labrador Shelves Bioregion

Ecosystems Management Publication Series Newfoundland and Labrador Region No. 0010

2014

Incorporating Representativity into Marine Protected Area Network Design in the Newfoundland-Labrador Shelves Bioregion

Laura E. Park1 and Francine Mercier2

Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region P. O. Box 5667 St. John’s, NL A1C 5X1

1 Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Region, P.O. Box 5667, St. John’s, NL A1C 5X1 2 Parks Canada, 25 Eddy St., 4th floor, Gatineau, QC, K1A 0M5 ©Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, 2014 Cat. No. Fs22-10/10-2014E-PDF ISBN 978-1-100-14003-2 978-1-100-25363-3 DFO No. 2014-1939

Correct citation for this publication:

Park, L. E. and Mercier F. 2014. Incorporating Representativity into Marine Protected Area Network Design in the Newfoundland-Labrador Shelves Bioregion. Ecosystems Management Publication Series, Newfoundland and Labrador Region. 0010: vi + 31 p.

ii Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge the contribution of Environment Canada and the Newfoundland and Labrador Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture in reviewing the various drafts of this document as it evolved. Particular thanks go to Karel Allard and Bobbi Rees for their valuable input.

iii

TABLE of CONTENTS

ABSTRACT/RÉSUMÉ ...... vii

1.0 INTRODUCTION ...... 1

1.1 Background ...... 1 1.2 Canada’s Oceanic Bioregions ...... 2 1.3 Bioregional MPA Network Development ...... 3 1.4 Incorporating Representativity...... 4

2.0 DELINEATION OF ECO-UNITS FOR THE NL SHELVES ...... 5

2.1 Review of Existing Classification Systems ...... 5 2.2 Eco-units for the Newfoundland-Labrador Shelves Bioregion ...... 10 2.3 Next Steps ...... 13

3.0 REFERENCES ...... 15

ANNEX A: OVERVIEW OF KEY MARINE CLASSIFICATION SYSTEMS……………….. 19

A-1. Marine Ecoregions of North America ...... 19 A-2. Canada’s National Marine Conservation Areas System Plan...... 23 A-3. Marine Ecozones of Canada ...... 26 A-4. Canadian Marine Ecoregions ...... 28 A-5 Preliminary Analysis for the Delineation of Marine Ecoregions on the NL Shelves ...... 31

v LIST of TABLES and FIGURES

Table 1: Summary of key classification Systems in relation to eleven major ecological features of the NL Shelves Bioregion ...... 6

Figure 1: Canada’s Marine Bioregions and Large Oceans Management Areas (LOMAs) ...... 3

Figure 2: Eco-units for the Newfoundland-Labrador Shelves Bioregion ...... 12

ANNEX A

Figure A-1: Baffin/Labradoran Arctic Ecoregion (taken from Marine Ecoregions of North America 2009) ...... 19

Figure A-2: Acadian Atlantic Ecoregion (taken from Marine Ecoregions of North America 2009) ...... 21

Figure A-3: Northern Gulf Stream Transition Ecoregion (taken from Marine Ecoregions of North America, 2009) ...... 22

Figure A-4: Canada’s National Marine Conservation Areas Atlantic Marine Regions (updated 2012) ...... 24

Figure A-5: The Marine Ecozones of the Canadian Atlantic (taken from Harding, 1997) ...... 26

Figure A-6: Overview of the Hierarchical Classification of the Canadian Atlantic (Harding 1997) ...... 27

Figure A-7: Canada’s Northern Atlantic and Atlantic Ecoregions (taken from Prowles et al., 2004) ...... 29

ABSTRACT

Fisheries and Oceans is working in partnership with Environment Canada, Parks Canada and the province of Newfoundland and Labrador to develop a network of marine protected areas (MPAs) within the Newfoundland-Labrador Shelves Bioregion. Based on national and international guidance, bioregional MPA network development will incorporate a series of design features and properties. This document outlines our preliminary approach to the incorporation of representativity within the network. Given the size and diversity of the Newfoundland-Labrador Shelves Bioregion, there is general agreement that subdivision of the bioregion into smaller “eco-units” will be a useful first step. This document provides a review of five biogeographic classification systems and studies for the area, and based on this review and comments by the Regional MPA Network Planning Team, six eco-units have been selected to guide the incorporation of representativity.

RÉSUMÉ

Pêches et Océans travaille en collaboration avec Environnement Canada, Parcs Canada et la province de Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador à l'élaboration d'un réseau d'aires marines protégées (AMP) dans la biorégion des Plates-formes de Terre-Neuve et du Labrador. Selon les directives nationales et internationales, la planification du réseau biorégional d'aires marines protégées incorporera un ensemble de propriétés et de caractéristiques de conception. Le présent document décrit notre approche préliminaire liée à l'incorporation de la représentativité dans le réseau. Étant donné la taille et la diversité de la biorégion des Plates-formes de Terre-Neuve et du Labrador, on convient généralement que la sous-division de la biorégion en « éco-unités » plus petites constituerait une première étape utile. Le présent document fournit un examen de cinq systèmes de classification biogéographiques et études de la région. Selon cet examen et des commentaires formulés par l'Équipe de planification du réseau régional d'aires marines protégées, six éco-unités ont été choisies pour orienter l'incorporation de la représentativité.

vii

viii 1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND

Within the Newfoundland-Labrador Shelves (NL Shelves) Bioregion, Integrated Oceans Management (IOM) was initiated under the Oceans Act (1996) at a relatively small scale, starting with individual Oceans Act Marine Protected Areas (Eastport and Gilbert Bay) and Coastal Management planning initiatives in priority areas (Placentia Bay, Coast of Bays). Management planning then gradually broadened to the Large Oceans Management Area (LOMA) scale within the Placentia Bay /Grand Banks (PB/GB) LOMA. Ecologically and Biologically Significant Areas (EBSAs) and valued ecosystem components were identified for the LOMA and a detailed risk assessment was conducted to identify conservation priorities. An IOM plan was developed for the LOMA through a broad-based multi-stakeholder committee. Oceans Management has now expanded to the bioregional scale which will facilitate IOM planning within all of Canada’s ocean space. At this large scale it is recognized that there is a need to be more targeted in terms of stakeholder engagement, issues and objectives. Marine protected area (MPA) network development will be a key tool for IOM within the NL Shelves and will build upon the significant work completed for the MPA and IOM initiatives already nested within the bioregion. The primary goal of the MPA network is to provide long-term protection of marine biodiversity, ecosystem function and special natural features. The conservation priorities identified through the PB/GB LOMA planning process will provide the starting point for the development of conservation priorities for the NL Shelves Bioregion MPA network.

A Regional MPA Network Planning Team, comprised of regulatory authorities with the mandate to create MPAs, has been formed with representatives from Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), Parks Canada (PC), Environment Canada (EC) and the province of Newfoundland and Labrador (NL). Data layers have been compiled and mapped for the area of the bioregion outside of the PB/GB LOMA, including human use, oceanographic characteristics, seabed features, and species assemblages, with shorebird, waterfowl and bird colony data provided by EC, and pelagic seabird data provided by both EC and Memorial University of Newfoundland. The ecological data layers were used to complete the EBSA identification process for the bioregion (DFO 2013a), and will also be useful as representativity is incorporated and network priorities are refined.

A national network of MPAs is being developed by the Government of Canada and provincial/ territorial governments to conserve Canada’s marine ecosystems. The national network will also contribute towards an international target to conserve at least 10% of coastal and marine areas by 2020 (also known as Aichi Target 11 under the Convention on Biological Diversity). DFO, PC, and EC all have specific but complementary mandates for establishing MPAs, and Canada’s Federal Marine Protected Areas Strategy (DFO 2005) outlines how their MPA programs collectively contribute to the network. The National Framework for Canada’s Network of

1 Marine Protected Areas (Government of Canada 2011) outlines a coordinated and flexible approach to network development which would also include provincial and territorial MPAs and recognizes the potential contribution of other effective area-based conservation measures such as certain Fisheries Act closures and critical habitat protected under the Species at Risk Act. The development of this National Framework was led by DFO in collaboration with federal and provincial/territorial partners, and provides strategic direction for Bioregional MPA network design and establishment.

