Section No. 3.3: Fisheries Resources Survey
TERMPOL Surveys and Studies
ENBRIDGE NORTHERN GATEWAY PROJECT
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Prepared for: Northern Gateway Pipelines Inc.
January 20, 2010
Northern Gateway Pipelines Inc. Section No. 3.3: Fisheries Resources Survey Table of Contents
Table of Contents
1 Objectives ...... 1-1
1.1 Project Areas ...... 1-1
2 Fish and Fish Habitat ...... 2-1
2.1 Marine and Anadromous Fish ...... 2-1
2.1.1 Key Species ...... 2-1 2.1.2 Important Areas ...... 2-6
2.2 Benthos ...... 2-15
2.2.1 Key Species ...... 2-15 2.2.2 Important Areas ...... 2-19
2.3 Marine Mammals and Turtles ...... 2-23
2.3.1 Key Species ...... 2-23 2.3.2 Important Areas ...... 2-28
2.4 Marine Birds ...... 2-41
2.4.1 Key Species ...... 2-41 2.4.2 Important Areas ...... 2-44
3 Geographic Locations of Fishing Activities ...... 3-1
3.1 Fishing Boundaries ...... 3-1 3.2 Areas of High Fishing Effort ...... 3-3 3.3 Major Fisheries and Important Fishing Grounds ...... 3-7
3.3.1 Groundfish ...... 3-7 3.3.2 Pelagic and Anadromous Fishes ...... 3-17 3.3.3 Invertebrates ...... 3-19
4 Seasonal Variations of Fishing Activities ...... 4-1
4.1 Fishery Openings and Closures in the Study Area ...... 4-2
5 Customary Routes to Major Fishing Grounds ...... 5-1
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Northern Gateway Pipelines Inc. Section No. 3.3: Fisheries Resources Survey Table of Contents
Table Of Contents (continued)
6 References ...... 6-1
6.1 Literature Cited ...... 6-1 6.2 Personal Communications ...... 6-5 6.3 Internet Sites ...... 6-5
Appendix A Figure Layer Keys ...... A-1 List of Tables
Table 2-1 Biologically Important Areas for Ground, Pelagic and Anadromous Fishes in the Study Area ...... 2-9
Table 2-2 Invertebrate Species Associated with Marine Ecosections of the Study Area ...... 2-20
Table 2-3 Summary of Marine Mammals and Turtles in the Study Area ...... 2-32
Table 2-4 Key Species of Marine Birds and Habitat Use in the Study Area ...... 52
Table 4-1 Fishery Openings and Closures in the Study Area ...... 4-1
Table A-1 Figure 4: Marine and Anadromous Fish Summary Figure References ...... A-1
Table A-2 Figure 5: Benthos Summary Figure References ...... A-2
Table A-3 Figure 8: Marine Mammals and Turtles Summary Figure References ...... A-3
Table A-4 Figure 9: Marine Birds Summary Figure References ...... A-5
Table A-5 Figure 17: Commercial Fisheries Summary Figure References ...... A-6
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Northern Gateway Pipelines Inc. Section No. 3.3: Fisheries Resources Survey Table of Contents
List of Figures
Figure 1-1 Marine Ecosections of the North Central Coast ...... 1-2
Figure 2-1 Herring Spawn Locations in the CCAA ...... 2-7
Figure 2-2 Eulachon Estuary Locations in the CCAA ...... 2-8
Figure 2-3 Important Habitat Areas for Marine Fishes in the Study Area ...... 2-13
Figure 2-4 Summary of Important Areas for Marine Benthos in the Study Area .... 2-21
Figure 2-5 Marine Mammal Sightings in the CCAA (GEM 2005, 2006) ...... 2-29
Figure 2-6 BC Cetacean Sightings Network Sightings in the CCAA, 1989 to 2005 ...... 2-30
Figure 2-7 Summary of Important Areas for Marine Mammals ...... 2-39
Figure 2-8 Important Areas of Habitat Use in the CCAA ...... 2-45
Figure 2-9 Vessel Based Marine Bird Survey Route within the CCAA ...... 2-46
Figure 2-10 Abundance of All Marine Birds (Excluding Gulls) during Spring ...... 2-47
Figure 2-11 Abundance of All Marine Birds during Summer 2006 ...... 2-48
Figure 2-12 Abundance of All Marine Birds during Winter 2006 ...... 2-49
Figure 2-13 Important Areas of Bird Habitat Use in the NCC ...... 2-73
Figure 3-1 Fisheries Management Area 6 and Associated Sub-Areas (Image © Copyright DFO) ...... 3-2
Figure 3-2 Fisheries Management Area 6 and Associated Sub-Areas (Image © Copyright DFO) ...... 3-3
Figure 3-3 Summary of High Commercial Fishing Effort Areas in the NCC ...... 3-5
Figure 3-4 Commercial Groundfish Trawl Effort Areas ...... 3-9
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Northern Gateway Pipelines Inc. Section No. 3.3: Fisheries Resources Survey Table of Contents
List of Figures (continued)
Figure 3-5 Commercial Groundfish Schedule II Hook and Line Effort Areas ...... 3-12
Figure 3-6 Cumulative Commercial Outside Groundfish (ZN) Hook and Line Effort Area ...... 3-13
Figure 3-7 Cumulative Commercial Sablefish Longline Effort Areas ...... 3-14
Figure 3-8 Cumulative Commercial Sablefish Trap Effort Areas ...... 3-15
Figure 3-9 Cumulative Commercial Crab Trap Effort Areas ...... 3-21
Figure 3-10 Cumulative Commercial Shrimp Trawl Effort Areas ...... 3-24
Figure 3-11 Cumulative Commercial Prawn Trap Effort Areas ...... 3-26
Figure 3-12 Commercial Geoduck Effort Areas ...... 3-28
Figure 3-13 Cumulative Commercial Red and Green Sea Urchin Effort Areas ...... 3-30
Figure 3-14 Commercial Sea Cucumber Effort Areas ...... 3-32
Figure 5-1 Summer Fishing Industry Vessel Traffic 2003 (Image © Copyright DFO) ...... 5-2
Figure 5-2 Winter Fishing Industry Traffic 2003 (Image © Copyright DFO) ...... 5-3
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Northern Gateway Pipelines Inc. Section No. 3.3: Fisheries Resources Survey Section 1: Objectives
1 Objectives In accordance with the TERMPOL Code, TP473E 2001, Section 3.3 the Fishery Resources Survey has four primary objectives. These are to identify: fish and fish habitat, including any sensitive marine areas which may be affected by the project; geographical locations of regional fishing operations; seasonal variations of fishing activities; and customary routes to major fishing grounds from ports used by fishing vessels. For completeness all major categories of marine life that could be affected by the project have been included. This includes fish, benthos, marine mammals, and sea birds.
1.1 Project Areas The British Columbia coast and associated waters have been divided into two project-specific regions for the purposes of this study. The North Central Coast (NCC) includes marine waters from the Alaskan border to Brooks Peninsula on Vancouver Island and from the continental shelf landward into the northern fjords. The NCC is based on both ecological and administrative boundaries and is similar to the boundaries of the Pacific North Coast Integrated Management Area (PNCIMA) (Figure 1-1). The Confined Channel Assessment Area (CCAA) spans from the top of Kitimat Arm, where the terminal is located, south-west through Douglas Channel, south to include Caamaño Sound, North through Principe Channel and into Browning Entrance. The CCAA is bound along its western edge by the east shore of Banks and Trutch Islands (Figure 1-1). As a result of the Project, the CCAA will receive an increased volume of marine traffic to and from the proposed terminal at the head of Kitimat Arm. In this report, the term “Study Area” will be used to describe both the NCC and CCAA. The large scale of the NCC makes the use of Fisheries Management Areas (FMAs) limited for descriptive purposes. Fishing grounds and biological characteristics of target species is based more reliably on the biophysical ocean environment. One such characterization of the NCC has been performed under the British Columbia Marine Ecological Classification (BCMEC). BCMEC is a hierarchical classification system that delineates provincial marine areas into Ecozones, Ecoprovinces, Ecoregions, Ecosections and Ecounits, based on various biophysical characteristics (such as wave exposure and current regimes). For the purpose of the TERMPOL Review Process, Ecosections are used to discuss the geographical distribution of marine species and fishing efforts. Nine Ecosections have been identified in the NCC and are depicted in Figure 1-1.
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Northern Gateway Pipelines Inc. Section No. 3.3: Fisheries Resources Survey Section 1: Objectives
Figure 1-1 Marine Ecosections of the North Central Coast
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Northern Gateway Pipelines Inc. Section No. 3.3: Fisheries Resources Survey Section 2: Fish and Fish Habitat
2 Fish and Fish Habitat
2.1 Marine and Anadromous Fish Within the study area, fish communities are composed of many different species. Some of these species are resident and are therefore subject to local pressures and conditions year round. Other species exhibit diverse migratory patterns varying from large, seasonal scales to small, localized movements. Migrations place these species in contact with various stressors at different times of the year and their life cycles. All fish species are linked to one another - and to predatory birds and mammals - in a complex food web. These characteristics create a dynamic fish community structure that must be approached on a regional and seasonal basis to address species-specific patterns of spatial use. It is important to note that the majority of information on marine species comes from fishery assessments of commercially-harvested species, resulting in bias towards them in fished areas and against non- commercial species and unfished areas (Lucas 2007).
2.1.1 Key Species
2.1.1.1 Groundfish British Columbia‟s coast is home to the most diverse and abundant group of groundfish species in Canada (Clarke and Jamieson 2006). While a great deal of fisheries data are available for this group, some knowledge gaps still exist primarily regarding specific life history characteristics. Important areas (IAs) for these species are difficult to identify due to the group‟s high species diversity and data characteristics. Pacific Cod (Gadus macrocephalus) Pacific cod are a relatively short lived, fecund species that are commercially abundant at depths of 18-130 m. They exhibit seasonal migrations from shallow water in the spring / summer to deeper waters in the fall / winter. Spawning occurs annually between February and March. Larvae of this species are planktonic and settle near the bottom in shallow waters (5-11 m), making them especially sensitive to environmental changes or disturbance (Lucas 2007). Pacific cod densities are highest in deep trough habitat within central Queen Charlotte Sound and southeast Dixon Entrance (Lucas 2007). A large shallow water rearing area in Hecate Strait and two smaller spawning and rearing areas around Goose Island Bank and Cook Bank have been identified as IAs for Pacific cod (Clarke and Jamieson 2006 ; Fargo et al. 2007). Walleye Pollock (Theragra chalcogramma) Walleye Pollock are considered the most abundant fish in the North Pacific and are ubiquitous along the British Columbia coast (Lucas 2007). While pollock are most abundant along the continental shelf and slope at depths between 100-400 m, during various stages of their lifecycle they may also be found nearshore, in large estuaries, coastal embayments and open ocean basins (Lucas 2007). Spawning occurs in March and April. Juveniles may be found in a variety of habitats including eelgrass beds (over sand and mud substrates), and gravel and cobble bottom types (Lucas 2007).
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Northern Gateway Pipelines Inc. Section No. 3.3: Fisheries Resources Survey Section 2: Fish and Fish Habitat
There are six important spawning and rearing areas identified for Walleye Pollock in the NCC, three of which are contained within Hecate Strait and Queen Charlotte Sound and three in the Northern Fjords. These include the east side of Dixon Entrance, Finlayson Channel, Portland Inlet, Whale Channel, the middle of Hecate Strait (west of the northern tip of Banks Island), and Browning Entrance (Clarke and Jamieson 2006). Additional spawning habitat has been identified in inlets on east Moresby Island as well as in mid-water inlets along Hecate Strait and Queen Charlotte Sound (Lucas 2007). Pacific Hake (Merluccius productus) There are two distinct stocks of Pacific hake in British Columbia waters, a non-migratory inshore stock in the Strait of Georgia and a migratory stock offshore of the west coast of Vancouver Island, which sometimes extends into the NCC (Clarke and Jamieson 2006). Offshore hake migrate annually into British Columbia waters, from late spring to early fall, to feed. Hake experience large variations in abundance between years and populations appear to be greatly influenced by climate. This, combined with their migratory nature, makes it difficult to define IAs. Despite this, several areas were identified in Queen Charlotte Sound and Dixon Entrance, including the Scott Islands and surrounding areas along the coast of Vancouver Island and the deep troughs of Queen Charlotte Sound (Clarke and Jamieson 2006). Lingcod (Ophiodon elongatus) Lingcod are generally non-migratory and can be found at depths of 3m to 400 m in habitats associated with high invertebrate and algal cover and strong currents. Males move to the nearshore environment in October to prepare for spawning. Spawning occurs from December to March, during which time females migrate nearshore to deposit egg masses in the nesting sites previously established by the males (Clarke and Jamieson 2006). Juveniles, unlike adults, are often found on flat substrates in shallower waters, and later move to areas of high relief and rockiness as they mature. In the NCC, densities of lingcod appear to be highest in northern Moresby Trough, the southern edge of Dixon Entrance, and around Goose Island Bank (Lucas 2007). Spawning of lingcod is known to occur off the northeast coast of Vancouver Island, spanning the Vancouver Island shelf and Queen Charlotte Sound ecoregions; thus DFO has identified this as an area of particular importance to the lingcod population (Clarke and Jamieson 2006). Sablefish (Anoplopoma fimbria) Sablefish spawn in very deep water (1,000 m) from January to March. Juveniles rear in nearshore waters and shelf habitats until 2-5 years of age, at which point they migrate back to offshore waters and into the fishing grounds (Lucas 2007). However, juvenile sablefish are also highly mobile and can move between nursery areas in Hecate Strait to the Gulf of Alaska and the Bering Sea. Sablefish spawning and rearing habitats are widespread within the NCC, spanning from Hecate Strait, through Queen Charlotte Sound, onto the Vancouver Island Shelf and the Continental Slope. Various lifestages of sablefish can be found in most areas of the NCC west of, and including, the Continental Slope (Lucas 2007).
