Re-Evaluation of the Placentia Bay-Grand Banks Area Of
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Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat (CSAS) Research Document 2019/049 Newfoundland and Labrador Region Re-evaluation of the Placentia Bay-Grand Banks Area of the Newfoundland and Labrador Shelves Bioregion to Identify and Describe Ecologically and Biologically Significant Areas N. Wells1, K. Tucker1, K. Allard2, M. Warren1, S. Olson1, L. Gullage1, C. Pretty1, V. Sutton-Pande1 and K. Clarke1 1Science Branch Fisheries and Oceans Canada PO Box 5667 St. John’s, NL A1C 5X1 2Canadian Wildlife Service Branch Environment and Climate Change Canada PO Box 6227 Sackville, NB E4L 1G6 August 2019 Foreword This series documents the scientific basis for the evaluation of aquatic resources and ecosystems in Canada. As such, it addresses the issues of the day in the time frames required and the documents it contains are not intended as definitive statements on the subjects addressed but rather as progress reports on ongoing investigations. Published by: Fisheries and Oceans Canada Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat 200 Kent Street Ottawa ON K1A 0E6 http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/csas-sccs/ [email protected] © Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, 2019 ISSN 1919-5044 Correct citation for this publication: Wells, N., K. Tucker, K. Allard, M. Warren, S. Olson, L. Gullage, C. Pretty, V. Sutton-Pande and K. Clarke. 2019. Re-evaluation of the Placentia Bay-Grand Banks Area of the Newfoundland and Labrador Shelves Bioregion to Identify and Describe Ecologically and Biologically Significant Areas. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2019/049. viii + 151 p. Aussi disponible en français : Wells, N., K. Tucker, K. Allard, M. Warren, S. Olson, L. Gullage, C. Pretty, V. Sutton-Pande et K. Clarke. 2019. Réévaluation de la zone de la baie Placentia et des Grands Bancs de la biorégion des plateaux de Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador pour déterminer et décrire les zones d’importance écologique et biologique. Secr. can. de consult. sci. du MPO. Doc. de rech. 2019/049. ix + 168 p. TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES ....................................................................................................................... V LIST OF FIGURES ................................................................................................................... VI ABSTRACT ............................................................................................................................. VIII INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................1 MATERIALS AND METHODS ....................................................................................................2 STUDY AREA ........................................................................................................................ 2 SOFTWARE ........................................................................................................................... 2 DATA PROCESSING AND SPATIAL ANALYSIS ................................................................... 2 Kernel Density Analysis ...................................................................................................... 3 Upper 10th Percentile Rule (Finding Important Areas) ......................................................... 3 Cell Statistics and Composite Layers ................................................................................. 3 INFORMATION SOURCES.................................................................................................... 4 EBSA IDENTIFICATION .............................................................................................................5 DATA DESCRIPTION .................................................................................................................7 COASTAL DATA .................................................................................................................... 7 Eelgrass Data ..................................................................................................................... 7 Capelin Spawning Data ...................................................................................................... 7 Atlantic Salmon Angling Data ............................................................................................. 8 Waterfowl Block Survey Data ............................................................................................. 8 Common Eider Aerial Survey Data ..................................................................................... 8 Seabird Colony Data .......................................................................................................... 9 Important Bird Areas (IBAs) ................................................................................................ 9 Community Coastal Resource Inventory Data .................................................................... 9 OFFSHORE DATA ................................................................................................................10 Fish and Shellfish ..............................................................................................................10 Marine Mammals ...............................................................................................................13 Seabird Data .....................................................................................................................15 Corals ................................................................................................................................15 Sponges ............................................................................................................................16 Data Limitations and Considerations .................................................................................16 RESULTS ................................................................................................................................. 16 EBSA DESCRIPTIONS .........................................................................................................16 Coastal EBSAs ..................................................................................................................17 Offshore EBSAs ................................................................................................................23 EBSAs Outside The EEZ ...................................................................................................29 TOTAL BIOMASS, DIVERSITY, RICHNESS AND EVENNESS ............................................30 COMPARISON OF 2017 EBSAS TO 2007 EBSAS ...............................................................30 CONCLUDING REMARKS .......................................................................................................31 iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ............................................................................................................33 REFERENCES .........................................................................................................................33 TABLES ....................................................................................................................................41 FIGURES ..................................................................................................................................63 APPENDIX A – LIST OF ACRONYMS .................................................................................... 105 APPENDIX B – STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBERS ........................................................... 106 APPENDIX C – WATERFOWL FUNCTIONAL GROUP SPECIES LIST ................................. 107 APPENDIX D – SEABIRD FUNCTIONAL GROUP SPECIES LIST INCLUDING FORAGING BUFFER DISTANCES ............................................................................................................108 APPENDIX E – FISH FUNCTIONAL GROUP SPECIES LISTS .............................................. 111 APPENDIX F – CETACEAN FUNCTIONAL GROUPS SPECIES LIST ................................... 115 APPENDIX G – CORALS FUNCTIONAL GROUPS SPECIES LISTS ..................................... 116 APPENDIX H – KEY FEATURES OF EACH EBSA ................................................................ 117 COASTAL EBSAS ..............................................................................................................118 OFFSHORE EBSAS ...........................................................................................................121 APPENDIX I – OTHER FEATURES OF EACH EBSA ............................................................. 127 COASTAL EBSAS ..............................................................................................................12 8 OFFSHORE EBSAS ...........................................................................................................136 APPENDIX J: OFFSHORE DATA LAYERS ............................................................................ 140 APPENDIX K: BREEDING SEASON DIET INFORMATION FOR MAINLY PISCIVOROUS COLONIAL SEABIRDS ...........................................................................................................146 APPENDIX L: PHYSICAL AND OCEANOGRAPHIC DESCRIPTION OF THE STUDY AREA 147 GENERAL DESCRIPTION ..................................................................................................147 SURFACE CURRENTS ......................................................................................................147 BOTTOM CURRENTS ........................................................................................................148