A Regional IOM governance model exists within Newfoundland and Labrador that can assist in the coordination of activities required for network development. The Regional Oversight Committee on Oceans Management (ROCOM) is comprised of senior executive-level representatives from the federal and provincial government departments with a broader oceans management mandate. The ROCOM recognizes the shared responsibility for coastal and oceans management in the region and will provide strategic oversight and direction to implement MPA network decision-making processes through the relevant government departments, agencies and boards. The ROCOM is supported by the Canada Newfoundland and Labrador Committee on Oceans Management (CNLCOM), a managerial-level intergovernmental IOM forum. The CNLCOM will guide the development of an MPA Network Plan for the NL Shelves Bioregion; and will also support the development of an engagement strategy for the inclusion of industry, stakeholders, ENGO’s, etc., in the NL Shelves Bioregion MPA Network development process. Incorporating additional advisory and working groups to address network tasks will allow targeted participation based on interest and expertise.

1.2 CANADA’S OCEANIC BIOREGIONS

Canada’s 12 oceanic bioregions (Figure 1) were identified through a national science advisory process (DFO 2009) and were based on existing biogeographical classification systems and principles. These bioregions are broad scale biogeographical units with oceanographic and bathymetric similarities, and along with a 13th bioregion, the Great Lakes, provide the spatial planning framework for Canada’s national network of MPAs.

The NL Shelves Bioregion covers approximately one million km2, with Canada’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) as its outer boundary, and extends from the Cape Chidley at the northern tip of Labrador to the southern Grand Banks and the south coast of Newfoundland. This large and diverse bioregion includes a complex coastal zone, a broad continental shelf and slope, offshore banks, sea mounts, deep water channels, and plains reaching depths of over four kilometres. The bioregion is heavily influenced by the cold, low salinity Labrador Current, but with southern areas influenced by the warmer, more saline Gulf Stream Current.

Figure 1. Canada’s Marine Bioregions and Large Oceans Management Areas (LOMAs)

1.3 BIOREGIONAL MPA NETWORK DEVELOPMENT

Based on the National Framework which reflects international guidance, network development within the NL Shelves Bioregion aims to incorporate the following design features and properties (CBD Secretariat, 2009):

 Ecologically and Biologically Significant Areas (EBSAs)  Representativity  Connectivity  Replication  Adequacy and Viability

EBSAs and representativity are internationally recognized design features for MPA Network development and will be a priority for protection within the NL Shelves bioregion. Conservation priorities (e.g. ecologically significant species or habitats, depleted species, rare features, etc.) will be identified to guide network design strategies, and are expected to build on the conservation priorities developed for the PB/GB LOMA. Potential social and economic impacts will also be considered as a series of alternative network designs scenarios are developed. These scenarios will be aimed at maximizing socio-economic benefits and

3 minimizing socio-economic impacts, without compromising the long-term protection of marine biodiversity, ecosystem function and special natural features. Before a final network design is selected, the various design scenarios will be compared, analyzed, and refined in consultation with stakeholders to ensure that the chosen design addresses the conservation priorities, and adequately captures the design features and properties, while minimizing social and economic impacts.

1.4 INCORPORATING REPRESENTATIVITY

At its most basic, broad scale, ecological representation means protecting relatively intact, naturally functioning, appropriately scaled (DFO 2013b) examples of the full range of ecosystems and habitat diversity found within a given planning area. An MPA network which is representative can serve three management and policy functions (DFO 2013b) for the biogeographic region for which it represents, including:

(i) insurance policy function, (ii) benchmark or natural control function, and (iii) seed stock function.

Existing MPAs and protected portions of EBSAs will also “represent” a range of habitat features or ecosystems within the bioregion. However, a gap analysis will be required to identify unrepresented habitat types, ecosystems, or structural features that need to be incorporated into the network design. This approach is based on international (CBD 2008) and National Science (DFO 2009; 2010) advice on addressing representativity in MPA Network development. Key elements of this advice are summarized below:

• Bioregions or their first order sub-units may be appropriate for selection of representative areas. • Subdivision of the bioregion should consider major water masses and/or bathymetric features, as well as food web structure and benthic communities. Each sub-unit need not be homogeneous but should be contiguous and intact. • Transition zones should be taken into account when delineating boundaries between sub- units. Specifically, those that are likely to retain populations increase the likelihood that they interact within, rather than across, feature boundaries. Pressure barriers that are present at some depth zones along continental shelves may be important to consider when seeking subdivisions of the major biogeographic units. • The scale of biogeographic subdivisions appropriate for near-coastal areas is likely to be finer than in offshore areas. How far offshore these coastal scale factors will be dominant is case-specific.

Given the size and diversity of the NL Shelves Bioregion, more than one ecosystem will need to be represented in the network. Therefore, a subdivision of the bioregion into smaller “eco-units”

4 is a beneficial first step. Each eco-unit should be ecologically or biologically distinct and boundaries between eco-units should reflect major differences in water mass and/or bathymetry (e.g., ice cover, temperature, salinity, flow, depth, stratification, primary productivity) which are associated with differences in species assemblages, food web structures or benthic communities. In this way, a particular habitat feature (e.g., fjord, sandy shelf, or continental slope) in one eco-unit would not have the same characteristics as the same habitat feature in another eco-unit. For example, there is likely to be general agreement that sandy shelf habitat off northern Labrador is not ecologically or biologically the same as sandy shelf habitat on the southern Grand Banks, and therefore the north Labrador Shelf and the southern Grand Banks would be in separate eco-units. All major habitat features within each eco-unit will also need to be represented in the MPA network, so the eco-units do not need to be homogenous. Ensuring that each eco-unit is adequately incorporated in the network decreases the potential for any major gaps in representativity, and as the basic design plan is assessed and refined, finer-scale habitat and species distribution data will be used to ensure that the final network design captures the full range of habitat features and species contained within the various eco-units.

2.0 DELINEATION OF ECO-UNITS FOR THE NL SHELVES BIOREGION

2.1 REVIEW OF EXISTING CLASSIFICATION SYSTEMS To guide the delineation of first order sub-units, or ‘eco-units’, as the first step in incorporating representativity for the network of MPAs within the Bioregion, this document examines the ecological boundaries identified within five key existing marine classification systems: 1. Marine Ecoregions of North America, Commission on Environmental Cooperation (CEC) (Wilkinson et al. 2009) 2. Canada’s National Marine Conservation Areas (NMCA) System Plan, Parks Canada (PC) (Mercier and Mondor 1995) 3. The Marine Ecozones of Canada, Environment Canada (EC) (Harding 1997) 4. Canadian Marine Ecoregions, Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) (Powles et al. 2004) 5. Preliminary Analysis for the Delineation of the Marine Ecoregions on the NL Shelves (DFO) (Pepin et al. 2010) Eleven major ecological features (e.g., Laurentian Channel, Northern Grand Banks) of the bioregion are recognized as distinct units by one or more of these classification systems. Table 1 below compares the five classification systems in relation to each of these features and presents some options for delineating eco-units based on similarities between the five systems. These options were reviewed by the MPA Network Planning Team, and the agreed-upon options are shown in red. Following Table 1, each of the six resulting eco-units is described, with a supporting rationale. A map of the eco-units is provided in Figure 2 below. A detailed overview and maps of the original classification systems are provided in Annex A.