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Northern Gateway Pipelines Inc. Section No. 3.3: Fisheries Resources Survey Section 2: Fish and Fish Habitat
Rockfish (Sebastes spp.) There are approximately 40 species of rockfish in British Columbia, which are generally slow-growing, long-lived with low fecundity. Considering the many rockfish species and their life stage habitat preferences, the entire coast from sub-tidal to depths of at least 2000 m could be considered important rockfish habitat (Lucas 2007). However, for the purposes of this study, identification of IAs considers only the species associated with the „outside‟ rockfish fishery: Pacific Ocean perch, Yellowtail and Yellowmouth rockfish. These do not include the inshore rockfish populations that are also of conservation concern, but limited more to the nearshore environment. Rockfish generally do not disperse far from natal waters, thus spawning and rearing habitats may be extrapolated to be important across all lifestages. The IAs for rockfish spawning and rearing extends along the length of the Continental slope and into the deeper areas of Queen Charlotte Sound and Dixon Entrance (Clarke and Jamieson 2006). Pacific Halibut (Hippoglossus stenolepis) Pacific halibut are commonly found throughout British Columbia‟s waters along the continental shelf and slope from relatively shallow waters to at least 1000 m. While mature fish may undergo extensive movement, most tend to stay on the same grounds and make only seasonal migrations from shallow feeding areas in the spring to deeper spawning grounds in the winter (Lucas 2007). Halibut spawn in waters along the continental shelf at depths between 180-450 m during the winter (November to March), after which eggs rise to the surface, larvae become planktonic and drift into shallow, nearshore environments (Lucas 2007). The NCC region has some locally important spawning grounds including around the Goose Group, around Cape St. James and areas in northern Hecate Strait and Dixon Entrance (Clarke and Jamieson 2006). Sole / Flounders Sole and flounders are generally found on sand, gravel, or mud substrates across a wide range of depths. Adults of certain species may show a preference for certain substrate types but, as a general trend, prefer coarser substrate over finer sand / silt (Perry et al. 1994). Spawning generally occurs during winter months for most species. For the purposes of identifying IAs, the following species were grouped to form Sole / Flounders: Petrale, Butter, Rock, Dover, English soles, and the Arrowtooth flounder. Sole nursery and spawning areas were identified across Hecate Strait, Queen Charlotte Sound, Dixon Entrance, and the Continental Slope.
2.1.1.2 Pelagic and Anadromous Species The pelagic fish community present in the NCC consists mostly of small, short-lived species that are abundant and commonly referred to as forage fish. Environmental conditions tend to heavily influence their population sizes and structures. These population fluctuations have important trophic level effects, as most of these species have relatively high lipid content and, consequently, serve as very important prey species to a wide variety of marine fishes, birds, and mammals (Schwiegert et al. 2007).
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Northern Gateway Pipelines Inc. Section No. 3.3: Fisheries Resources Survey Section 2: Fish and Fish Habitat
The migratory nature of the majority of pelagic fish species leads to highly variable but predictable seasonal abundances and distribution of various lifestages. Many of these species spawn and deposit eggs in the nearshore (or freshwater) environment. As a result of these life history strategies, many of these fish are particularly susceptible to disturbance in the nearshore environment during the vulnerable egg / juvenile life stages. Pacific Herring (Clupea pallasi) Pacific herring is a schooling pelagic species that inhabits nearshore and continental shelf environments on both sides of the North Pacific. Herring are part of a complex food web as spawn, eggs, juveniles, and adults - forming a large part of the diet of a wide variety of piscivorous fishes, mammals, and marine birds. Pacific herring spawning migrations move from offshore feeding grounds (west coast of Vancouver Island and Hecate Strait in the north) to inshore spawning grounds during October to December (Clarke and Jamieson 2006). In British Columbia, herring spawn in late winter, from February to as late as July, peaking in March from the high tide line down to 20 m depth. Herring are deposit spawners, and their sticky eggs coat spawning substrates. Therefore, spawning habitat requirements for Pacific herring include intertidal and sub-tidal vegetation, such as filamentous and branching red algae, sea grasses, rockweed, kelp and other brown algae. There are five major spawning areas for herring stocks in British Columbia, three of which are within the boundaries of the NCC (Clarke and Jamieson 2006). Additionally, the bottleneck of Queen Charlotte Strait and Johnstone Strait serves as a major migration route for herring, and was thus characterized as a high value IA. Eulachon (Thaleichthys pacificus) Eulachon are anadromous fish that belong to the smelt family. Adult eulachon are seasonal migrants, spending their summers in deeper water in Queen Charlotte Sound, Hecate Strait, and Dixon Entrance while spawning and rearing in coastal rivers and estuaries. Eulachon runs have always been somewhat unpredictable, but recent declines have been more widespread and sustained, indicating a potential overall decline throughout the geographic range (Stoffels 2001). Eulachon rely on snow-dominated watersheds and climate change may be one reason for their current population decline. There are 33 rivers in British Columbia where eulachon are known to spawn but only 14 are used regularly (Hay and McCarter 2000). Within the CCAA, Douglas Channel and Gardner Canal were identified by DFO as important areas for eulachon spawning aggregations (Clarke and Jamieson 2006). Additionally, DFO identified feeding areas include: the offshore banks of Calvert Island and Pearl Rock Ground; the Cape Scott ground; the SE edge and NE corner of the Goose Island bank; the SE edge of Middle Bank (North Bank); the entire 50-100 fathom edge from Rose Spit, Two Peaks, White Rocks, Butterworth edge, Bonilla Island down to the Horseshoe ground and SE to Cape St. James; and the entire Chatham Sound (Lucas 2007).
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Pacific Sardine (Sardinops sagax) Pacific sardine is a migratory fish that breeds in California and migrates to British Columbia waters in the summer to feed (Clarke and Jamieson 2006). Similar to hake, the northern limit of their distribution is dependent on water temperature and therefore can extend into Dixon Entrance in warm El Nĩno years. There were no areas within the sardine summer distribution identified as IAs by DFO (Clarke and Jamieson 2006). Albacore Tuna (Thunnus alalunga) The Albacore tuna is a highly migratory pelagic species found in all major oceans and, in the Pacific, range from Alaska to Chile. They are mainly piscivorous, feeding on many of the forage fish species present throughout the NCC. Tuna feed on pelagic (sardines, herring, anchovy) and demersal (rockfish) fish species, as well as some invertebrates (squid, euphausiids). Tuna migrate with changing sea surface temperature, preferring warmer waters where prey species aggregate. This migratory behaviour places them in British Columbia‟s offshore waters in July-August (Schwiegert et al. 2007). Albacore tuna are likely most abundant in the offshore waters of the Subarctic and Transitional Pacific ecoregions of the NCC. Pacific Salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.) This group consists of five distinct species of salmon - Pink, Chum, Sockeye, Coho, and Chinook - all of which are anadromous and semelparous, meaning they spawn in freshwater and die immediately after spawning. Populations of salmon are generally classified by watershed and river; their strong homing instincts result in distinct genetic populations. There are 383 major populations of salmon that return to the North Coast Fjords and Queen Charlotte Strait ecoregions adjacent to the NCC (Hyatt et al. 2007). The adults and juveniles of these species undergo extensive migrations to and from these watersheds within and through the NCC. Pink salmon are the numerically dominant species in the area, and are widely distributed throughout the coastal watersheds as well as Haida Gwaii. Chum salmon have a similar distribution to pinks. Sockeye salmon are also widely distributed; however, the vast majority of their abundance originates from only a few rivers on the Central Coast. Coho and Chinook salmon are most likely to be resident within the NCC throughout their lifespan and, since they are piscivorous, are closely linked to the health of many of the forage fish populations discussed above. Johnstone and Queen Charlotte Straits are considered an IA by DFO because they constitute a highly important migration route for both sockeye and steelhead species. Coho salmon, in contrast, seem to remain in marine areas closer to the entrance of their natal streams and, DFO has accordingly identified the Broughton Archipelago-Johnstone Strait area as important for coho stocks (Clarke and Jamieson 2006).
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Northern Gateway Pipelines Inc. Section No. 3.3: Fisheries Resources Survey Section 2: Fish and Fish Habitat
2.1.2 Important Areas CCAA River mouths and estuaries are of concern for multiple pelagic fish species, particularly anadromous species such as salmon and eulachon, which are critically dependant on these areas for spawning, rearing and staging habitat throughout their lifecycles. Since each salmon stock has a single natal river to which adults return to breed, all salmon rivers are therefore considered essential habitat for their individual stocks. Clarke and Jamieson (2006) have thus generally identified river mouths and estuaries as ecologically and biologically sensitive areas (EBSAs). In the CCAA, this includes the Kitimat River and associated streams and tributaries, such as Bish Creek. Pacific herring spawning locations in Douglas Channel vary from year to year (Hay et al. 2001). Spawning sites include: Kitimat Arm; the southwest side of Hawkesbury Island; and, Hartley Bay, where high concentrations of Pacific herring gather in the spring to spawn. Spawning occurs locally along the foreshore between Kitamaat Village and Minette Bay, in Clio Bay, Kildala Arm, and on Coste Island. In the Kitimat fjord complex, spawning beds are on both sides of Douglas Channel, the west side of Ursula Channel, and the south side of Coste Island (Figure 2-1). Adult Pacific herring are also in Kitkatla Inlet, just north of Browning Entrance, and in Kitasu and Weeteean Bay south of Caamaño Sound. Juvenile Pacific herring are generally reared in the upper end of Kitimat Arm, including Minette Bay. Eulachon spawning locations vary from year to year, but various locations in the Kitimat area are known to host eulachon runs (Figure 2-2). The Kildala River, the Kitimat River and possibly other small channels off Gardner Canal (e.g., Kemano, Kowesas and Kitlope Rivers) support consistent eulachon spawning (Hay and McCarter 2000). Gilttoyees Inlet and Foch Lagoon are also used occasionally (Hay and McCarter 2000). Adult eulachon have been confirmed in Bish Creek, indicating occasional spawning activity in the area (British Columbia Forest Service 1998). Adults likely spend most of their at-sea life in Hecate Strait and Queen Charlotte Sound (British Columbia Forest Service 1998; Hay and McCarter 2000). The non-migratory nature of rockfish makes the identification of their important habitat more straightforward. Rockfish species occur at depths from zero to deeper than 500 m and are generally associated with rocky reef habitats found throughout the NCC. These reef habitats have become the target for the 164 Rockfish Conservation Areas in British Columbia (DFO 2006), which prohibits any hook and line fishing activity in an attempt to protect the „inshore‟ rockfish species that are of particular conservation concern (Lucas 2007).
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Figure 2-1 Herring Spawn Locations in the CCAA
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Northern Gateway Pipelines Inc. Section No. 3.3: Fisheries Resources Survey Section 2: Fish and Fish Habitat
Figure 2-2 Eulachon Estuary Locations in the CCAA
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Northern Gateway Pipelines Inc. Section No. 3.3: Fisheries Resources Survey Section 2: Fish and Fish Habitat
NCC In general, little is known about functional habitat use for most life history stages for marine species in British Columbia (Lucas 2007). Further, the wide range of habitats used by fish across various life history stages, makes identifying universally important areas difficult. Most of the NCC is considered to be an important area of habitat for at least one species. Areas of overlap can be considered particularly important. Some of these overlapping areas are concentrated in the following regions (from north to south): the northern end of Hecate Strait; the western end of Dixon Entrance near Langara Island; the central and western Queen Charlotte Sound around Goose Island Bank and North Bank and the associated troughs; and Cook Bank around the Scott Islands. For pelagic fishes, their highly migratory nature results in the majority of the NCC being considered habitat. However, it can be argued that the nearshore environment is of increased importance to overall population health due to its importance to the early lifestages of most of the key species for rearing. With the exception of only a few species (e.g., English sole), the majority of adult flatfish are found at considerable depths (Lucas 2007). In many species, however, planktonic, larval juveniles settle in shallower water and some species spawn in shallower water, thus making the embayments and sheltered waters nearer to shore important for groundfish. The important habitat areas identified in Figure 2-3 and Table 2-1 are generally comprised of key spawning and rearing areas for a number of pelagic and benthic species. Other habitat functions provided by these important areas include migration and feeding. Rockfish Conservation Areas are also presented in this figure, as these have been identified as areas of key importance for rockfish species. Each individual data layer represents a single species of fish with the exception of sole and flounders, which are generally grouped together for management purposes. Areas of darker orange in the figure indicate areas of overlap between important habitat areas. This overlap of important areas indicates regions of particular importance to these species.
