Bedford Institute of Oceanography
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
BEDFORD INSTITUTE OF OCEANOGRAPHY ANNUAL REVIEW I 2005 Change of address notices, requests for copies, and other correspondence regarding this publication should be sent to: The Editor, BIO 2005 in Review Bedford Institute of Oceanography P.O. Box 1006 Dartmouth, Nova Scotia Canada B2Y 4A2 E-mail address: [email protected] Cover photo: The CCGS Amundsen passes through Lancaster Sound during the ship’s inaugural voyage in August 2003, almost 100 years to the day after Roald Amundsen sailed the same waters during his historic voyage through the Northwest Passage on the Gjoa (1903-1906). © Martin Fortier, ArcticNet NCE Photo is courtesy of Dr. Martin Fortier, who was Chief Scientist on the voyage. Dr. Fortier, of Université Laval, is the Executive Director of ArcticNet, a Network of Centres of Excellence of Canada that brings together scientists and managers in the natural, human health, and social sciences with their partners in Inuit organizations, northern communities, government, and industry to help Canadians face the impacts and opportunities of climate change in the Arctic. Back cover photo: CCGS Amundsen engaged in mapping work in Canada’s Arctic, August 2005 © Jonathan Beaudoin Photo is courtesy of Jonathan Beaudoin, a PhD student at the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton, whose main research interest is the application of oceanographic databases for multibean echosounding in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Jonathan, who holds bachelor degrees in Geomatics Engineering and Computer Science, is the Ocean Mapping Group’s dedicated research assistant associated with the ArcticNet project. © Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, 2006 Cat. Fs75-104/2005E ISBN: 0-662-43387-4 ISSN: 1499-9951 Aussi disponible en français Editor: Judith Ryan Editorial team: Pat Dennis, Karen Rutherford, and Carol Sampson Photographs: BIO Technographics, the authors, and individuals/agencies credited Design: Channel Communications, Halifax, Nova Scotia Published by: Natural Resources Canada and Fisheries and Oceans Canada Bedford Institute of Oceanography 1 Challenger Drive, P.O. Box 1006 Dartmouth, Nova Scotia Canada B2Y 4A2 BIO website address: www.bio.gc.ca INTRODUCTION The Bedford Institute of Oceanography (BIO) is a major oceanographic research facility, established in 1962 by the Government of Canada and located in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, on the shores of Bedford Basin. It has grown to become Canada’s largest centre for ocean research. Scientists at BIO perform research mandated by the Canadian government to provide advice and support to government decision-making on a broad range of ocean issues including sovereignty, defence, environmental protection, health and safety, fisheries, and natural resources. They also undertake environmental planning and oceans management. Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) is represented by four divisions within its Science Branch including the Canadian Hydrographic Service (CHS), three divisions of the Oceans and Habitat Branch, the Aquaculture Coordination Office, and the Canadian Coast Guard Technical Services for technical and vessel support. Together they provide scientific knowledge and advice on issues related to climate, oceans, the envi- ronment, marine and diadromous fish, marine mammals, shellfish, and marine plants. As well, they are respon- sible for the fish habitat management protection program, environmental assessments, and oceans management and planning initiatives. Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) is represented by the Geological Survey of Canada - Atlantic (GSC Atlantic), Canada’s principal marine geoscience facility. Its scientific research expertise focuses on marine and petroleum geology, geophysics, geochemisty, and geotechnology. GSC Atlantic is also the source of integrated knowledge and advice on Canada’s coastal and offshore landmass. The Route Survey Office of Maritime Forces Atlantic, Department of National Defence (DND), supports ocean surveillance activities. Surveys are conducted in areas of the sea floor of specific interest to DND in coop- eration with CHS and GSC Atlantic. In support of the Canadian Shellfish Sanitation Program, the Shellfish Section of Environment Canada (EC) conducts sanitary and water quality surveys and analyzes the samples at the microbiology laboratory at BIO. Altogether, approximately 650 scientists, engineers, technicians, managers, support staff, and contractors from a variety of disciplines work at BIO. This review highlights some of the ongoing research activities at the Institute as well as some of the activities dealing with the management of ocean uses. Jacob Verhoef Michael Sinclair Carol Ann Rose Director, Geological Survey of Canada-Atlantic Director, BIO and Director, A/Regional Director, Oceans and Habitat Natural Resources Canada Science, Maritimes Region Maritimes Region Fisheries and Oceans Canada Fisheries and Oceans Canada BIO-2005 IN REVIEW / 1 CONTENTS FEATURE ARTICLE Delineating Canada’s Continental Shelf under the United Nation Convention on the Law of the Sea . 