5 Table 1: Summary of key classification systems in relation to eleven major ecological features of the NL Shelves Bioregion 1. Coastal Labrador Options: CEC: This system recognizes coastal Labrador from the a) Classify the nearshore area Hamilton Inlet north as a third-order subdivision. with the continental shelf. PC: Coastal Labrador is classified with the Labrador Shelf b) Classify a single nearshore with its southern boundary at the Strait of Belle Isle. Eco-unit from northern EC Ecozones: The coastal area is classified with the Labrador to the Avalon Labrador-Newfoundland Shelf in this system. Peninsula DFO Ecoregions: The northern Labrador shelf is a distinct c) Recognize a separate coastal unit with a southern boundary at Hopedale Channel, but the Eco-unit from the tip of nearshore is not classified separately. Labrador to Hopedale Pepin et al.: The nearshore is distinct in this analysis Channel, Hamilton Inlet, or although the spatial and temporal resolution of the data sets the Strait of Belle Isle. is limited in coastal Labrador. The southern boundary is not clearly delineated, but clusters are more variable north of Hamilton Inlet. 2. The Labrador-Newfoundland Shelf Options: CEC: Labrador and Newfoundland Shelves are classified a) Classify the Labrador and as a single unit, with the southern boundary at the Avalon Newfoundland Shelves as a Peninsula (includes Trinity Bay) and Eastern boundary at single Eco-unit. 200 m contour. b) Divide the continental shelf PC: The Labrador and Newfoundland Shelves are separate at Hopedale Channel, units with the boundary at the Strait of Belle Isle. The Hamilton Inlet or Strait of Newfoundland Shelf includes the Northern Grand Banks Belle Isle. and North and East coasts of Avalon Peninsula. c) Recognize a separate coastal EC Ecozones: Labrador and Newfoundland Shelves are eco-unit from Hopedale classified as a single unit with the southern boundary at the Channel or Hamilton Inlet Avalon Peninsula (includes Trinity Bay). south to Avalon Peninsula. DFO Ecoregions: The Southern Labrador and d) Divide the slope between the Newfoundland Shelves are classified as a single unit which shelf and plain. Use the 1000 includes the northern Grand Banks and coastal area of the m, 1500 m or 3,000 m Avalon Peninsula, extending from the Hopedale Channel in contour as the boundary. the north, to Cape St. Mary’s in the south. Pepin et al.: The Labrador and Newfoundland Shelves (with much of the slope) are clearly distinguished with a southern boundary adjacent to Trinity Bay. The northern boundary is unclear, but clusters are more variable north of Hamilton Inlet. The nearshore area is clearly distinct from the shelf. 3. The Labrador-Newfoundland Slope Options: CEC: The continental slope is classified as a separate unit, a) Classify the continental extending from the 200 m contour to the 3,000 m contour, slope as a separate Eco-unit.

6 south to the northern edge of the Grand Banks.

PC: The continental slope is not recognized as distinct. b) Classify the continental slope EC Ecozones: The slope is recognized as a transition zone as a separate Eco-unit. between the Shelf and Plain and is not classified as a c) Divide the slope between the separate unit. The boundary between the Shelf and Plain is shelf and plain. Use the 1000 not clearly defined. m, 1500 m or 3,000 m contour DFO Ecoregions: The slope is not classified as a separate as the boundary. unit, but the 1000m contour marks the boundary between the shelf and plain. Pepin et al.: The deep portion (>1500 m) of the Continental slope shows distinct features. 4. Labrador Sea Options: a) Classify the Labrador Sea as a CEC: The slope area (200-3,000 m) and plain (>3,000 m) separate Eco-unit, including along the NE boundary of the bioregion are classified as the plain and a portion of separate units. Both extend from the northern edge of the slope (400-600 m contour), bioregion, south to the northern edge of the Grand Banks. from the northern extent of PC: The deep waters off the slope are not recognized as bioregion to northern edge of distinct. Northern Grand Banks, and EC Ecozones: The Labrador Sea is a distinct unit which west to EEZ. extends south to the edge of the Northern Grand Banks b) Classify the Labrador Sea as a DFO Ecoregions: The Labrador Sea is a distinct unit separate Eco-unit, including a which includes the deeper water (>1000 m), extending south portion of the continental to the northern edge of the Grand Banks. slope. Use the (<1000 m, Pepin et al.: Within this analysis the spatial and temporal <1500 m or <3,000 m) resolution of the data sets is limited for the deep waters off contour as the boundary. the NE coast, although the continental slope is distinguished. 5. North East Coast Options: a) Classify the nearshore area CEC: Not recognized as distinct. with the continental shelf. PC: Not recognized as distinct. b) Classify a single nearshore EC Ecozones: Not recognized as distinct. Eco-unit from northern DFO Ecoregions: Not recognized as distinct. Labrador to the Avalon Pepin et al.: The nearshore area is clearly distinct in this Peninsula analysis. c) Recognize a separate coastal Eco-unit from Hopedale Channel, Hamilton Inlet, or the Strait of Belle Isle south to the southern shore of the Avalon Peninsula, Cape Race or Cape St. Mary’s.

6. Northern Grand Banks Options: CEC: The northern Grand Banks are classified as a a) Classify the Grand Banks as a separate unit which includes the northwestern portion of single eco-unit. the Grand Banks, Conception Bay and the NE coast of the b) Classify the northern portion of Avalon. the Grand Banks as a separate PC: The Grand Banks are classified as a single unit. Eco-unit, including the coastal EC Ecozones: The Grand Banks classified as a single unit area of Conception Bay and which includes the coastal area of the Avalon Peninsula possibly the southern shore of and South Coast. the Avalon. DFO Ecoregions: The northern Grand Banks are c) Classify the northern portion of included with the southern Labrador Shelf. the Grand Banks as a separate Pepin et al.: The northern and southern areas of the Grand eco-unit, including the coastal Banks shows some variation, but only the southeast shoal area from Cape Bonavista to area is clearly distinct. Cape St. Mary’s.

7. Southern Grand Banks Options: CEC: The southern Grand Banks is recognized as a a) Classify the Grand Banks as a separate unit which includes Fortune Bay, south to the single eco-unit. edge of the Laurentian Channel b) Classify the southern Grand PC: The Grand Banks are classified as a single unit. Banks as a separate eco-unit. EC Ecozones: The Grand Banks are classified as a single Include the coastal zone with unit. the South Coast eco-unit. DFO Ecoregions: The southern Grand Banks is c) Classify the southern Grand recognized as a separate unit, includes Placentia Bay and Banks as a separate eco-unit the south coast, south to the deeper (>100 m) waters of the including Placentia Bay, Laurentian Channel Fortune Bay and St. Pierre Pepin et al.: The northern and southern Grand Banks are Bank. not clearly separated. The Grand Banks area extends from Bonavista Bay to Cape St. Mary’s and in some analyses includes the St. Pierre Bank and parts of the south coast. 8. Newfoundland South Coast Options: CEC: The South Coast is recognized as a separate unit a) Classify the South Coast as a from the Grand Banks; includes Burgeo Bank and the separate eco-unit which extends shallow coastal areas from Bay d’Espoir to the western from Cape Ray to Cape St. edge of the bioregion. Mary’s and south to the PC: The South Coast is recognized as separate unit from Laurentian Channel. the Grand Banks and includes the coastal area from the tip b) Classify the South Coast as a of Burin Peninsula to the western boundary of the separate eco-unit but exclude bioregion. the two deeper channels EC Ecozones: Not recognized as distinct; included with (Hermitage and Burgeo). The the Grand Banks. channels could be classified DFO Ecoregions: Not recognized as distinct; included with the Laurentian Channel.