Table 2-1 Biologically Important Areas for Ground, Pelagic and Anadromous Fishes in the Study Area
Marine Species Important Areas Key Habitat Use Ecosection Continental Slope Green Sturgeona (high) Shelf Break Sablefish (high) Shelf Break Cape St. James Brooks Peninsula Scott Islands Pacific Halibut (high) Shelf Break Cape St. James Spawning Sole / Flounder (moderate) Shelf Break Pacific Hake (moderate) Shelf Break Cape St. James
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Northern Gateway Pipelines Inc. Section No. 3.3: Fisheries Resources Survey Section 2: Fish and Fish Habitat
Marine Species Important Areas Key Habitat Use Ecosection Dixon Entrance Eulachon (moderate) McIntyre Bay Summer Grounds Walleye Pollock (moderate) N/A Pacific Halibut (high) Learmouth Bank Shelf Break Rearing McIntyre Bay Pacific Hake (low) Shelf Break Herring (low / moderate) McIntyre Bay Adult Feeding Queen Charlotte Pacific Cod (high) North Island Straits Strait Lingcod (high) North Island Straits Sablefish (high) North Island Straits Sole / Flounder (high) North Island Straits Pacific Hake (moderate) North Island Straits Herring (high) North Island Straits Migration Salmon (moderate) North Island Straits Rearing, Feeding, Staging Hecate Strait Pacific Cod (high) Chatham Sound Sponge Reef Bioherm Shallow Rearing Dogfish Bank Walleye Pollock (moderate) Hecate Strait Front Chatham Sound Spawning and Rearing Sablefish (high) Dogfish Bank Hecate Strait Front
Sole / Flounder (high) Sponge Reef Bioherm Chatham sound Shallow Rearing Dogfish Bank Herring (moderate / high) Hecate Strait Front Cape St. James Spawning and Rearing Chatham Sound Queen Charlotte Eulachon (moderate) Hecate Strait Front Sound Shelf Break Adult Feeding Pacific Cod (high) Scott Islands Spawning and Rearing Sponge Reef Bioherm Lingcod (high) Shelf Break Spawning and Rearing Scott Islands Spawning and Rearing
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Marine Species Important Areas Key Habitat Use Ecosection Sablefish (high) Cape St. James Scott Islands Spawning and Rearing Shelf Break Spawning and Rearing Pacific Halibut (high) Shelf Break Cape St. James Spawning Sole / Flounder (high) Cape St. James Shelf Break Spawning Scott Islands Spawning and Rearing Rockfishb (high) Scott Islands Sponge Reef Bioherm Rearing and Feeding Shelf Break Pacific Hake (moderate) Cape St. James Scott Islands Feeding Shelf Break Herring (moderate / high) Scott Islands Feeding Cape St. James Hecate Strait Front Vancouver Island Green Sturgeon (high) Shelf Break Shelf Brooks Peninsula Staging / aggregation Lingcod (high) Scott Islands Brooks Peninsula Spawning and Rearing Sole / Flounder (high) Scott Islands Rockfishb (high) Scott Islands Brooks Peninsula Pacific Hake (moderate) Scott Islands Brooks Peninsula Herring (moderate / high) Scott Islands Brooks Peninsula Subarctic Pacific Albacore Tuna (insufficient data) Transitional Albacore Tuna (insufficient Pacific data)
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Northern Gateway Pipelines Inc. Section No. 3.3: Fisheries Resources Survey Section 2: Fish and Fish Habitat
Marine Species Important Areas Key Habitat Use Ecosection Notes: Key habitat use is described where information is available. Information on specific habitat use was not listed for blank cells. a Green sturgeon are listed under the Species At Risk Act (at risk) and by COSEWIC (special concern). b Rockfish include the following listed species: Canary rockfish (COSEWIC under review) and Rougheye rockfish (COSEWIC under review). Source: Adapted from Clarke and Jamieson, 2006a.
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Figure 2-3 Important Habitat Areas for Marine Fishes in the Study Area
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2.2 Benthos Marine benthic invertebrates, including sponges and corals, are present in almost all marine environments making them ubiquitous throughout the TERMPOL study area. Invertebrate life histories vary greatly across taxa spanning solitary, individual strategies to forming high density aggregations for feeding or spawning. Many species of invertebrates have planktonic larval stages after which they may become largely sedentary in the habitat in which they settle (e.g., molluscs, sponges, corals) while others may be highly mobile (e.g., crustaceans). Variable behaviours and characteristics of benthic organisms can cause patchy distribution and lead to difficulties in survey designs and population estimates. Physical characteristics of the marine environment can also impact the distribution of invertebrates. Some species may be quite specialized in the type of substrate they require while others are generalists. Data available on invertebrate species is largely limited to commercially important species or species of conservation concern; thus, a number of species that may play key ecological roles are data-deficient and are not included in this report.
2.2.1 Key Species
2.2.1.1 Crustaceans The majority of marine crustaceans are mobile, allowing them to relocate for activities such as feeding, reproduction and predator avoidance. Many species are targeted in commercial, First Nations, and recreational fisheries throughout the British Columbia coast. Crab Dungeness crab (Cancer magister) is the primary target of commercial and recreational crab fisheries. They are known to inhabit inlets, estuaries and the continental shelf where they can be found in abundance on soft / sandy bottoms up to depths of 180 m (Jamieson 2002). The Tanner crab is a large, deep water spider crab noted for its scarlet / orange colouration (DFO 2008o). Two species of Tanner crabs are commercially exploited in the NCC: Chionoecetes tanneri and C. bairdi, though only as an exploratory fishery, as biological information on these species is currently limited (Clarke and Jamieson 2006). Shrimp There are over 87 species of shrimp present in British Columbia waters, seven of which are commercially harvested. Shrimp are commonly found in soft-bottom habitats in depths from 50–200 m, while prawns are located on rocky bottom habitats mostly between 50–70 m. Stocks have been identified along the British Columbia coast from Chatham Sound in the north to the southern end of Vancouver Island in the Strait of Georgia (Pellegrin et al. 2007).
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Shrimp spawn in late autumn to early winter, and larvae are pelagic for approximately three months before they settle (Pellegrin et al. 2007). The limited movement of adult shrimp may result in hundreds of separate stocks; however, metapopulations1 that share larvae may exist because due to ocean current- driven dispersal and exchange between populations. Nearshore juvenile populations are found predominantly in channels and estuaries, and are particularly sensitive to habitat alteration (Lucas 2007).
2.2.1.2 Echinoderms The main echinoderm species groups (sea urchins, sea stars, and sea cucumbers) are distributed throughout British Columbia waters and are present from intertidal regions down to depths of 250 m (Pellegrin et al. 2007). Adult echinoderms are usually bottom dwellers, but their specific habitat preferences vary considerably. Three species of echinoderms are the target of commercial fisheries in the NCC: the giant red sea cucumber, green urchins and red urchins. Sea Cucumber (Parastichopus californicus) The giant red sea cucumber is the largest sea cucumber species in British Columbia, living on a variety of substrates. It is most abundant in areas with moderate currents on cobble, boulder or crevassed rock (DFO 1999). Individuals have limited mobility, but are known to undertake migrations to deeper waters (DFO 1999). Such migrations may protect them from commercial harvesting pressure and provide protected areas for spawning; however individuals recovered from these depths are generally smaller and have lower meat content (DFO 1999). Key harvesting locations are currently protected by confidentiality agreements, but important areas have been identified in the coastal inlets of the Queen Charlotte Sound based on concentration of productive beds (Clarke and Jamieson 2006). Sea Urchins (Strongylocentrotus spp.) Sea urchins often have a distinct upper limit to their distribution and generally aggregate at high densities in areas of favourable feeding and reproductive conditions (Pellegrin et al. 2007). Areas of commercial and recreational fisheries of green and red sea urchins are focused in Queen Charlotte Sound, Hecate Strait and around Haida Gwaii (CRIMS 2008). The green urchin population is rebuilding from a depressed stock size, resultant from previous fishing pressure (Pellegrin et al. 2007). Green sea urchins are relatively mobile and exhibit seasonal migrations to deeper waters from their preferred depths of less than 140m (Clarke and Jamieson 2006). Green urchin distribution is patchy and determined by environmental conditions. High densities are found in the vicinity of Haida Gwaii and Johnstone Straits. An area close to Prince Rupert has also been identified for its dense aggregations (Clarke and Jamieson 2006). Red sea urchins are the largest found in British Columbia waters. Stocks are currently considered stable (Pellegrin et al. 2007) and populations can be found in rocky habitats that have moderate to strong currents (Clarke and Jamieson 2006). Their preferred depths range from intertidal habitats down to 90 m (DFO 2000b). This species avoids areas exposed to extreme wave action and sandy / muddy substrates (DFO 2000b). The red urchin is distributed throughout British Columbia and has no distinct populations of importance (Clarke and Jamieson 2006).
1 A metapopulation is defined as a group of spatially separated populations of the same species which interact at some level.
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2.2.1.3 Molluscs Molluscs are an ecologically diverse and important group. Two species are listed under the Species at Risk Act: the Northern abalone (threatened) and the Olympia oyster (special concern). Molluscs often dominate organism diversity in a variety of habitats ranging from intertidal zones to deep ocean trenches and hydrothermal vents, in protected areas and exposed coastlines (Pellegrin et al. 2007). Bivalves generally exhibit external fertilization where the eggs and sperm are released into the water column and remain larval until metamorphosis, at which point they settle to the benthic environment. Some gastropods are also known to display this reproductive strategy, while others use internal fertilization (Pellegrin et al. 2007). Thus, several types of habitat can be crucial to a species‟ survival throughout the lifecycle. Olympia Oyster (Ostrea conchaphila) The Olympia oyster is British Columbia‟s only native oyster and occurs only along the west coast of North America. Distribution is limited due to specialized habitat requirements and vulnerability to temperature extremes; individuals can be found attached to piles and floating structures (Gillespie 1999). Populations were historically much larger but a period of heavy fishing pressure caused drastic declines; currently, Olympia oyster populations are considered stable but at low densities (SARA 2007). Northern Abalone (Haliotis kamtschatkana) The Northern abalone is commonly found in sub-tidal areas less than 10 m deep, with optimum depths less than 6 m (Williams 1989a). They prefer rocky substrates that provide refuge in cracks and crevices on exposed or semi-exposed coastlines (DFO and the Abalone Recovery Team 2004). Adults are herbivores and feed on kelp fragments (Williams 1989a). They are currently sparsely distributed throughout British Columbia with no detected areas of high concentrations. However, all areas of British Columbia less than 10 m should be considered potential abalone habitat (Clarke and Jamieson 2006). The abalone fishery has been closed since December 1990 and surveys are showing no signs of significant recovery, primarily due to the illegal exploitation of the resource and the re-introduction of sea-otters (DFO and the Abalone Recovery Team 2004; Pellegrin et al. 2007). Clams There are five species of clams that comprise the majority of the commercial, recreational and First Nations fisheries: Razor, Manila, Geoduck and, to a lesser extent, Butter and Littleneck clams (Pellegrin et al. 2007). Razor clams (Siliqua patula) are found on sandy beaches with high wave action from mid-tidal to 20 m deep (Lucas 2007). Razor clams burrow just below the surface and do not form permanent burrows. The largest known stock occurs from Masset to Rose Spit in Haida Gwaii and is jointly managed by the Council of the Haida Nation and the DFO. Spawning occurs from May to August (Lucas 2007). They are filter feeders that primarily consume planktonic diatoms, zooplankton, and detritus (Lucas 2007). Manila clams (Tapes philippinarum) commonly exist in the upper intertidal and mid-intertidal zones, creating permanent burrows in mixed substrates of sand, mud and gravel (Clarke and Jamieson 2006; Lucas 2007). Manila clams are suspension feeders, feeding on similar organisms as Razor clams. Manila clams are commercially valuable and important habitats have been identified in the coastal areas of Bella Bella (Clarke and Jamieson 2006).