4 – Jacob Verhoef and Richard MacDougall SCIENCE ACTIVITIES Time Series Studies of Carbon and Transient Tracers in the Labrador Sea for Understanding Global Climate Change . 8 – Kumiko Azetsu-Scott, Peter Jones, Robert Gershey, and Frank Zemlyak 15 Modelling Environmental Effects on the Early Life Stages of Fishes and Invertebrates in the Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence . 10 – Joël Chassé New Energy Options for Northerners: Baffin Bay and the Biodiversity Facilities – Innovation in Support of the Conservation Labrador Shelf . 23 of Fishes . 13 – Chris Jauer – Patrick O’Reilly and Shane O’Neil The New Marine Map Series: Underpinning Chemical Evidence to Support Environmental Conclusions . 15 Ocean Management in Canada . 26 – Jocelyne Hellou – John Shaw and Brian J. Todd Maritimes Most Wanted: Have You Seen These Tunicates? . 18 BIO SCIENCE IN PARTNERSHIP – Bénédickte Vercaemer Partnerships: Building on a Research Community . 30 – Ross Boutilier New Initiatives Fund Search and Rescue Project Labrador . 20 – S. Forbes, J. Griffin, and R. Palmer Two Generations of Optical Plankton Counters: A History of Development and Commercialization . 31 Who are Those People in Uniform? . 22 – Alex Herman – Lt(N) Scott Moody BIO Contributes to Studies of the Great Sumatra-Andaman Earthquake and Tsunami . 34 – David C. Mosher and C. Borden Chapman Tsunami Impacts in the Republic of Seychelles Following the Sumatra Earthquake of December 26, 2004 . 37 – John Shaw, Lionel E. Jackson Jr., Donald L. Forbes, J. Vaughn Barrie, Gavin K. Manson, and Michael Schmidt Offshore Clam Research . 40 – Dale Roddick 38 2 / BIO-2005 IN REVIEW 45 SPECIAL PROGRAMS The Discovery Corridor – Exploring our Continental Shelf and Deep-water Ecosystems . 43 32 – Ellen Kenchington and Peter Lawton HIGHLIGHTS AND NEW INITIATIVES AT BIO IN 2005 . .47 PEOPLE AT BIO Awards and Honours . 64 TECHNICAL SUPPORT HIGHLIGHTS Research Voyages in 2005 . 52 BIO Oceans Association . 67 – Donald Belliveau – Don Peer BIO Redevelopment – A Multiple-Project Long-term Program . 54 Charitable Activities . 68 – Brian Thompson – Bettyann Power, Maureen MacDonald, Sheila Shellnut, and Andrew Cogswell OUTREACH, SEMINARS, AND SPECIAL EVENTS Staff List . 70 Outreach Activities from the Bedford Institute of Oceanography . 56 – DFO: Joni Henderson In Memoriam . 75 – NRCan: Jennifer Bates, Sonya Dehler, Gordon Fader, Rob Fensome, David Frobel, Iris Hardy, Nelly Koziel, Bill MacMillan, Bob Miller, Patrick Potter, John Shimeld, and Retirements . 76 Graham Williams FINANCIAL RESOURCES Workshops . 59 Financial Information . 78 Seminars and Speakers . 59 PUBLICATIONS AND PRODUCTS Publications 2005 . 80 The A.G. Huntsman Award . 61 Products 2005 . 92 Visitors . 62 52 BIO-2005 IN REVIEW / 3 FEATURE Delineating Canada’s Continental Shelf under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea Jacob Verhoef (NRCan) and Richard MacDougall (DFO) INTRODUCTION MAIN PROVISIONS OF UNCLOS The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) The Convention is a comprehensive attempt by the international establishes a comprehensive regime for the regulation of those community to regulate all activities in the world’s oceans, including marine areas that are outside the internal waters of “States”. The all aspects of the resources of the sea and all uses of the ocean. For development of the treaty was a long and complicated negotiating this, UNCLOS divides the seafloor into zones of national and inter- process. The third conference, convened in 1973 and lasting until national jurisdiction, with each coastal State’s authority diminish- 1982, involved representatives from over 160 sovereign States and ing seawards. It recognizes the right of a coastal State to the seabed culminated in what has often been called a “constitution for the and water column offshore to 200 nautical miles (nm)—the oceans”. UNCLOS required ratification by 60 countries before it Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) —and the seabed beyond 200 nm came into force. This happened on November 16, 1994, one year under special circumstances. The part of the world’s oceans outside after receiving its 60th ratification. At the end of 2005, a total of national jurisdictions, the High Seas and the AREA (Figure 1), is 157 countries had signed the treaty and 149 had ratified, making defined as the “common heritage of mankind”, and the UNCLOS one of the most successful treaties in the history of the International Seabed Authority was established to oversee its use. United Nations. In addition,