8 with the Southern Grand Banks c) Classify the south coast west of Pepin et al.: Not all of the analyses included data for this Fortune Bay (including the area, but where data is included; the South Coast is Burgeo and Hermitage generally associated with the Grand Banks. Channels, and the Burgeo Bank) with the Laurentian Channel 9. Laurentian Channel Options: CEC: The Laurentian Channel is classified as a separate a) Classify the Laurentian unit which includes the deeper channels perpendicular to Channel/Newfoundland South the South Coast. Coast as a separate eco-unit. PC: The Laurentian Channel portion of the bioregion is Include the Burgeo and classified as part of the Scotian Shelf. Hermitage Channels, the EC Ecozones: All deep water of the Laurentian Channel Burgeo Bank and the adjacent and Fan are classified together as Temperate Atlantic coast. DFO Ecoregions: The Laurentian Channel is classified b) Classify the Laurentian with the Gulf of St. Lawrence and eastern Scotian Shelf. Channel as a separate eco-unit. Pepin et al.: Not all of the analyses included data for this Include only the main Channel. area, but the Laurentian Channel is generally associated c) Classify the Laurentian with the Grand Banks or south coast. Channel as a separate eco-unit. Include only the main Channel and adjacent deep water zone south of Grand Banks (Laurentian Fan)

10. Laurentian Fan Options: CEC: Not recognized as distinct; included with Northern a) Classify this small portion of Gulf Stream Transition Slope (200-3,000 m). the bioregion as a separate eco- PC: Included with the Grand Banks. unit EC Ecozones: Included with the Temperate Atlantic. b) Classify the Laurentian DFO Ecoregions: Included with the Gulf Stream. Channel and Fan together as an Pepin et al.: Within Pepin’s analysis the spatial and eco-unit. temporal resolution of the data sets is limited for the deep waters of the Laurentian Fan area.

9 11. Southeast Shoal Option: CEC: Southeast Shoal area is recognized as a distinct a) Include the portion of the third-level subunit of the southern Grand Banks. shallow southeast shoal area PC: Not recognized as distinct. that lies within the bioregion EC Ecozones: Not recognized as distinct. with the Southern Grand Banks DFO Ecoregions: Not recognized as distinct. b) Classify the portion of the Pepin et al.: This analysis clearly shows the Southeast shallow southeast shoal area Shoal as a distinct area. that lies within the bioregion as a separate eco-unit

2.2 ECO-UNITS FOR THE NEWFOUNDLAND-LABRADOR SHELVES BIOREGION

2.2.1 Labrador-Newfoundland Shelf Eco-unit

This eco-unit is bounded by the east coasts of Newfoundland and Labrador and the Labrador Sea and the Southern Grand Banks eco-units, extending from the coast to the 1500 m contour. Rationale: The Labrador Current flows south in two streams; a cold inshore branch over the shelf and a slightly warmer offshore branch (West Greenland) along the slope, and these distinct water masses host distinct fish communities. Depths of 200 m or less on the shelf edge slope rapidly to depths of over 3,000 m. The 1500 m contour (midpoint) was selected as the boundary between the two water masses and appears to be supported by research survey data (Mardi Gullage, pers.com), although the 1000 m (DFO Ecoregions) and 3,000 m (CEC) contours were also identified as boundaries. 2.2.2 Labrador Sea Eco-unit This eco-unit includes the deep waters off the northeast coast of Newfoundland and Labrador from the 1500 m contour to the outer boundary of the bioregion. The slope is a transition area between the Labrador-Newfoundland Shelf and Labrador Sea eco-units, but since major fish assemblages migrate seasonally between the shelf and slope waters, the slope waters <1500 m will be classified with the Labrador-Newfoundland Shelf Eco-unit. Rationale: See rationale for the Labrador-Newfoundland Shelf Eco-unit above. 2.2.3 Northern Grand Banks Eco-unit This eco-unit takes in the northern portion of the Grand Banks bounded by the Labrador- Newfoundland Shelf and Labrador Sea eco-units to the north, and east to the outer extent of the bioregion, and is separated from the Southern Grand Banks Eco-unit by the 100 m depth contour. This eco-unit includes the adjacent coastal area from Cape Bonavista to Cape St. Mary’s. Rationale: Modeled on Pepin’s analysis, the northern boundary runs east from Cape Bonavista to the outer extent of the bioregion. The southern boundary is based largely on the temperature differential of 6-7oC separating the northern and southern Grand Banks at the 100 m contour.

10 Although this boundary is only partially evident in Pepin’s analysis or the EC Ecozone system, the Northern Grand Banks is considered a transition zone between the cold Newfoundland- Labrador Shelf eco-unit which is strongly influenced by the Labrador Current, and the more temperate southern shelf area. Three of the other classification systems place the northern and southern Grand Banks in separate subunits, with the CEC system separating them into entirely different ecoregions.

2.2.4 Southern Grand Banks Eco-unit This eco-unit is bounded in the north by the 100 m contour, in the south and east by the Laurentian Fan eco-unit and the outer boundary of the bioregion. The eco-unit extends west to include St. Pierre Bank and includes the adjacent coast from Cape St. Mary’s to the tip of the Burin Peninsula. Rationale: This eco-unit is characterized by shallow water, generally less than 100 m in depth, with a temperature differential of 6-7oC separating the northern and southern Grand Banks. Although influenced by the Labrador Current, the region typically remains ice free, and supports a warmer water fish community (including yellowtail flounder, monkfish, and historically haddock) compared to the northern Grand Banks. The Southeast Shoal area is recognized as distinct by Pepin’s analysis and the CEC’s system (3rd level subdivision) and this will have to be considered when assessing representativity for the network. Given its small size (much of which is outside of the Bioregion), we reluctantly lumped the SE Shoal with the Southern Grand Banks. 2.2.5 Laurentian Channel /Newfoundland South Coast Eco-unit This eco-unit includes the deep waters of the Laurentian Channel (>200 m) and the adjacent coastal area, which is characterized by two deep water channels (Burgeo and Hermitage) running from the coast to the Laurentian Channel. Rationale: The Laurentian Channel is recognized as a transition area which is variously placed with the Scotian Shelf, the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and the deep channels off the South Coast or the deeper waters of the Laurentian Fan. Since classification of this region shows little consensus it has been placed with the deep channels and includes the adjacent coastal area and the Burgeo Bank. 2.2.6 Laurentian Fan Eco-unit This small eco-unit includes the deep (>1500 m) water area south of the Grand Banks known as the Laurentian Fan. Rationale: Although the Laurentian Channel and Fan are classified together by the EC Ecozone classification system, most of the other classification systems recognize the Laurentian Fan as

11 part of a broader temperate slope region. Both the Laurentian Channel and Laurentian Fan are transition areas at the edge of the bioregion, and have more similarities with each other than with other adjacent areas, but we have placed them in separate eco-units given the significant differences in depth, temperature and species assemblages.

Figure 2. Eco-units for the Newfoundland-Labrador Shelves Bioregion

13 2.3 NEXT STEPS This review has identified 6 eco-units to help guide the incorporation of representativity within the MPA network that would be developed for the NL Shelves Bioregion. Each eco-unit is thought to be ecologically or biologically distinct, and should be represented within the MPA network. Within each eco-unit, a full range of ecosystems and habitat diversity should also be represented at an appropriate scale. No comprehensive habitat map is available for the entire bioregion, but a benthic features map, originally developed for the Scotian Shelf (Fader 2007) was expanded in 2010 to include the entire NL Shelves Bioregion (NRCan unpublished) and could be used as a starting point. Various predictive mapping and modeling approaches may also be helpful.

The geographic scope of Canada’s network of MPAs spans from offshore waters with depths exceeding four kilometres, to inshore and tidal waters (to the high water mark) and any associated estuaries and saltmarshes. Efforts will be required to ensure coherence of terrestrial, coastal, inshore and offshore classification schemes, while recognizing and accommodating the vast differences in ecosystem structure and function as we transition from terrestrial to open ocean environments.

In the offshore, floating phytoplankton form the base of the food chain, and the range and movements of major functional groups (zooplankton, krill, forage fish, seabirds, medium and large piscivorous fish, sharks, marine mammals and sea turtles) tend to be more closely tied to water column properties such as temperature, salinity, and depth than to bottom substrates. Annual changes in day length, ice cover, and seasonal stratification followed by overturn/mixing of nutrient-rich deep water, fuel highly seasonal patterns in primary productivity and species distribution. As a result, models that focus solely on seabed features and benthic communities will not adequately represent pelagic ecosystems.