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Geoduck clams (Panopea abrupta) are one of the longest-lived animals in the world (>100 years). They occur in intertidal zone to depths of at least 110 m. They bury themselves up to a meter in substrates such as sand, silt, gravel and other soft substrates (Pellegrin et al. 2007). British Columbia geoduck clam populations consist of distinct stocks based on genetic studies. Cockles are found in the lower half of the intertidal zone in soft shallow substrates (Lucas 2007; Pellegrin et al. 2007). They have shallow burrows and large adults are often left exposed. Cockles are hermaphroditic and, therefore, do not have a designated spawning times (Lucas 2007). They are considered ubiquitous throughout British Columbia but are not abundant in any one location (Lucas 2007); therefore no areas of importance have been identified (Clarke and Jamieson 2006). Octopus One of the more mobile molluscs is the octopus. The most common species in British Columbia is the giant Pacific octopus (Enteroctopus dofleini) - the world‟s largest (Sport Fishing Institute of British Columbia (SFIBC) 2008). They occupy rocky sub-tidal areas to depths of over 100 m, establishing dens in caves or among rocks. Smaller individuals may dig dens in sand-shell substrate usually 13 m to 30m deep (Williams 1989b; Sport Fishing Institute of British Columbia (SFIBC) 2008). Giant Pacific octopi inhabit deeper waters from February to April and August to October (Williams 1989b; Sport Fishing Institute of British Columbia (SFIBC) 2008). Females brood their eggs on the roof of their dens; larvae are planktonic until they are approximately 50 mm length, at which point they become benthic. Adult octopi are nocturnal predators feeding on crabs, bivalves, gastropods and small fish (Williams 1989b). They are a commercially fished species in British Columbia (Lucas 2007; Pellegrin et al. 2007).
2.2.1.4 Sponges and Corals Sponges are sessile organisms that may form three dimensional, reef-like structures that provide a complex habitat for diverse species communities (Clarke and Jamieson 2006). Sponges can be found on a variety of substrates from soft mud / sand to submerged timbers and vertical rock walls. They occur at depths from the intertidal areas to very deep sea (Pellegrin et al. 2007). In British Columbia, five Hexactinellid sponge reef complexes stretch over 1,000 km2 in Hecate Strait and Queen Charlotte Sound (Clarke and Jamieson 2006; Guilbault et al. 2006). These structures are unique to British Columbia, can reach eighteen meters in height, and usually occur at depths from 165 m to 230 m (DFO 2000a). Estimated to be between 8500 to 9000 years old, they are often referred to as „living fossils‟ and are thought to have been common during the Age of the Dinosaurs (DFO 2000a). The sponge reefs are habitat-forming structures that provide relatively high habitat complexity and are likely to support diverse communities not found elsewhere. The formation of the reefs occurs through a fine balance of sediment input and sponge growth, with the sediment forming the matrix material of the reef (DFO 2000a). The reefs grow by the attachment of young sponges onto the skeletons of the previous generation, and continue to trap fine sediment that move through the bottom currents of ocean troughs (DFO 2000a). They have been identified on the “red list” by the BC Conservation Data Centre, but are yet to be protected under SARA or given Marine Protected Area status (Pellegrin et al. 2007). However, since 2002, DFO has closed the four Hecate Strait sponge reefs to trawling.
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2.2.2 Important Areas CCAA Very little data has been collected to identify important habitat areas for benthic invertebrates in the CCAA. A recent report on the state of knowledge of marine and shoreline areas in the Haida Gwaii Basin placed low value on the benthic habitat of Douglas Channel and outer islands when compared to the high value area of Hecate strait (based on rockfish, groundfish and crab habitat) (LGL Limited Environmental Research Associates 2004). However, the nearshore sub-tidal habitats in the CCAA were considered high value, based on the presence of kelp, rockfish habitat, herring spawn, geoducks, Hexactinellid sponges, urchins, abalone, sea cucumber, etc. All nearshore intertidal habitat (based on mud flats, sand flats, estuaries, eelgrass beds, intertidal bivalve habitat, salmon rivers and eulachon rivers) was also classified high value with the exception of the northwest portion of Graham Island due to lack of sand, mud flats and estuaries. NCC Aggregations of adult Dungeness crab are found in the shallow waters in Hecate Strait and nearby McIntyre Bay in Dixon Entrance. The oceanographic eddy associated with McIntyre Bay is important for its retention of crab larvae (Clarke and Jamieson 2006). The Prince Rupert area is also considered a Dungeness crab IA, recognized as an important breeding area (Clarke and Jamieson 2006). Tanner crab populations are currently data-poor; however, the entire Continental Shelf has been identified as an important area for the species (Clarke and Jamieson 2006). The majority of commercial shrimp catches occur along the Vancouver Island Shelf, from approximately Bamfield to Nootka (CRIMS 2008). The commercial prawn catch is concentrated in the southern areas of Haida Gwaii, and a few other catches from the fjords associated with Queen Charlotte Strait (DFO November 27, 2008). This catch information is used as a proxy for areas of important habitat. Olympia oysters can be found in the Georgia Strait, the west coast of Vancouver Island and in several places in Queen Charlotte Sound and Haida Gwaii. Additionally, the oyster was identified as “locally common” at a number of sites off the west coast of Vancouver Island (Gillespie 1999). The largest population can be found in Klaskino Inlet (Clarke and Jamieson 2006). Clam beds can be found in coastal areas throughout Queen Charlotte Sound, Hecate Strait, Dixon Entrance, along the continental shelf of the Haida Gwaii, and in northern coastal fjords (CRIMS 2008). Sponges are known to occur in central locations of Hecate Strait and Queen Charlotte Sound. These areas have been identified as marine protected areas of interest (Jamieson and Chew 2002; Clarke and Jamieson 2006). These areas also include the globally unique Hexactinellid sponge reefs. Nine areas have been identified in the NCC as important areas for corals based on trawl surveys. These areas range from the northern end top of Vancouver Island through Queen Charlotte Sound, Hecate Strait, Dixon Entrance and the Continental Shelf. It is important to note that these areas do not represent all coral populations and further research is required to properly map areas of importance (Pellegrin et al. 2007).
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Widespread distribution of benthic invertebrate species throughout the NCC results in many important areas based on uniqueness, aggregations, and fitness (Clarke and Jamieson 2006). Coastal regions comprise most of the important habitats to benthic organisms; however, crab, sponge and corals utilize areas further offshore. Important Areas for benthic invertebrates are illustrated in Figure 2-4 and Table 2-2. Species included in the table are primarily commercially important invertebrates; however, some other ecologically important groups are also included.
Table 2-2 Invertebrate Species Associated with Marine Ecosections of the Study Area
Marine Ecosection Benthic Species of Importance
Continental Slope Tanner Crab, Sponges and Corals, Sea Urchins, Northern Abalone Dixon Entrance Dungeness Crabs, Sponges and Corals, Razor Clam, Northern Abalone North Coast Fjords Sea Urchins (Green), Tanner Crab, Dungeness Crabs, Sea Cucumber, Shrimp Hecate Strait Sponges and Corals, Dungeness Crabs, Northern Abalone, Prawn Queen Charlotte Sound Sponges and Corals, Shrimp, Olympia Oyster, Manila Clam, Razor Clam, Geoduck Clam, Northern Abalone, Red Sea Cucumber Queen Charlotte Strait Corals, Shrimp, Prawn, Northern Abalone, Sea Urchins (Red And Green) Vancouver Island Shelf Olympia Oyster, Northern Abalone, Red Sea Cucumber, Sea Urchin (Red), Prawn
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Figure 2-4 Summary of Important Areas for Marine Benthos in the Study Area
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2.3 Marine Mammals and Turtles Marine mammals and sea turtles are found throughout the study area, from far up coastal inlets, to well offshore. However, for many species, there are large knowledge gaps concerning abundance, distribution, and critical habitat, particularly for species that are rare, or that inhabit remote, seldom visited areas. Ten marine mammal species found in the study area are currently protected under the SARA, including: blue whales, fin whales, grey whales, harbour porpoises, humpback whales, killer whales, North Pacific right whales, sei whales, sea otters and Steller sea lions. The leatherback is the only marine turtle listed under the SARA.
2.3.1 Key Species Marine mammals found within the study area belong to two orders. The first order, Cetacea, encompasses whales, dolphins, and porpoises, and can be further broken down into two sub-orders: Mysticeti (the baleen whales) and Odontoceti (the toothed whales). The second order, Carnivora, includes within its numerous ranks, the Family Mustelidae (which include the sea otters) and the Suborder Pinnipedia. Pinnipedia within the NCC include some of the family Phocidae (true seals) and the family Otariidae (sea lions). Sea turtles belong to the order Testudines, sub-order Cryptodira.
2.3.1.1 Mysteceti Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) Humpback whales are common and abundant throughout the NCC. They are present to feed on a wide variety of prey, particularly euphausiids and small schooling fish and therefore benefit from areas that aid in concentrating their prey. They are present throughout the year, but are more abundant from spring through fall (May through October). Primarily a coastal species, they can be found in large concentrations off southwest Vancouver Island, around Haida Gwaii, and in central and north coast inlets. Grey Whale (Eschrichtius robustus) The eastern North Pacific population of grey whales passes through the NCC twice annually: once in the spring (February to June) as they travel north to their Arctic feeding grounds, and again in the winter (December to January) as they return south to breed. There is also a small subpopulation of summer resident whales that spends 8-9 months feeding off Vancouver Island and the central coast. Minke Whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata scammonii) The smallest of the North Pacific baleen whales, minke whales are shy, inconspicuous, mostly solitary animals. They prey mainly on small schooling fish in coastal inlets and nearshore areas; however, very little is known about the distribution or movements of North Pacific minke whales. Fin Whale (Balaenoptera physalus) Fin whales were hunted extensively in the NCC and, although no longer common or widespread, they are regularly seen in Dixon Entrance and along the continental slope, and have also been seen in Hecate Strait, Queen Charlotte Sound, and the inlets of the North Coast fjords. They are present in the NCC year round, although historically, commercial catches were highest in July and August. Fin whales feed primarily on euphausiids, as well as on copepods, squid, and fish.
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Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus), Sei Whale (Balaenoptera borealis) and North Pacific Right Whale (Eubalaena japonica) Although historically common to the NCC, commercial hunting dramatically reduced the population size of these whales, leaving all three species endangered in British Columbia waters. Sightings of blue whales are relatively rare, although there have been several recent sightings along the continental slope, particularly in August. Hydrophones have detected blue whale calls far offshore between August and March. Sei whales are a pelagic species that were historically abundant in continental slope waters of the NCC; however, in recent years, there have only been two sightings of sei whales: one off southeast Moresby Island and one in western Dixon Entrance. The North Pacific right whale is the most endangered of the world‟s whales, and there have been no sightings within the NCC in the last 60 years.
2.3.1.2 Odontoceti Killer Whale (Orcinus orca) In British Columbia, there are three recognized killer whale ecotypes: resident, transient, and offshore. Resident Killer Whales Resident killer whales travel in tight matrilineal social groups and feed on fish, relying primarily on Chinook and chum salmon. There are two genetically and culturally distinct populations in British Columbia, a northern and a southern. From spring through fall, the southern population (endangered SARA listing) is most commonly found around southern Vancouver Island. Critical habitat for this population has been identified from Vancouver through the southern Strait of Georgia, Haro Strait, and out the Juan de Fuca Strait. The northern population (threatened SARA listing) frequents the coastal waters between central Vancouver Island and Dixon Entrance, with critical habitat identified in Queen Charlotte Strait and Johnstone Strait, and potential critical habitat in Chatham Sound, Caamaño Sound, Whale Channel, the channels surrounding King Island, and portions of Dixon Entrance (DFO 2008p). Winter distribution for both populations is poorly understood. Transient Killer Whales Transient killer whales prey on all sizes of marine mammals, from harbour seals, to large whales. Their distribution is far less predictable than that of residents, although they have been seen throughout the NCC. Offshore Killer Whales Offshore killer whales are the least well-known of the British Columbia killer whale ecotypes. Sightings of offshore killer whales are fairly infrequent, although over 250 individuals have been identified within the NCC. They are suspected of spending the majority of their time offshore. Sperm Whale (Physeter macrocephalus) Male sperm whales are found along the continental slope and offshore waters of the NCC. Although not common, they can regularly be seen off the west side of Haida Gwaii. It has also been suggested that they may calve in offshore British Columbia waters (Gregr and Trites 2001).
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Pacific White-Sided Dolphin (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens) Pacific white-sided dolphins are abundant, permanent residents of the pelagic waters of the NCC and regular visitors inshore. These dolphins are inquisitive and active species, and will frequently approach vessels and interact with other species. They feed on fish and squid, often in small groups when in inshore waters. They frequently travel offshore in much larger aggregations of a few hundred to a few thousand individuals. Dall’s Porpoise (Phocoenoides dalli) Dall‟s porpoise are common offshore and in deep inshore waters close to land, throughout the NCC. Little is known about the migration of this species, but they are found in small groups within the NCC in all months of the year, and are preyed upon by transient killer whales. Harbour Porpoise (Phocoena phocoena vomerina) The harbour porpoise is particularly sensitive to human activities and are displaced by underwater noise. They are found in coastal shallow waters (<200 m) throughout the NCC, particularly in regions where physiographic features aid in concentrating prey (small fish and squid). Calving takes place between May and September. Risso’s Dolphin (Grampus griseus) and Northern Rightwhale Dolphin (Lissodelphis borealis) Mainly found in deep waters over the continental shelf, the NCC is at the northern limit of the normal distribution for these species. However, recently there have been fairly regular sightings along the continental slope and in western Hecate Strait. Beaked Whales - Baird’s (Berardius bairdii), Stejneger’s (Mesoplodon stejneri), Hubbs’ (Mesoplodon carlhubbsi), and Cuvier’s (Ziphius cavirostris) Beaked whales are pelagic species that inhabit deep, offshore waters and are found only rarely in the NCC. Sightings are thought to be uncommon, primarily because these are elusive, deep-diving animals that are found far from land and from human presence. Distribution is known mostly from stranded specimens, although in recent years there have been sightings of Cuvier‟s beaked whales in Hecate Strait, and Baird‟s beaked whales along the continental slope. Short-Finned Pilot Whale (Globicephala macrohynchus), Pygmy Sperm Whale (Kogia breviceps), Dwarf Sperm Whale (Kogia sima), False Killer Whale (Pseudorca crassidens), Striped Dolphin (Strenella coeruleoalba), and Common Dolphin (Long-Beaked (Delphinus capensis) and Short-Beaked (Delphinus delphis)) These species are mainly tropical, sub-tropical or warm temperate in their distribution. They occasionally may follow warm waters beyond normal range and have only rarely been seen in the NCC. Little is known about their abundance or distribution in the area due to their tendency to use deep water areas.
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2.3.1.3 Pinnipedia Steller Sea Lion (Eumetopias jubatus) and California Sea Lion (Zalophus californianus) Steller sea lions are year-round residents in the NCC. When they are not hauled out at haul-out sites spanning the British Columbia coast, they are generally distributed along the continental shelf and shelf break, within 60km of land in summer, and 200 km in winter (Heise et al. 2007). Breeding occurs from May to August on only three breeding areas within the NCC: Off the north-eastern tip of Vancouver Island. Off the southern tip of Haida Gwaii. Off the northern mainland coast, west of Banks Island. California sea lions are seasonal migrants to the NCC, though individuals may occur year-round. They breed off the coast of California and Mexico during the summer. Only the adult and sub-adult males migrate north, arriving in British Columbia in September to October, and departing in April to May. Overwintering California sea lions are found primarily off southern Vancouver Island, where they feed on schooling fish, and mix extensively with Steller sea lions. Harbour Seal (Phoca vitulina richardsi) Harbour seals are year-round residents and are the most abundant and widespread marine mammal in the NCC. They breed throughout their range and show a relative degree of site fidelity to over 600 documented haul-out sites along the coast. Pupping occurs between May and June in northern British Columbia and between July and August in southern British Columbia. Northern Fur Seal (Callorhinus ursinus) and Northern Elephant Seal (Mirounga angustirostris) Most of the northern fur seals in British Columbia are believed to be from populations that breed in the eastern Bering Sea (Pribilof Islands and Bogoslof Island) in the summer, although some likely also come from California and Asia. Individuals migrate through British Columbia once in the early winter and again in late spring. Since fur seals are predominantly a pelagic species, offshore waters along the continental slope and shelf break provide important migratory habitat. However, northern fur seals are also known to feed in Queen Charlotte Sound, and there is a large overwintering population which feeds feed on small schooling fishes and squid in Hecate Strait and the North Coast fjords from January through April (Heise et al. 2007). Northern elephant seals breed in California and Mexico from December to March, after which they disperse from the rookeries to forage on the continental slope. Adult males and pups tend to move north along the coast as far as Alaska, though they are relatively uncommon in British Columbia waters.
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2.3.1.4 Mustelidae Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris) As a result of the maritime fur trade, sea otters were hunted almost to extinction and were extirpated in British Columbia by 1929. Between 1969 and 1972, 89 sea otters were trans-located from Alaska to Checleset Bay on the west coast of Vancouver Island. Since that time, the population has repopulated 25 percent to 33 percent of its historic range, expanding along western and northern Vancouver Island (2,700 individuals) and establishing on the central coast near Goose Island (500 individuals) (Sea Otter Recovery Team 2007). Sea otters are year-round residents and show strong site-fidelity to small, overlapping home ranges. They feed on a wide variety of benthic invertebrates in the shallow nearshore waters of kelp forests and exposed rocky coastlines. Sea otters do not have a blubber layer and are dependent on the integrity of their fur to provide insulation from the cold.
2.3.1.5 Cryptodira Leatherback Sea Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) The leatherback is the largest and most wide-ranging extant reptile and is critically endangered. It is the most commonly seen sea turtle in British Columbia. Leatherbacks breed in tropical and subtropical waters, and are most likely to be found in the NCC between June and November. They feed primarily on jellyfish, and thus tend to be more locally abundant where jellyfish densities are high. Sightings are infrequent but span the entire British Columbia coast from the inshore waters of Hecate Strait and the Strait of Georgia all the way offshore to the boundary of the Canadian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) (Pacific Leatherback Turtle Recovery Team 2006). The Vancouver Island shelf and continental slope appear to be important areas for leatherbacks. Key knowledge gaps include distribution and seasonal movements as well as habitat requirements and feeding behaviour. Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas) Green sea turtles are normally a tropical species, but occasionally follow warm ocean currents northwards. They are the only other sea turtle regularly seen in British Columbia waters, besides leatherback. However, as water temperatures in British Columbia are very close to the minimum thermal tolerance of this species, occurrence in the NCC may be mostly accidental. Live sightings and fresh carcasses have been recorded in the NCC mainly between September and December on the west coast of Vancouver Island or the east coast of Graham Island (McAlpine et al. 2007). Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Caretta caretta) and Olive Ridley Sea Turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) Although loggerhead and Olive Ridley sea turtles have not previously been sighted in the NCC, there have been sightings in Washington and Alaska, suggesting that they may be occasional visitors to British Columbia waters (McAlpine et al. 2007).
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2.3.2 Important Areas CCAA The broad region around the Kitimat Terminal, from Hecate Strait up to the mouth of the Kitimat River, provides a rich habitat for a wide range of marine mammals. Although knowledge about specific distribution and seasonality of local marine mammals is somewhat limited, generally, seasonal changes in abundance are related to distributions of prey. Available data suggest killer whales may occur within the CCAA and in surrounding areas during all months except January. The lack of sightings in January is likely attributable to limited sighting opportunity at this time (B.C. Cetacean Sightings Network 2005 Internet site). These observations support a recent conclusion that the Queen Charlotte Basin (of which the CCAA is part) represents valuable habitat to killer whales (LGL Limited Environmental Research Associates 2004). Northern resident killer whales are most often observed within the CCAA during June and July in pursuit of pre-spawning Chinook salmon (Ford 2005 pers. comm.). Chinook salmon are believed to be the predominant prey of killer whales from May through August. After most Chinook salmon have migrated up-river to spawn, killer whales switch to preying on the large runs of chum salmon that arrive in September and October (Ford and Ellis 2005). As killer whales are known to follow salmon closely as they return to spawn, it is likely that killer whales will be present on an annual basis in the CCAA up to the mouth of the Kitimat River. Humpbacks are seen in British Columbia primarily between May and September; however, some animals are present year-round (Rambeau 2008). Researchers observing humpback whales in Douglas Channel suggest presence in this region extends from June to November (Cetacealab 2009). Based on the general migration pattern of CNP humpback whales, this species is most likely to occur within the CCAA between May and October (Calambokidis et al. 2001; COSEWIC 2003; Rambeau 2008). At this time, the principal activity of humpback whales is feeding, as they must build up enough fat reserves to sustain them over the entire winter, provide sufficient energy to migrate (over 9,000km) to and from their breeding grounds, and for females, store enough energy to give birth and nurse (Chittleborough 1965 ; Clark and Johnson 1984). Numerous humpback whales were sighted within the CCAA during dedicated marine mammal surveys conducted in August 2005 and June 2006. Sighting locations included Caamaño Sound, Squally Channel, Whale Channel, Lewis Passage, and Wright Sound (Figure 2-5) (Gateway Environmental Management Team 2006). Most humpback whale sightings reported by British Columbia Cetacean Sightings Network (BCCSN) are also made in these areas (Figure 2-6). Steller sea lions are widespread throughout coastal waters of British Columbia and may occur year-round within the CCAA. They were observed in the CCAA in April and May 2006, during dedicated marine mammal surveys (Gateway Environmental Management Team 2006). One was observed at Bish Point in December 2005, immediately south of Bish Estuary (Anderson 2005, pers. comm.). A major haul-out site is at the southern end of Ashdown Island. Like whales, the distribution of Steller sea lions in the marine environment is often closely associated with the distribution of their prey. They congregate in estuaries during fall to feed on salmon returning to spawn (Bigg et al. 1990). Based on the timing of eulachon and salmon in Kitimat Arm (Section 2.1.1.2), Steller sea lions are most likely to occur within the CCAA between February and September. Given that Ashdown Island is a winter haul-out site, Steller sea lions may occur in this region year-round (they are known to travel long distances from haulouts in the winter).
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Figure 2-5 Marine Mammal Sightings in the CCAA (GEM 2005, 2006)
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Figure 2-6 BC Cetacean Sightings Network Sightings in the CCAA, 1989 to 2005
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NCC The coastal areas and upwelling zones of the NCC are rich in concentrated phytoplankton biomass, and are accordingly high in primary productivity. In general, regions of high productivity provide important feeding habitat for most species of marine mammal and sea turtle. Many species also depend on the specific physiographic nature of local areas to aid in concentrating their prey. The vast majority of the NCC can therefore be considered important feeding area to at least one species of marine mammal or turtle at some point during the year. Abundance and concentrations of marine mammals are generally highest during the more productive seasons of spring, summer, and fall, but for many species there is simply very little known about abundance, distribution, or habitat usage during the winter months. Many species of marine mammal and sea turtle breed in tropical and sub-tropical waters and migrate to British Columbia‟s productive waters to feed. Of those species that do breed in the NCC, some require particular breeding sites, whereas others breed throughout the region. For example, Steller sea lions breed in only three areas in British Columbia, while harbour seals breed throughout the coastal areas. Breeding behaviour is rarely observed in many of the toothed or baleen whales and it is possible that some animals, such as the sperm whale, may breed within the NCC. Little is known about the exact migratory corridors for many marine mammal and turtle species that transit through the NCC. However, the continental slope and Vancouver Island shelf likely provide important migratory habitat, as might the subarctic and transitional Pacific. The waters of Queen Charlotte Sound, Hecate Strait, the North Coast fjords, and Dixon Entrance may also provide an „inside route‟ for animals migrating north and south along the coast. A more detailed understanding of migratory corridors in this region is needed. Pinnipeds (seals and sea lions) require both terrestrial and marine habitat. Although they forage for food in the marine environment, pinnipeds require access to haulout sites for rest and thermal regulation. They also go ashore at places known as rookeries, where they mate, give birth, and nurse their young. The ability to access marine resources close to terrestrial haulout sites is therefore very important to these species. Breeding habitats for pinnipeds are also particularly vulnerable to disturbance.
Figure 2-7 and Table 2-3 summarize important areas for marine mammals and turtles in the study area.