Given the differences in scale and patterns in ecological and human activity in coastal and open ocean habitats, coastal areas will almost certainly require a finer scale classification system, and coastal protection measures will tend to be smaller and more numerous compared to offshore protected areas. Coastal areas are also more heavily influenced by land-based activities leading to more complex governance requirements which will rely on a broader range of provincial and federal legislation.

A national Science Advisory Process on Representativity (DFO 2013b) provides further advice which will guide the development of a regional approach by the MPA Network Planning Team in collaboration with science colleagues. Some additional documents which may help inform the strategy for incorporation of representativity within the NL Shelves Bioregion MPA network are listed below:

Airame, S., Dugan J. E., Lafferty K. D., Leslie H., McArdle D. A., and Warner R. R.. 2003. Applying ecological criteria to marine reserve design: A case study from the California

14 Channel Islands. Ecological Applications. 13 (1), pp. 170-184. Postprint available free at: http://repositories.cdlib.org/postprints/971

Arbour, J., Chairperson. 2002. Proceedings of a Benthic Habitat Classification Workshop Meeting of the Maritimes Regional Advisory Process: Maintenance of the Diversity of Ecosystem Types -- A Framework for the Conservation of Benthic Communities of the Scotia-Fundy Area of the Maritimes Region. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Proceedings Series 2002/023. 93p.

Arbour, J., Chairperson. 2004. Proceedings of a Benthic Habitat Classification Workshop Meeting of the Maritimes Regional Advisory Process: Maintenance of the Diversity of Ecosystem Types -- Benthic Classification and Usage Guidelines for the Scotia-Fundy Area of the Maritimes Region. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Proceed. Ser. 2004/004. 45p.

Breiman, L. 2001. Random forests. Machine Learning. 45:5–32.

CBD Secretariat. 2004. Technical Advice on the Establishment and Management of a National System of Marine and Coastal Protected Areas, SCBD, 40 pages (CBD Technical Series no. 13). http://www.cbd.int/doc/publications/cbd-ts-13.pdf

Chan, A., Cundiff A., Gardner N., Hrovat Y., Kircher L., and Klein C. 2006. Marine Protected Areas Along California’s Central Coast: A Multicriteria Analysis of Network Design. Group Project, (M. Envir. Sci. & Mgmt.), University of California Santa Barbara, xviii + 178p.

DFO. 2004. Identification of Ecologically and Biologically Significant Areas. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2004/006.

DFO. 2005. Framework for Classification and Characterization of Scotia-Fundy Benthic Habitats. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2005/071. 14p.

DFO. 2007. Guidance Document on Identifying Conservation Priorities and Phrasing Conservation priorities for Large Oceans Management Areas. DFO Can. Sci. Advis.Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2007/010.

DFO 2007 The Grand Banks of Newfoundland: Atlas of Human Activities www.nfl.dfo- mpo.gc.ca

DFO. 2008. Further Guidance on the Formulation, Prioritization, and Use of Conservation Objectives in an Ecosystem Approach to Integrated Management of Human Activities in Aquatic Ecosystems. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2008/029.

DFO. 2013. Review of Data and Methods for Marine Protected Area Network Planning in the Maritimes Bioregion. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. (in press)

15 DFO and WWF-Canada. 2009. Guidance and Lessons Learned for Canada’s Marine Protected Areas Networks: http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/index-eng.htm.

Dutil, J.D., Proulx S., Chouinard P. M., and Borcard D. 2011. A hierarchical classification of the seabed based on physiographic and oceanographic features in the St. Lawrence. Can. Tech. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 2916: vii + 72 p.

Dutil, J.D., Proulx S., Galbraith P.S., Chassé J., Lambert N. and Laurian C. 2012. Coastal and epipelagic habitats of the estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence. Can. Tech. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 3009; ix + 87 pp.

Ellis, S.L., Incze L.S., Lawton P., Ojaveer H., MacKenzie B.R., Pitcher C.R., Shirley T.C., Eero M., Tunnell W.J. Jr., Doherty P.J., and Zeller B.M. 2011. Four Regional Marine Biodiversity Studies: Approaches and Contributions to Ecosystem-based Management. PLoS One 6(4):e18997. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0018997.

Ellis, N., Smith S.J. and Pitcher C.R. 2012. Gradient Forests: Calculating importance gradients on physical predictors. Ecology. 93:156–168.

Greenlaw M.E., Gromack A.G., Basquill S.P., MacKinnon D.S., Lynds J.A., Taylor R.B., Utting D.J., Hackett J.R., Grant J., Forbes D.L., Savoie F., Bérubé D., Connor K.J., Johnson S.C., Coombs K.A., and Henry R. 2013. A Physiographic Coastline Classification of the Scotian Shelf Bioregion and Environs: The Nova Scotia Coastline and the New Brunswick Fundy Shore. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2012/051. iv + 39 p.

Harper, J., Robilliard G.A. and Lathrop J. 1983. Marine Regions of Canada: Framework for Canada’s System of national Parks. Report for Parks Canada, Woodword-Clyde Consultants, Victoria, BC. 188pp.

Horsman, T.L. and Breeze H. (eds) 2005. The Scotian Shelf: An Atlas of Human Activities, 1- 118p. DFO/2005-816 http://www.mar.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/e0009630

Horsman, T.L., Serdynska A., Zwanenburg K.C.T. and Shackell N.L. 2011. Report on the Marine Protected Area Network Analysis in the Maritimes Region, Canada. Can. Tech. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 2917: xi + 188 p. http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/Library/343100.pdf

Horsman, T.L. and Shackell N.L. 2009. Atlas of important habitat for key fish species on the Scotian Shelf, Canada. Can. Tech. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 2835: vii +82p. Available at: http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/Library/337080.pdf

Madden, C.J., Grossman D.H., and Goodin K.L. 2005. Coastal and Marine Systems of North America: Framework for an Ecological Classification Standard: Version II. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia.

16 Natural England and Joint Nature Conservation Committee. 2010. Marine Conservation Zone Project: Ecological Network Guidance. Sheffield and Peterborough, UK. http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/pdf/100705_ENG_v10.pdf

Possingham, H.P., Ball I.R. and Andelman S. 2000. Mathematical methods for identifying representative reserve networks. In: Ferson S. and Burgman M. (eds) Quantitative methods for conservation biology. Springer-Verlag, New York, pp. 291- 305. http://www.uq.edu.au/marxan/docs/Possingham_etal_2000_Mathematical.pdf

Pressey, R.L., Humphries C.J.,. Margules C.R, Vane-Wright R.I., and Williams P.H. 1993. Beyond opportunism: Key principles for systematic reserve selection. Trends in Ecology and Evolution 8: 124-128

Smith, J.L., Lewis K. and Laughren J. 2006. A Policy and Planning Framework for Marine Protected Area Networks in Canada’s Oceans. WWF-Canada: Halifax. 105 pp.

Vincent, M.A., Atkins S.M., Lumb C.M., Golding N., Lieberknecht L.M. and Webster M. 2004. Marine nature conservation and sustainable development - the Irish Sea Pilot. Report to Defra by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Peterborough.

3.0 REFERENCES

CBD Secretariat. 2009. Azores Scientific Criteria and Guidance for Identifying Ecologically or Biologically Significant Marine Areas and Designing Representative Networks of Marine Protected Areas in Open Ocean Waters and Deep Sea Habitats. Montreal, QC. 12p.

(http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/CSAS/Csas/Publications/SAR-AS/2009/2009_056_e.htm)

DFO. 2005. Canada’s Federal Marine Protected Areas Strategy. DFO/2005-799. http://www.dfo- mpo.gc.ca/oceans-habitat/oceans/mpa-zpm/fedmpazpmfed/pdf/mpa_e.pdf

DFO. 2009. Development of a Framework and Principles for the Biogeographic Classification of Canadian Marine Areas, Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2009/056.