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Table 2-3 Summary of Marine Mammals and Turtles in the Study Area
Species Use of Study Area Estimated Population COSEWIC Status Important Areas Name Baleen Whales Blue Whale Not well understood. 2,000–3,000 in Endangered Continental Slope Historically generally offshore, but Eastern North Pacific Dixon Entrance seen occasionally in Hecate Strait. Subarctic Pacific Use area for foraging and migration. Transitional Pacific Fin Whale Not well understood. 5,700 in Threatened Continental Slope Historically present in many areas. Eastern North Pacific Dixon Entrance Likely use area for foraging and Transitional Pacific migration. Queen Charlotte Sound Sei Whale Not well understood. 35 in Endangered Continental Slope Historically generally offshore but Eastern North Pacific Dixon Entrance occasionally in Hecate Strait and Transitional Pacific Queen Charlotte Sound. Minke Whale Not well understood. Unknown but Not at Risk Dixon Entrance Likely year round resident. Not Abundant; North Coast Fjords Most frequently found in near-shore <600 in California, Queen Charlotte Strait waters. Washington, and Oregon Humpback Frequently seen. 1,500 in BC; Threatened Continental Slope Whale Use area for foraging and migration. 6,500 in Eastern Dixon Entrance North Pacific Hecate Strait Queen Charlotte Sound Vancouver Island Shelf North Coast Fjords Queen Charlotte Strait
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Species Use of Study Area Estimated Population COSEWIC Status Important Areas Name
Grey Whale Frequently seen. 18,800 in Eastern Special Concern Continental Slope Use area for foraging and migration, North Pacific Vancouver Island Shelf especially from April through June Hecate Strait and December through January. Queen Charlotte Strait Some whales remain resident throughout summer to forage. North Pacific Very little is known. <300 in Eastern Endangered Nearshore Waters Right Whale Historically present. North Pacific Now extremely rare due to over- exploitation. May return to area if North Pacific population recovers in other areas. Toothed Whales Sperm Whale Not well understood. Unknown but Not at Risk Continental Slope Generally offshore. 885 in California, Transitional Pacific Males move further inshore in Washington, and Oregon summer to feed. Calving may occur offshore. Killer Whale - Found year round. 205 Threatened Dixon Entrance Northern Forage and breed in the area. North Coast Fjords Resident Queen Charlotte Strait Queen Charlotte Sound Killer Whale - Occasionally in area, especially NW 85 Endangered Vancouver Island Shelf Southern Vancouver Island. Resident Likely for foraging. Killer Whale - Found year round. 220 Threatened Transient Forage and breed throughout area.
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Species Use of Study Area Estimated Population COSEWIC Status Important Areas Name
Killer Whale - Not well understood. 250 Identified to Date Special Concern Continental Slope Offshore Likely use the area for foraging and Transitional Pacific breeding. Subarctic Pacific Pacific White- Not well understood. Unknown but Not at Risk Continental Slope Sided Dolphin Likely year round residents. 26,860 in Central Use entire area for foraging and North Pacific; breeding. 39,822 in California, Washington, and Oregon Dall’s Not well understood. Unknown but Not at Risk Dixon Entrance Porpoise Year round residents. 83,400 in Alaska; Use area for foraging and calving. 75,915 in California, Washington, and Oregon Harbour Not well understood. Unknown but Special Concern Dixon Entrance Porpoise Year round residents. 28,967 in Washington Most commonly found in shallow and Oregon; (<200 m) near-shore areas. 37,450 in Southeast Alaska Striped Rare visitor to area. Unknown but Not at Risk Transitional Pacific Dolphin 9,165 in California, Subarctic Pacific Washington, and Oregon Continental Slope Vancouver Island Shelf Common Rare visitor to area. Unknown but Not at Risk Transitional Pacific Dolphin Only been sighted in NCC on a few 25,000 in California, Subarctic Pacific occasions. Washington, and Oregon Continental Slope Vancouver Island Shelf Risso’s Uncommon visitor to area. Unknown but Not at Risk Transitional Pacific Dolphin Recently seen in western Hecate 12,748 in California, Subarctic Pacific Strait with some regularity. Washington, Oregon Continental Slope Hecate Strait
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Species Use of Study Area Estimated Population COSEWIC Status Important Areas Name
Northern Right Uncommon. Unknown but Not at Risk Transitional Pacific Whale Dolphin Regularly found in large groups in 16,417 in California, Subarctic Pacific offshore and continental slope Washington, and Oregon Continental Slope waters often with Pacific white-sided dolphins. Short-Finned Rare visitor to area. Unknown but Not at Risk Transitional Pacific Pilot Whale 149 in California, Subarctic Pacific Washington, and Oregon Continental Slope Vancouver Island Shelf False Killer Rare visitor to area. Unknown Not at Risk Transitional Pacific Whale Subarctic Pacific Continental Slope Vancouver Island Shelf Baird’s Uncommon. Unknown but Not at Risk Transitional Pacific Beaked Whale Generally found in waters >1,000 m 152 in California, Subarctic Pacific deep. Washington, Oregon Continental Slope Recent sightings along Continental Vancouver Island Shelf slope. Stejneger’s Likely rare. Unknown Not at Risk Transitional Pacific Beaked Whale Subarctic Pacific Continental Slope Vancouver Island Shelf Hubbs’ Likely rare. Unknown Not at Risk Transitional Pacific Beaked Whale Known only from stranding records Subarctic Pacific near northern Vancouver Island. Continental Slope Vancouver Island Shelf
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Species Use of Study Area Estimated Population COSEWIC Status Important Areas Name
Cuvier’s Likely rare. Unknown but Not at Risk Transitional Pacific Beaked Whale Have been seen in Hecate Strait in 1,121 in California, Subarctic Pacific recent years. Washington, and Oregon Continental Slope Hecate Strait Vancouver Island Shelf Pygmy Sperm Rare in area. Not at Risk Transitional Pacific Whale Subarctic Pacific Continental Slope Vancouver Island Shelf Dwarf Sperm Rare in area. Unknown, but estimates Data Deficient Transitional Pacific Whale 11,000 in Eastern Pacific Subarctic Pacific Continental Slope Vancouver Island Shelf Pinnipeds Steller Sea All three breeding rookeries in 18,400–19,700 in BC Special Concern Dixon Entrance Lion Canada are within NCC. Continental Slope Hecate Same areas are important haul-out Strait sites and foraging grounds for Queen Charlotte Sound population. Vancouver Island Shelf North Coast Fjords California Sea Males and sub-adults migrate north 1,500–3,000 in BC Not at Risk Vancouver Island Shelf Lion from California in winter. Small numbers occur in NCC from September through May. Harbour Seal Year-round resident. 108,000 in BC Not at Risk Coastal Area Ubiquitous throughout BC. Haul-Out Sites Widely distributed in NCC.
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Species Use of Study Area Estimated Population COSEWIC Status Important Areas Name
Northern Not well understood. 101,000 in North Pacific Not at Risk Continental Slope Elephant Seal Seals disperse widely to continental shelf and slope waters to forage. Winter breeding rookeries and moulting sites in Mexico and California. Northern Fur Pelagic. 888,000 in North Pacific Threatened Dixon Entrance Seal Winter off Continental Shelf and Hecate Strait shelf break. North Coast Fjords In spring migrate north along west Queen Charlotte Sound side of Haida Gwaii and further Continental Slope offshore. Vancouver Island Shelf Some overwinter in Hecate Strait and up inlets. Other Sea Otter Year round residents of central 500 on Central BC Coast; Special Concern Coastal Areas of Northern coast. 2,700 off West Coast of and Western Vancouver Often found in small groups off Vancouver Island Island northern Vancouver Island. Coastal Areas of Central Use area for feeding and breeding. Mainland Leatherback Rare visitor July through September. Unknown Endangered Continental Slope Turtle Likely feed in area. Vancouver Island Shelf Sightings have increased in recent Transitional Pacific years. Coastal Areas of Haida Gwaii
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Species Use of Study Area Estimated Population COSEWIC Status Important Areas Name
Green Sea Rare. Unknown Not Assessed East Side of Graham Turtle Potentially accidental visitor from Island September through December. Vancouver Island Shelf Source: Modified from Heise et al. 2006; additional sources of information include COSEWIC Status Reports, the BCCSN, and Expert Knowledge.
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Figure 2-7 Summary of Important Areas for Marine Mammals
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2.4 Marine Birds “Marine birds” is a broad term applied to bird species that are dependent on aquatic habitats for at least some portion of their life cycle. In addition to the diversity and abundance of avian life that they represent, marine birds are important components of the freshwater and marine environments in which they are found (Milko et al. 2003) Marine birds make extensive use of coastal wetlands as well as nearshore and offshore habitats including islands, islets and cliffs. The coastal region of British Columbia supports large populations of marine birds that are an integral part of the coastal marine ecosystem. Many of the colonial breeding marine birds found in British Columbia do not breed anywhere else in Canada (Campbell et al. 1990). The Pacific coast is also an important migratory corridor for millions of birds, especially shorebirds and waterfowl (Slattery et al. 2000). Marine birds can be loosely categorized into four broad categories based on life history characteristics and behavioural traits: pelagic seabirds (e.g., alcids and tubenoses) which spend most of their time on open water; waterfowl (e.g., loons and ducks) which generally breed inland, but migrate, moult, or overwinter in marine habitats; shorebirds (e.g., oystercatchers and sandpipers) which breed inland but forage coastally during spring and fall migrations; and Coastal Raptors (e.g., eagles and ospreys) which live in close to the coast and make widespread use of marine resources.
2.4.1 Key Species A number of marine bird species are of conservation concern in British Columbia under either provincial or federal legislation. The Provincial Conservation Status of species discussed here includes red2- and blue3-listed species, while federal legislation includes birds listed under the SARA and/or COSEWIC.
2.4.1.1 Loons and Grebes Loons and grebes breed on inland freshwater lakes during summer, and migrate to coastal saltwater wintering grounds in the fall. Both species groups are divers, and feed just offshore or in large inshore bays and inlets throughout the year, although their abundance in the marine environment is highest in winter and during the spring and fall migrations. Red-throated loons also collect food for their young from saltwater habitats and return to freshwater during the breeding season. There are five species of loon, four of which can be found in the coastal British Columbia (Common, Pacific, Yellow-Billed, and Red-Throated). Six of North America‟s seven grebe species have been observed in British Columbia.
2 Includes any species that have or are candidates for Extirpated, Endangered, or Threatened status in BC. (BC Ministry of Environment 2009) 3 Includes any species or subspecies considered to be of Special Concern in BC. (BC Ministry of Environment 2009)
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Horned, Red-necked, and Western Grebes are common throughout the winter, and during spring (April to May) and fall (September to October) migration. Pied-billed Grebes are rare visitors to British Columbia waters.
2.4.1.2 Tubenoses Tubenoses include albatrosses, fulmars, shearwaters, petrels, and storm-petrels. These species generally breed in the Southern Hemisphere, after which they gather in large numbers off the coast of British Columbia during their non-breeding season (austral winter). Black-footed albatross are common in Pacific coastal waters of the continental slope, transitional Pacific and subarctic Pacific during late summer. Laysan and short tailed albatross are rarer. Northern fulmar nest in Alaska in the summer, but are found in large numbers in northern British Columbia waters during winter. Murphy‟s petrels are usually seen offshore, especially in spring. Sooty and Short-tailed shearwaters are common to Hecate Strait while Pink-footed, Flesh-footed, and Buller‟s shearwaters prefer offshore waters. Sooty shearwaters are the most abundant shearwater in the NCC, particularly around Haida Gwaii, where they gather over deep waters in large feeding flocks that can number hundreds of thousands. Storm petrels are most common coastally, but highest densities are seen over deep pelagic waters.
2.4.1.3 Cormorants Three species of cormorant found in British Columbia (Double-Crested, Brandt‟s, and Pelagic) and all are year-round residents. Pelagic and Brandt‟s cormorants are provincially red-listed, and the double-crested cormorant is provincially blue-listed. All three species breed in British Columbia in small colonies along the coast. They often gather in large coastal flocks and roost and nest in prominent places. Brandt‟s cormorants are associated with the open ocean more often than the other two species and often roost on rocky outcroppings offshore. All three species are piscivorous.
2.4.1.4 Waders There are only two species of waders regularly seen British Columbia waters: the American bittern and the great blue heron. The American bittern is mostly found in southern parts of the NCC in winter. The great blue heron on the other hand, is a resident along the coast, and is regularly seen foraging along the water‟s edge. Waders are commonly found in marshes and mudflats, or in shallow waters of the intertidal zone.
2.4.1.5 Geese and Swans Geese and swans are present in the protected bays and estuaries of British Columbia year-round; however, there is no recorded nesting in the NCC. Abundance is highest from August until April. The greater-white fronted goose migrates offshore, as well as coastally along with the snow goose, in large flocks in spring and fall. Almost the entire global population of Brant geese migrates along the British Columbia coast every spring.
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2.4.1.6 Diving Ducks Diving ducks spend the majority of their time on the water and are widespread and common throughout coastal British Columbia. While abundances are generally highest during migration and though the winter, many species are year round residents.
2.4.1.7 Dabbling Ducks Dabbling ducks frequent nearshore waters throughout coastal British Columbia, particularly in shallow protected bays, inlets, and estuaries. These species may feed in marine environments but do not generally nest on the coast. Some species are present year-round, with the Mallard being the most abundant. Others, such as the American Wigeon, are present in greatest numbers during the winter. During spring and fall migration, Northern pintails and American Widgeon can also be found resting in large flocks offshore.
2.4.1.8 Coastal Raptors For the purpose of this study, coastal raptors have been limited to coastally-dependent and commonly occurring birds of prey such as bald eagles, osprey, and Peale‟s peregrine falcon. These three species are found on open, salt-water, and estuarine habitats. Peale‟s peregrine falcons prey primarily on colonial- nesting seabirds. Between 20percent to 30percent of the global population of bald eagles breed in coastal British Columbia. Bald eagles are present year round in coastal waters but numbers peak during the salmon runs in late summer and fall. Osprey preys almost exclusively on fish and is thus seen throughout British Columbia.
2.4.1.9 Rails, Coots, and Cranes The American coot is found in marine and brackish waters including marshes and tidal mudflats in fall and winter. The sand-hill crane is present year-round and, while it is not commonly seen in salt water, it uses low-lying patches of shoreline and breeds on QCI and coastal mainland islands.
2.4.1.10 Shorebirds Only the Black Oystercatcher is a year-round resident in coastal British Columbia. Black oystercatchers nest along as much as 80percent of British Columbia‟s shoreline and 30percent to 35percent of their global population breeds in British Columbia. The remaining shorebirds, though widely distributed, use the area mostly during spring and fall migrations (when shorebird abundance peaks) or as winter visitors. A few species, such as the semi-palmated plover, killdeer, spotted sandpiper and short-billed dowitcher also breed in coastal British Columbia.
2.4.1.11 Gulls, Jaegers, and Terns There are 30 species of Gulls, Jaegers, and Terns found in British Columbia. They are abundant and distributed widely year-round. The Glaucous-winged gull is the only colonially breeding gull on the coast, though mew gulls also occasionally breed on the coast. Although many species are constrained to the nearshore environment some, such as the black-legged kittiwake and arctic tern are predominantly pelagic and can be found offshore in winter (kittiwake) and during migrations (tern).
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2.4.1.12 Alcids There are 13 species of alcids found within coastal British Columbia; they inhabit nearshore and offshore habitats year round - alcids, generally spend most of their lives in the marine environment. Most species of alcid feed on the open ocean and breed in dense colonies on sea cliffs and offshore islands. This high density renders colonies vulnerable to environmental or anthropogenic disturbance.
2.4.1.13 Kingfishers Kingfishers are strictly piscivorous. They perch on coastal snags and branches, hunting for prey in water immediately adjacent to the shore. The Belted Kingfisher is the lone species to occur in British Columbia, and is present in low densities year-round. It requires clear, ice-free water for diving and vertical earthen banks for nesting.
2.4.2 Important Areas The British Columbia marine environment provides important habitat for breeding, foraging, staging and migrating for over 200 species of marine birds in all life history stages both seasonally and year-round. These marine birds can be divided into four main groups based on seasonal abundance, habitat use, and breeding distribution. The groups are defined as: 1. breeding resident; 2. winter resident; 3. summer visitor; and, 4. spring and fall migrants. CCAA Figure 2-8 shows areas of important bird habitat use within the CCAA. Also illustrated in the figure are recreation areas, parks, ecological reserves, and protected areas. Figure 2-9, Figure 2-10, Figure 2-11, and Figure 2-12 show the seasonal abundance and distribution of all marine birds recorded during baseline investigations within the PEAA and CCAA. The observations of gulls are not included because their ranging, pelagic habitat use can misrepresent the distribution and abundance of other species.
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Figure 2-8 Important Areas of Habitat Use in the CCAA
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Figure 2-9 Vessel Based Marine Bird Survey Route within the CCAA
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Figure 2-10 Abundance of All Marine Birds (Excluding Gulls) during Spring
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Figure 2-11 Abundance of All Marine Birds during Summer 2006
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Figure 2-12 Abundance of All Marine Birds during Winter 2006
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These figures generally illustrate consistent presence of marine birds across the CCAA. Some areas of especially high abundance across seasons include: 1. sheltered waters east and north-east of Browning Entrance; 5. Caamaño, Estevan, Nepean, and Wright Sounds; and, 6. upper Kitimat Arm and the inlets north of Maitland Island. Other areas within the CCAA host high seasonal abundance. NCC Globally significant populations of some species of colonially breeding marine seabirds, such as Cassin‟s Auklets, Ancient Murrelets, and Rhinoceros Auklets, are located in the NCC. Marine birds make extensive use of coastal wetlands, as well as nearshore and offshore habitats, and are an integral part of the coastal marine ecosystem (Table 2-4). As of 1991, an estimated 5.6 million colonial seabirds were nesting at 503 sites in the NCC (Rodway 1991 as cited in McFarlane Tranquilla et al. 2007b), and many of these do not breed anywhere else in Canada. Shelf waters, especially near inshore banks, support the highest abundance and diversity of birds (Morgan et al. 1991). The British Columbia coast is also a highly important corridor for millions of migrating birds, particularly waterfowl and shorebirds. Figure 2-13 presents a compilation of various data sources to illustrate coastal use by marine birds. The Important Bird Areas of Significance (orange layer) is a composite of important areas for key marine bird species in British Columbia (Clarke and Jamieson 2006; Canadian Wildlife Service 2007; BirdLife International 2008). Sea bird habitat (green layer) is a compilation of important habitat for bald eagles, black oystercatchers, cormorants, dabbling ducks, diving ducks, fulmar, shearwaters, petrels, geese, great blue heron, gulls, loons, grebes, shorebirds, and other species (CRIMS 2008). Each species layer was overlaid so that areas of importance to multiple species appear darker. Important bird breeding colonies, as well as habitat for alcids and marbled murrelets were highlighted separately. Many of the areas displayed in Figure 2-13 were identified by consolidating distributional and sightings data from a variety of sources, including: BirdLife International‟s Important Bird Area (by species) maps (BirdLife International 2008), BC Conservation Data Centre‟s Species and Ecosystems Explorer (CRIMS 2008); Table K.3 from McFarlane Tranquilla et al. ( 2007), and the Coastal Resource Information System (CRIMS 2008). All layers can be linked directly to references with the exception of the Important Bird Area of Significance Layer at Aristazabal Island, which is a known Important Bird Area to BirdLife International. This area was therefore highlighted using expert knowledge.
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Table 2-4 Key Species of Marine Birds and Habitat Use in the Study Area
Species Habitat Use in NCC Sighting Locations within Marine Habitat Seasonal Occurrence the CCAA Loons and Grebes Red-Throated Loon Widely distributed Kitimat Estuary Prefers shallow inshore Feeds in NCC year- throughout NCC. Minette Bay to Kitimat and protected waters - round. Village bays, inlets, harbours, Collects food for young Coste Rocks, Clio Bay lagoons, and estuaries. in summer. and Walbran Point Princess Royal Island Pacific Loon Widely distributed along Kitimat Estuary Deeper and offshore Feeds in NCC year- coast. Minette Bay to Kitimat waters, but also bays, round. Northwest part of Hecate Village estuaries, surge Most abundant in spring Straight is a Global IBA. narrows, channels, and fall. coves, inlets and lagoons. Common Loon Widely distributed Kitimat Estuary Inshore sea coasts and Feeds in NCC year- throughout NCC. Minette Bay to Kitimat sheltered waters. round. Village Most abundant in spring Douglas Channel and fall. Yellow-Billed Loon Widely distributed Uncommon in CCAA Prefers more open water Rarer visitor. throughout NCC. than common. Least abundant in summer. Horned Grebe Widely distributed Throughout Douglas Inshore marine waters. Feeds in NCC year- throughout NCC. Channel round. Most abundant in spring and fall.
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Species Habitat Use in NCC Sighting Locations within Marine Habitat Seasonal Occurrence the CCAA Red-Necked Grebe Widely distributed Throughout Douglas Bays, inlets, estuaries Feeds in NCC year- throughout NCC. Channel and narrows. round. Most abundant in spring and fall. Western Grebe In winter NCC has Throughout Douglas Winter on sheltered salt Feeds in NCC year- highest abundance in Channel and brackish water round. North America. along coast. Most abundant in spring Often congregate in and fall. large groups for extended periods of time. Albatrosses, Petrels and Shearwaters Black-Footed Widely distributed Rare Pelagic. Common from spring to Albatross offshore along fall, most abundant in continental slope and summer. Vancouver Island Shelf. Laysan Albatross Widely distributed Rare Pelagic. Regular visitor in low offshore along numbers, particularly in continental slope and summer, July– Vancouver Island Shelf. November. Short-Tailed Widely distributed Very Rare Pelagic. Rare, mostly summer Albatross offshore along Travels long distance visitor. continental slope and from Japanese breeding Vancouver Island Shelf. grounds to feed in NCC, particularly along continental slope. Northern Fulmar Widely distributed. Pelagic. Year-round, most Common over shelf Breeding population abundant in winter. break and northern (critically imperiled in waters. BC) nests in colonies primarily on sea cliffs,
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Species Habitat Use in NCC Sighting Locations within Marine Habitat Seasonal Occurrence the CCAA Southern Vancouver and less frequently on Island Shelf is a National low flat rocky islands. IBA. Pink-Footed Common throughout Uncommon Pelagic. Mostly summer. Shearwater offshore and continental Common visitor to NCC. shelf waters. Would be sensitive to any offshore oil spills in summer. Buller's and Flesh- Common throughout Uncommon Pelagic. Mostly summer and fall. Footed Shearwater offshore and continental Buller’s common, flesh- shelf waters. footed rarer. Sooty and Common in Hecate Moore, Byers, McKenny, Pelagic. Mostly summer. Strait, Queen Charlotte Short-Tailed and Whitmore Islands Sound, and along shelf Shearwater break. Leach's Storm QCI, North Vancouver Nest on Moore and Pelagic. Year-round. Petrel Island, Scott Islands, Byers Islands Comes ashore only to Large numbers of and Aristazabal Island breed along west coast summer breeders. are Global IBAs. of Vancouver Island and Small numbers winter on West Vancouver Island Haida Gwaii. open sea of coast. is also a National IBA. Estimated 1,400,000 breeding in BC. Single birds in channels. Fork-Tailed Storm Global IBA nesting Nest on Moore and Near-shore protected Summer breeders and Petrel colonies in BC on QCI, Byers Islands waters. overwintering birds. North Vancouver Island Seen at Coste Island Single birds in channels. and west of Aristazabal Also common over open Island. waters.
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Northern Gateway Pipelines Inc. Section No. 3.3: Fisheries Resources Survey Section 2: Fish and Fish Habitat
Species Habitat Use in NCC Sighting Locations within Marine Habitat Seasonal Occurrence the CCAA Cormorants Double-Crested Coastal breeder in Strait Common in Douglas Near-shore: bays, Year-round resident. Cormorant of Georgia. Channel during Fall harbours, estuaries, Overwinters in NCC. Winters along coast. inlets. Roosts on islets. Nests on ground in dense colonies. Pelagic Cormorant Widespread along inner Potential Breeding Site Rocky coasts. Year-round resident. (Pelagicus and outer coast. at Coste Island Rock Forages in bays, Overwinters in NCC. Subspecies) Nesting colonies on east harbours, lagoons, surge Moresby Island, Scott narrows and coves. Islands, and West Roosts on rocky, un- Vancouver Island. vegetated islets, reefs, cliffs. Breed in small colonies along coast. Brandt’s Cormorant Coastal breeder. Historic Breeding Activity Prefers open-ocean. Year-round resident. West Vancouver Island in CCAA Often fishes in large Overwinters in NCC. is a Global IBA. flocks. Roost on rock outcroppings just offshore. Waders American Bittern Sparsely distributed and Not Recorded in CCAA Estuarine marshes and Winter. not abundant. sloughs. Great Blue Heron One subspecies (fannini) Common in CCAA: Salt, brackish and Year-round. resident along coast. Emsley Cove, Bish freshwater environs: Nesting occurs in groups Cove, Princess Royal shallow bays, lagoons, of two or three pairs, Island, Dewdney and inlets, coves, tidal scattered across coast Glide Island Ecological mudflats, sloughs,
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Northern Gateway Pipelines Inc. Section No. 3.3: Fisheries Resources Survey Section 2: Fish and Fish Habitat
Species Habitat Use in NCC Sighting Locations within Marine Habitat Seasonal Occurrence the CCAA and QCI. Reserve marshes, rivers, ditches. Subspecies herodias Forages at water edge. breeds inland, but winters coastally.