DFO. 2010. Science Guidance on the Development of Networks of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2009/061.

DFO. 2013a. Identification of Additional Ecologically and Biologically Significant Areas (EBSAs) within the Newfoundland and Labrador Shelves Bioregion. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. (in press)

DFO. 2013b. Science Guidance on Representative Marine Protected Areas for Network Planning. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Advis. Rep. (in press)

17 Fader, G.B.J. 2007. Classification of Bathymetric Features of the Scotian Shelf. WWF Canada.http://www.dfompo.gc.ca/csas/Csas/proceedings/2002/PRO2002_023e.pdf

Government of Canada. 2011. National Framework for Canada’s Network of Marine Protected Areas. Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Ottawa. 31 pp. http://www.dfo- mpo.gc.ca/oceans/publications/dmpaf-eczpm/framework-cadre2011-eng.asp

Harding, L.E. (ed). 1997. A Marine Ecological Classification System for Canada. Marine Environmental Quality Advisory Group for Environment Canada, Pacific and Yukon Region, Delta, BC. 58pp.

Mercier, F. and Mondor C. 1995. Sea to Sea to Sea: Canada’s National Marine Conservation Areas System Plan. Parks Canada, Canadian Heritage, Ottawa, ON. 106 pp.

Pepin, P., Cuff A., Koen-Alonso M. and Ollerhead N. 2010. Preliminary Analysis for the Delineation of Marine Ecoregions on the NL Shelf. NAFO Scientific report Doc. 10/72. http://archive.nafo.int/open/sc/2010/scr10-072.pdf

Powles, H., Vendette V., Siron R. and O’Boyle B. 2004. Proceedings of the Canadian Marine Ecosystems Workshop. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Proceed. Ser. 2004/016,

Pressey, R.L., Humphries C.J.,. Margules C.R, Vane-Wright R.I., and Williams P.H. 1993. Beyond opportunism: Key principles for systematic reserve selection. Trends in Ecology and Evolution 8: 124-128

Smith, J.L., Lewis K. and Laughren J. 2006. A Policy and Planning Framework for Marine Protected Area Networks in Canada’s Oceans. WWF-Canada: Halifax. 105 pp.

Wilkinson T., Wiken E., Bezaury-Creel J., Hourigan T., Agardy T., Herrmann H., Janishevski L., Madden C., Morgan L., and Padilla M. 2009. Marine Ecoregions of North America. Commission for Environmental Cooperation. Montreal, Canada. 200 pp.

18 ANNEX A: OVERVIEW OF KEY MARINE CLASSIFICATION SYSTEMS A-1. MARINE ECOREGIONS OF NORTH AMERICA. COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL COOPERATION (WILKINSON ET AL. 2009) This classification system was developed by a tri-national, multi-sectoral group of marine science and planning experts, followed by a peer review process. One of its main goals was to help define representative and critical areas of the marine environment for a network of marine protected areas and special conservation areas. This system classifies the ocean and coastal regions of North America into 24 marine ecoregions (level I) which are further divided into level II and level III sub-units. These areas are differentiated by oceanographic features and geographically distinct assemblages of species. Three of these ecoregions and eight of their level II subdivisions overlap the Newfoundland-Labrador Shelves Bioregion:

A-1.1 Baffin/Labradoran Arctic Ecoregion (6 on Figure A-1 below)

Figure A-1. Baffin/Labradoran Arctic Ecoregion (taken from Marine Ecoregions of North America 2009)

19 This ecoregion covers the northern portion of the NL Shelves Bioregion from Cape Chidley south to the northern Grand Banks. Key features of the ecoregion include the influence of the cold Labrador Current, seasonal ice cover, and sub-arctic and cold water species. Five level II subdivisions overlap with the NL Shelves Bioregion: A-1.1.1 Ungava/Labradoran Shelf (6.2) This sub-region extends beyond the northern extent of the bioregion and south to the Avalon Peninsula and northern Grand Banks and is characterized by depths from 0 to 200 m. The northern Labrador coastal area (Labrador Estuarine areas – 6.2.1) is recognized as a distinct third-order subunit. A-1.1.2 Baffin/Labradoran Slope (6.5) This sub-region includes the slope area along the eastern edge of the shelves adjacent to Labrador and Newfoundland with depths ranging from 200 m to 3,000 m, and extends far north of the bioregion and south to the Grand Banks. Major fish assemblages migrate seasonally between the shelf and slope waters. The slope represents a transition area between the shelf and the plain. A-1.1.3 Labrador Plain (6.6) This sub-region includes the deep (>3,000 m) offshore area beyond the continental slope and is largely confined within the bioregion. Ecological data for the region is poor, and human activity is low. A-1.1.4 Grand Banks (6.3) This sub-region is a transition zone between the sub-arctic waters found on the continental shelf adjacent to Labrador and Newfoundland and the more temperate waters of the southern Grand Banks. It includes Conception Bay and the northern extent of the Avalon Peninsula, as well as the northern portion of the Grand Banks shelf.

A-1.2 Acadian Atlantic Ecoregion (7 in Figure A-2 below) This ecoregion includes most of the Grand Banks, the south coast of Newfoundland, and Laurentian Channel as well as the Gulf of St. Lawrence, south to the Scotian Shelf and Cape Cod. The ecoregion is characterized as one of the most productive marine areas in the world, and features a broad continental shelf extending close to 500 km from shore. The shelf is relatively shallow, often less than 150 m in depth with numerous steep canyons and sea mounts, sloping to an abyssal plain more than 4,000 m deep. Within the ecoregion the coastline is rocky, with extensive cliffs and numerous large coastal watersheds. The cold, low salinity Labrador Current flows south parallel to the coast, and floods the Grand Banks with cold water, which mixes with the warmer, more saline waters of the Gulf Stream in gyres and eddies around the outer southern extent of the Grand Banks. Three level II subdivisions overlap with the NL Shelves Bioregion:

Figure A-2. Acadian Atlantic Ecoregion (taken from Marine Ecoregions of North America 2009) A-1.2.1 Grand Banks (7.1) This subregion takes in most of the Grand Banks (excluding a portion of the northern Grand Banks), and extends west to include Fortune Bay and south to the Laurentian Channel. The shallow, warmer waters of the Southeast Shoal are recognized as a distinct (level III – Southeast Shoal – 7.1.1) area. A-1.2.2 Acadian Shelf (7.2 and specifically 7.2.2 along the south coast of Newfoundland) Within the bioregion this subregion includes the shallow coastal areas of the south coast from Bay d’Espoir to the western extent of the bioregion, including Burgeo Bank. A-1.2.3 Laurentian/Esquiman Channel (7.4) Within the bioregion, this subregion includes the deeper waters of the Laurentian Channel and extends into the deep waters of the south coast between the shallow banks. A-1.3 Northern Gulf Stream Transition Ecoregion (9 in Figure A-3 below)

Figure A-3. Northern Gulf Stream Transition Ecoregion (taken from Marine Ecoregions of North America 2009) This ecoregion takes in the slope and plain along the outer edge of the Grand Banks, including the Flemish Cap, and extends south to the eastern United States. The ecoregion is influenced by the warm, saline Gulf Stream Current, and is subdivided into two sub units, the slope and the plain, parts of which overlap with the bioregion. A-1.3.1 Northern Gulf Stream Transition (9.1/9.2)

22 A very small portion of this ecoregion overlaps with the bioregion. The deep slope waters of the Laurentian Fan south of the Grand Banks which are influenced by the Gulf Stream fall within this ecoregion. Summary Within this classification system, the waters off the northeast coast of Newfoundland and Labrador are divided based on bathymetry (shelf, slope, plain) and water properties, with the coastal area of northern Labrador recognized as a distinct third-order subunit. The northern Grand Banks area is recognized as a major transition area between the Baffin/Labradoran Arctic Ecoregion and the Northern Gulf Stream Transition Ecoregion. It is worth mentioning that portions of the Grand Banks are placed in separate ecoregions since some classification systems place them together as a single unit. The Southeast Shoal is recognized as a distinct third-order subunit of the Grand Banks. The south coast is classified as part of the larger Acadian Shelf which includes the shallower areas of the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the Scotian Shelf. This system identifies 8-10 potential eco-units (8 + 2 sub-units) within the NL Shelves Bioregion: 1. Ungava/Labradoran Shelf + Labrador Estuarine areas sub-unit (Labrador-Newfoundland Shelf Eco-unit) 2. Baffin/Labradoran Slope (Labrador-Newfoundland Shelf Eco-unit and Labrador Sea Eco- unit) 3. Labrador Plain (Labrador Sea Eco-unit) 4. Grand Banks (Northern Grand Banks Eco-unit) 5. Grand Banks + Southeast Shoal sub-unit (Southern Grand Banks Eco-unit) 6. Acadian Shelf (Laurentian Channel/South Coast Eco-unit ) 7. Laurentian/Esquiman Channel (Laurentian Channel/South Coast Eco-unit) 8. Northern Gulf Stream Transition (Laurentian Fan Eco-unit) A-2. CANADA’S NATIONAL MARINE CONSERVATION AREAS SYSTEM PLAN, PARKS CANADA (MERCIER AND MONDOR 1995) Parks Canada has a mandate to establish a system of national marine conservation areas (NMCAs) that represent the diversity of Canada’s marine ecosystems. Parks Canada (Harper et al. 1983) developed a marine ecological classification system for Canada which was the basis for the NMCA System Plan (Mercier and Mondor 1995). As more precise information became available, this has been periodically updated with slight boundary revisions (F. Mercier, pers. com.). The latest version of the NMCA system map is provided (Fig. A-4). It should also be noted that this classification was not strictly ecological, its development having been constrained by requiring that each marine region abut the coast in order to facilitate delivery of other portions of Parks Canada’s mandate. Within this system, Canada’s Atlantic ocean waters have been divided into 10 marine regions. Four regions are differentiated within the NL Shelves Bioregion:

Figure A-4. Canada’s National Marine Conservation Areas Atlantic Marine Regions (updated 2012). A-2.1 Labrador Shelf This marine region encompasses the waters within Canadian jurisdiction (200 nm from shore) adjacent to the east coast of Labrador (Cape Chidley to the Strait of Belle Isle). The region is characterized by ice cover 7-10 months of the year, with the fjords, bays and coastal zone bound in landfast ice while pack ice extends 150-225 km offshore. The Labrador Current flows south in two streams; a cold inshore branch and a slightly warmer offshore branch which keeps the pack ice moving. Icebergs are abundant year-round. The shoreline is complex with about 4,000

24 coastal islands, and high rocky cliffs broken by fjords, bays, inlets and extensive sandy beaches. The continental shelf averages 150 km in width and features several offshore banks. Depths of 200 m or less on the shelf slope rapidly along the edge to depths of over 3,000 m. A-2.2 Newfoundland Shelf This marine region encompasses the waters adjacent to the east coast of Newfoundland out to the boundary of the bioregion, and south to the Bay de Verde Peninsula then east along the 200 m contour of the Grand Banks. The Newfoundland Shelf region is characterized by complex bathymetry, numerous islands, troughs and shoals, with the shelf area mostly close to shore but extending up to 70 km offshore in some areas. The rough exposed coastline is dominated by bedrock with pocket beaches and numerous islands. Winds increase productivity by keeping the water column mixed. The Newfoundland Shelf region is the southernmost extent of Arctic water in the world and many of the seabird, marine mammal, fish and invertebrate species have an Arctic affinity. A-2.3 Grand Banks This marine region encompasses the shelf area adjacent to Newfoundland’s Avalon and Burin peninsulas out to the 200 nm limit and includes the coastal area from Grates Point (Bay de Verde Peninsula) to the tip of the Burin Peninsula. The Grand Banks features one of the widest continental shelves in the world, extending up to 480 km from shore. The shelf is dominated by a series of shallow banks, with depths less than 150 m over broad areas. The Labrador Current floods the banks with cold water which mixes with the warm water of the Gulf Stream in gyres and eddies. Upwelling is common, forcing nutrient-rich deep waters to the surface resulting in high productivity over the banks, and the area is one of the richest fishing grounds in the world. The region is generally ice-free although ice may form in sheltered bays. Icebergs are common in summer, and intense storms are frequent, particularly in winter. A-2.4 Laurentian Channel This marine region is predominantly within the Gulf of St. Lawrence Bioregion, but does include the south coast of Newfoundland west of the Burin peninsula. The dominant feature of the marine region is the Laurentian Channel, a submarine valley extending from the edge of the continental shelf into the Gulf of St. Lawrence with branches extending along the south coast of Newfoundland. Nutrient-rich salty waters originating in the Atlantic are brought in at depth along this channel forming a deep water layer which is generally warmer and more saline than the surface layer which is influenced by the low salinity waters of the St. Lawrence Estuary. The portion within the NL Shelves Bioregion is remains relatively ice-free.

Summary Given its design constraints, this classification scheme does not separate the shelf and deeper waters of the slope area. The Grand Banks are recognized as a single unit. The differentiation of the Labrador and Newfoundland shelves is unique to this classification system. This system identifies four potential eco-units within the NL Shelves Bioregion: 1. Labrador Shelf (The northern halves of the Labrador-Newfoundland Shelf Eco-unit and the Labrador Sea Eco-unit)

25 2. Newfoundland Shelf (The southern halves of the Labrador-Newfoundland Shelf Eco-unit and the Labrador Sea Eco-unit) 3. Grand Banks (Northern Grand Banks Eco-unit and Southern Grand Banks Eco-unit) 4. Laurentian Channel (Laurentian Channel/South Coast Eco-unit) A-3. MARINE ECOZONES OF CANADA ENVIRONMENT CANADA (HARDING, 1997)

Figure A-5. The Marine Ecozones of the Canadian Atlantic (taken from Harding 1997) One of Canada’s earliest comprehensive, hierarchical marine classification systems, this system was developed primarily to provide a spatial framework for monitoring and reporting on the health of Canada's marine ecosystems. The system divides the Atlantic Ocean into 2 ecozones, the NW Atlantic and the Atlantic, both of which overlap the NL Shelves Bioregion. The NW Atlantic Ecozone is influenced by the cold Labrador Current and is characterized by seasonal ice, low coastal relief, and dominated by sub-arctic species in the north and “boreal” species in the

26 south. In contrast, the Atlantic is generally ice-free, influenced by both the Labrador Current and the Gulf Stream, and characterized by a greater diversity of species. These Ecozones are further subdivided into ecoprovinces, ecoregions and ecodistricts as shown in Figure 8 below:

Figure A-6. Overview of the Hierarchical Classification of the Canadian Atlantic (Harding 1997) Within this system, three Ecoprovinces (level II subdivision), one Ecoregion (level III subdivision) and one Ecodistrict (level IV subdivision) overlap with the NL Shelves Bioregion: A-3.1 The NW Atlantic Ecozone A-3.1.1 Labrador/Newfoundland Shelf Ecoregion This ecoregion encompasses Hudson Strait, Ungava Bay and the continental shelf and banks off the east coast of Labrador and NE coast of Newfoundland south to include Trinity Bay. The Labrador Coast is distinguished as a separate ecodistrict (level IV subdivision). A-3.1.2 Davis Strait/Labrador Sea Ecoprovince The southern portion of the Davis Strait/Labrador Sea Ecoprovince is within the bioregion, and includes the deeper offshore waters to the east of the continental shelf, extending south to the edge of the Grand Banks.

A-3.2 The Atlantic Ecozone

27 A-3.2.1 Subarctic Atlantic Ecoprovince This ecoprovince appears to be outside of the NL Shelves Bioregion, although the exact boundary is unclear, and it may overlap with the eastern edge of the Labrador Sea. A-3.2.2 Temperate Atlantic Ecoprovince This ecoprovince includes the deep waters of the Laurentian Channel to the south of Newfoundland and the temperate offshore waters south of the Grand Banks (Laurentian Fan) which are influenced by the warm Gulf Stream. A-3.2.3 Grand Banks Ecoprovince This ecoprovince encompasses the northern and southern Grand Banks including the Southeast Shoal and south coast of Newfoundland.

Summary This system identifies 4-5 potential eco-units (4 + 1 sub-unit) within the NL Shelves Bioregion: 1. Davis Strait/Labrador Sea (Labrador Sea Eco-unit) 2. Labrador-Newfoundland Shelf + Labrador Coast Sub-unit (Labrador–Newfoundland Shelf Eco-unit) 3. Grand Banks (Northern Grand Banks Eco-unit + The Southern Grand Banks Eco-unit + the coastal portion of the Laurentian Channel/South Coast Eco-unit) 4. Temperate Atlantic (Laurentian Fan Eco-unit + the deep portion of the Laurentian Channel/South Coast Eco-unit)

A-4. CANADIAN MARINE ECOREGIONS, FISHERIES AND OCEANS (POWLES ET AL. 2004)

This classification system was developed at a national peer reviewed workshop by specialists from DFO as well as EC, Natural Resources Canada, PC and academia, to be used as a basis for integrated oceans management. The group followed a non-hierarchical approach based on overlaying biological, geological and physical oceanographic information and seeking common patterns. Within this classification system, the Northern Atlantic and Atlantic ecoregions are divided into seven level II subdivisions, six of which overlap with the NL Shelves Bioregion:

28 Figure A-7. Canada’s Northern Atlantic and Atlantic Ecoregions (Taken from Powles et al. 2004)

A-4.1 The Northern Atlantic Ecoregion A-4.1.1 Northern Labrador This Ecoregion encompasses the continental shelf and slope (<1000 m) off the coast of northern Labrador and southeastern Baffin Island. The region is characterized by complex bathymetry and seasonal ice cover, with relatively warm bottom water except by the Labrador coast. The region has a high maximum primary productivity, but a low annual average due to the short seasonal bloom. Coastal areas have a strong freshwater influence coming from the Hudson Complex Ecoregion, while the shelf and slope are influenced by two distinct currents flowing parallel to the coast. This gives rise to three distinct fish communities: cold coastal, bank/slope,

29 and deep water. The southern boundary is marked by the Hopedale Channel which coincides with the southern range limit for belugas migrating from the Hudson Complex Ecoregion and is a significant boundary for Arctic and Atlantic seabird distributions. The deep water fish species also occur within the channel, but it does not represent an ecological boundary for fish. A-4.1.2 Labrador Sea This ecoregion encompasses the deep waters (>1000 m) off the continental shelf of eastern Labrador and northeastern Newfoundland. This region remains ice-free despite its cold water temperature, and is characterized by a pelagic fish community that is distinct from the shelf and slope communities and the warmer species found in the deep waters (to the south) which are influenced by the Gulf Stream. A-4.2 The Atlantic Ecoregion A-4.2.1 Northern Grand Banks/ Southern Labrador This ecoregion encompasses the continental shelf and slope off the coast of southern Labrador and eastern Newfoundland. There are three perpendicular trenches across the shelf, similar to but smaller than the Hopedale Channel. A marginal trough parallel to the coastline adds to the complex bathymetry. The region’s northern boundary is marked by the Hopedale Channel and the southern boundary is marked by a very strong temperature front on the Grand Banks. Phytoplankton blooms occur earlier than in northern Labrador and are of longer duration. Three separate water masses flow south parallel to the coast with three distinct fish communities. The low salinity coastal water mass is the coldest, and has a width of 50-70 km which extends along the Labrador Coast, then weakens and disperses off Newfoundland. A-4.2.2 Southern Grand Banks /South Newfoundland This ecoregion is characterized by shallow water, generally less than 100 m in depth, and includes the south coast of Newfoundland. The southern boundary is the Laurentian Channel and the northern boundary corresponds to the 100 m contour running across the Grand Banks from the Avalon Peninsula with a temperature differential of 6-7oC separating the northern and southern Grand Banks. Although influenced by the Labrador Current, the region typically remains ice free, and supports a warmer water fish community (including yellowtail flounder, monkfish, and historically haddock) compared to the northern Grand Banks due to the shallow water and influence of the Gulf Stream Current. A-4.2.3 Gulf of St. Lawrence/ Eastern Scotian Shelf (includes the Laurentian Channel) This ecoregion includes the Laurentian Channel, a portion of which falls within the NL Shelves Bioregion. The Laurentian Channel is relatively deep (>400 m) and generally hosts the bank/slope fish assemblage though warmer water/deep water species also occur. A-4.2.4 Gulf Stream (includes the Laurentian Fan) This ecoregion encompasses the deeper waters south of the Grand Banks and off the Scotian Shelf, including the Laurentian Fan which falls within the NL Shelves Bioregion. The ecoregion is characterized by depths over 1000 m and relatively high water temperatures due to the

30 influence of the Gulf Stream. Distinct seabird, whale, and pelagic fish communities (e.g., tuna, swordfish, and sharks) occur as a result. Summary This system identifies six potential eco-units within the NL Shelves Bioregion: 1. Northern Labrador (The northern portion of the Labrador-Newfoundland Shelf Eco-unit) 2. Labrador Sea (Labrador Sea Eco-unit) 3. Northern Grand Banks/Southern Labrador (The southern portion of the Labrador- Newfoundland Shelf Eco-unit + Northern Grand Banks Eco-unit) 4. Southern Grand Banks/South Newfoundland (Southern Grand Banks Eco-unit + the coastal portion of the Laurentian Channel/South Coast Eco-unit) 5. Gulf of St. Lawrence/Eastern Scotian Shelf (Laurentian Channel Eco-unit) 6. Gulf Stream (Laurentian Fan Eco-unit) A unique feature of the system includes the division of the northeastern continental shelf at the Hopedale Channel into Northern Labrador (shelf) and Northern Grand Banks/Southern Labrador (shelf) units. A-5 PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS FOR THE DELINEATION OF MARINE ECOREGIONS ON THE NL SHELVES (PEPIN ET AL.3 2010) This study aimed to define spatially coherent ecological sub-units of the NL Shelves Bioregion using both physical and biological data. Data sets on bathymetry, bottom temperature, sea surface temperature, primary production, Chlorophyll-a, zooplankton, and occurrence, biomass, diversity and richness of cold water corals, and demersal and nekton fish species were analyzed and classified using principle component analysis and k-mean clustering. The clustering results were mapped to examine spatial distributions of clusters. Results indicated that the physical variables (i.e., bathymetry, primary production, sea surface temperature) dominated the principle component analysis signal. A series of nine maps were produced with five major clusters typically identified: 1. NL Shelf (The Labrador-Newfoundland Shelf Eco-unit) 2. Grand Banks (Combines the Northern Grand Banks Eco-unit and the Southern Grand Banks Eco-unit) 3. Southeast Shoal (Southeast Shoal portion of the Southern Grand Banks Eco-unit) 4. Continental Slope (The slope areas of the Labrador–Newfoundland Shelf Eco-unit and the Labrador Sea Eco-unit) 5. Nearshore (nearshore coastal areas of all Eco-units) This analysis lacked data for some areas of the bioregion including the deep waters off the Newfoundland-Labrador shelf and the deep waters to the southwest of the southern Grand Banks. Data for the south coast and Laurentian Channel were absent for some analyses. For more detailed information on this analysis and to view maps of the clustering results, please refer to the full publication by following the link http://archive.nafo.int/open/sc/2010/scr10-072.pdf. 3Science Branch, DFO NL Region