Geese and Swans Trumpeter Swan Southern coastal NCC in Kitimat Estuary Sheltered, shallow, Year-round. winter. Emsley Cove aquatic habitat; More abundant in winter More northern during estuaries, bays, lagoons, and peaks in spring. migration. tidal mud flats, beaches and inlets. Snow Goose and Migrates offshore Estuarine marshes with Spring and fall migrants. Greater White- (Greater White-Fronted) bulrush rhizomes, sedge Fronted Goose and coastally (both) rhizomes and shoots. often in large flocks. Shallow waters of sloughs, and mud flats. Brant Widely distributed in Eelgrass habitat. Primarily a spring NCC, particularly inner Estuaries, beaches, migrant. coast. bays, lagoons, mud flats, Almost entire global cobble beaches of outer population migrates coastline only. along the BC coast each Not in channels. spring. WVI and EQCI are Global IBAs. Canada Goose Widely distributed in Migration through Anywhere with Year-round. NCC. Kitimat Arm. Emsley permanent water and More abundant in winter Cove, and Princess grazing habitat. and peaks in spring. Royal Island Migrate offshore in fall. Found throughout CCAA
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Northern Gateway Pipelines Inc. Section No. 3.3: Fisheries Resources Survey Section 2: Fish and Fish Habitat
Species Habitat Use in NCC Sighting Locations within Marine Habitat Seasonal Occurrence the CCAA Dabbling Ducks Northern Pintail, Widely distributed in Kitimat River Estuary Tidal mudflats and Most abundant in winter, American Wigeon, coastal near-shore Emsley Cove marshes, estuaries, and spring and fall Green-Winged Teal areas. Princess Royal Island creek mouths, shallow migration. May be found in flocks foreshore and bays. Pintail and widgeon on offshore during Exposed eelgrass and QCI year-round. migration. seaweed beds. Mallard, Northern Widely distributed in Migration North-South Prefers shallow open Present year-round. Shoveler, Gadwall coastal near-shore Through areas and marshes, areas. Kitimat Arm estuaries, sheltered Bish Cove bays, mudflats, and coastal marine waters. Diving Ducks Ring-Necked Duck Throughout coastal Saltwater lagoons and Common winter resident NCC. sloughs, inlets, bays and and migrant. estuaries. Harlequin Duck Groups of two to six Kitimat Arm Turbulent waters Year-round resident usually associated with Bish Cove adjacent to rocky islets, near-shore. freshwater along May Breed in Creeks shores and bays; Further offshore in channels. flowing into Douglas saltwater lagoons, inlets winter. Breed in some small Channel and harbours. coastal creeks. Breed along coastal creeks. Forage close to tide-line. Long-Tailed Duck Throughout coastal Small Numbers in the Offshore and deeper Most common during NCC. CCAA waters of straits, bays, winter (offshore) into Common in open-ocean. harbours, channels and spring (inshore). Major concentration in fiords, also estuaries, northern QCI. mudflats. Form large rafts.
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Northern Gateway Pipelines Inc. Section No. 3.3: Fisheries Resources Survey Section 2: Fish and Fish Habitat
Species Habitat Use in NCC Sighting Locations within Marine Habitat Seasonal Occurrence the CCAA Surf Scoter Mostly coastal. North End of Kitimat Arm Open, shallower waters Most abundant during During winter BC NCC Coste Island Rock of straits adjacent to winter and spring. has highest abundance Bish Cove beaches, spits and in North America. points. Global IBA off SWVI and Also protected bays, near Prince Rupert. harbours and lagoons, Large concentrations deep fiords. form big rafts in coastal Large concentrations areas. near herring spawning sites. White-Winged Throughout coastal and North End of Kitimat Arm Marine brackish waters: Most common during Scoter and Black open waters of NCC. Coste Island Rock bays, inlets, sounds, winter. Scoter Bish Cove channels, estuaries. White-winged prefers more open, deeper waters than surf scoter. Sandy gravelly bottoms with shellfish and mussel beds. Common and Throughout coastal Bish Cove Closely linked to Abundant during winter, Barrow’s NCC. Barrow’s Goldeneye intertidal habitats. as well as during spring Goldeneye, and 60–90% of global Abundant in the CCAA Estuaries, bays, and fall migrations. Bufflehead population of Barrow’s Ulilizing Bays, Estuaries, harbours, lakes, Rare in summer. Goldeneye breeds in BC Inlets, Harbours and lagoons, shallower (on ponds, but uses Rocky Shores waters of straits adjacent coast in winter). to beaches and spits, fiords with rocky shores and extensive mussel beds.
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Northern Gateway Pipelines Inc. Section No. 3.3: Fisheries Resources Survey Section 2: Fish and Fish Habitat
Species Habitat Use in NCC Sighting Locations within Marine Habitat Seasonal Occurrence the CCAA Greater and Lesser Throughout coastal and Kitimat Arm Estuaries, bays, Common winter Scaup open water bays of harbours, and saltwater residents and migrants. NCC. lagoons. Greater prefers large open waters of straits, near points, rocky islets or beaches, and brackish waters. Hooded Merganser Mostly seen in southern Bish Cove Estuaries, protected Most common during NCC. bays and inlets, coastal winter, year-round in lakes, marshes, sloughs. southern NCC. Common Widespread throughout Bish Cove Fresh and brackish Year round in NCC. Merganser coastal NCC. Breeding in Emsley waters of estuaries, Cove protected bays and inlets. Roosts in adjacent shoals, beaches, gravel / sand bars, logs, and dry spits. May breed near marine shores. Brood in later summer, otherwise mostly salmon stream outlets. Red-breasted Widespread in winter. Bish Cove Bays, estuaries and Most common during Merganser Breeds in summer in inlets. winter. Masset Inlet (QCI). Coastal Raptors Osprey Widespread throughout Kitimat Arm Protected coastal waters Mostly in summer coastal NCC. such as bays, lagoons, (breeds in NCC). inlets.
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Northern Gateway Pipelines Inc. Section No. 3.3: Fisheries Resources Survey Section 2: Fish and Fish Habitat
Species Habitat Use in NCC Sighting Locations within Marine Habitat Seasonal Occurrence the CCAA Breeds wherever there are fish (almost exclusive diet). Bald Eagle Throughout coastal Kitimat Arm Seashores, sloughs, Year-round. NCC. Princess Royal Island marshes. Largest influxes from 20–35% of global Nesting on Moore and Breed primarily in interior of whole western population breeds along Byers Islands coniferous forests near continent as salmon run coastline and rivers in Dedney and Glide seashores, and in fall and winter. BC. Islands marshes. Peale’s Peregrine Throughout coastal Kitimat Arm Typically nests on Year-round. Falcon outer shores of NCC. BC’s only known Tree- ledges of rocky island Nests at scattered Nesting Peregrine cliffs, usually near locations along north Falcons found at the seabird colonies. coast. Byers, Conroy and Occasionally, nests Northern and southern Harvey Sinnett Islands occur on mainland QCI and Scott Islands Ecological Reserve headland cliffs. are National IBAs. A few nests on grassy ledges on rock bluffs. More rarely, old nests of Pelagic Cormorants, Bald Eagles and Common Ravens have been used. Rails, Coots, and Cranes
American Coot Throughout coastal Kitimat Area Marine and brackish Common in fall and NCC. waters, including winter. marshes, sloughs, estuaries, tidal mudflats.
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Northern Gateway Pipelines Inc. Section No. 3.3: Fisheries Resources Survey Section 2: Fish and Fish Habitat
Species Habitat Use in NCC Sighting Locations within Marine Habitat Seasonal Occurrence the CCAA Sandhill Crane Not often in salt water Nesting Habitat at Estuarine marshes, Primarily fall and spring but may use low-lying Princess Royal Island, intertidal areas. migrants. patches of shoreline. Dewdney and Glide Breeds on bogs of Breed along coast in Breeds on QCI and Island Ecological coastal islands. summer. coastal mainland Reserves Forages along cobble islands. beaches and low-lying shoreline of outer islands. Shorebirds Black-Bellied Coastal NCC. Tidal mudflats, sandy Spring and fall migrant. Plover beaches, rocky islets and beaches. Migrant on outer islands. American Golden Coastal NCC. Lagoon shores, Spring and fall migrant. Plover sandspits, tidal mudflats, rocky beaches. Migrant on outer islands. Semipalmated Breeds sparingly in Tidal mudflats, sandy / Mostly spring and fall Plover coastal BC. gravel beaches, small migrant. estuaries. and sometimes rocky beaches. Breeds on sandy beaches.
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Northern Gateway Pipelines Inc. Section No. 3.3: Fisheries Resources Survey Section 2: Fish and Fish Habitat
Species Habitat Use in NCC Sighting Locations within Marine Habitat Seasonal Occurrence the CCAA Killdeer Breeds in coastal BC. Likely to breed in Kitimat Tidal mudflats and Year-round. River Estuary sandspits. Roost on log booms and near-shore rocks. Breeds in open areas with minimal ground cover, including marine beaches. Black Have been known to Breeding at Moore, Rocky islets, reefs and Year-round residents. Oystercatcher nest along over 80% of Byers, McKenny and spits, lagoons, gravel / BC’s shoreline (National Whitmore Islands mud flats, rocky IBA). beaches, sand bars and 30–35% of global inlets. population breeds Outer coast, cobble coastally in BC. beaches. Area around Princess Intimately tied to rocky Royal Island and WVI intertidal. are Global IBA. Greater and Lesser Coastal NCC. Princess Royal Island Tidal mudflats in Spring and fall migrant. Yellowlegs protected bays and estuaries, edges of tidal channels, sandy beaches and spits; prefers areas with shallow waters over mud. Roosts in offshore rocks, reefs, rocky beaches.
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Northern Gateway Pipelines Inc. Section No. 3.3: Fisheries Resources Survey Section 2: Fish and Fish Habitat
Species Habitat Use in NCC Sighting Locations within Marine Habitat Seasonal Occurrence the CCAA Wandering Tattler Exposed outer coastal Surf-washed reefs and Spring and fall migrant. NCC. rocks of outer coast. Rare in protected waters. Exposed outer coast, cobble beaches, intertidal. Whimbrel Mostly coastal NCC. Offshore islets and Spring and fall migrant. rocks, mudflats, wind- swept sandy beaches and spits. Single birds, outer coast, cobble beaches, rocks. Ruddy Turnstone Mostly coastal NCC. Rocky shores, offshore Spring and fall migrant. islets and reefs or exposed peninsula. Occasionally pebble / sand beaches and mudflats. Outer coast, cobble beaches. Black Turnstone Mostly coastal NCC Emsley Cove Reefs, rocky beaches, Winter. during winter. jetties at mouths of NCC has highest rivers or along lagoons, abundance in North adjacent mud flats, wet America. sandy beaches, floating National IBA near Prince kelp beds. Rupert and SE Queen Outer coast, cobble Charlotte Sound. beaches flocks of several hundred on migration.
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Northern Gateway Pipelines Inc. Section No. 3.3: Fisheries Resources Survey Section 2: Fish and Fish Habitat
Species Habitat Use in NCC Sighting Locations within Marine Habitat Seasonal Occurrence the CCAA Surfbird Mostly coastal NCC. Emsley Cove Rocky shorelines, Winter. IBA of global including islands, reefs, significance off SWVI. beaches, headlands, jetties and breakwaters. Occasionally on sandy beaches, tidal mudflats, log booms. Single birds, outer coast, cobble beaches. Red Knot Mostly coastal NCC. Mudflats, hard-packed Spring and fall migrant. sandy beaches, offshore (Two Subspecies rocks. COSEWIC Listed) Rarely single birds. Outer coast, cobble beaches. Prefers estuaries. Sanderling Mostly coastal NCC. Ocean beaches, Winter and coastal sandbars, mudflats. migrant. Sandy beaches only. Western Sandpiper Most abundant shorebird Estuaries, mud / sand Spring and fall migrant. in BC. beaches. Most of the world’s Flocks can exceed population migrates 100,000 birds. along coast in spring and fall. Global IBA on WVI.
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Northern Gateway Pipelines Inc. Section No. 3.3: Fisheries Resources Survey Section 2: Fish and Fish Habitat
Species Habitat Use in NCC Sighting Locations within Marine Habitat Seasonal Occurrence the CCAA Spotted Sandpiper Breeds in coastal BC. Known to nest in Kitimat Shorelines, where small Summer. River Estuary, Emsley streams drain into tidal Cove and Princess mud or boulder-strewn Royal Island beaches. Breeds on some coastal grassy beaches. Solitary, Semi- Coastlines throughout Emsley Cove Tidal mudflats and Spring and fall migrant. Palmated, NCC. Princess Royal Island estuaries, around tide pools on rocky Baird's, Least, and Pectoral coastlines. Sandpipers Rock Sandpiper Mostly coastal NCC. Offshore rocky islets, Winter. rocky headlands, peninsulas, beaches, occasionally mudflats. Rarely single birds. Outer coast, cobble beaches. Dunlin Throughout coastal Kitimat River Estuary Tidal mudflats. Spring and fall migrant. NCC. Roosts on spits, dykes, Overwinters in southern beached logs, log NCC. booms, breakwaters. Occasionally found on sandy beaches, rocky points. Flocks of several hundred.
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Northern Gateway Pipelines Inc. Section No. 3.3: Fisheries Resources Survey Section 2: Fish and Fish Habitat
Species Habitat Use in NCC Sighting Locations within Marine Habitat Seasonal Occurrence the CCAA Short-billed Small breeding Tidal mudflats, Spring and fall migrant. Dowitcher population in northern estuaries, and offshore QCI. rocks. NCC estuaries. Long-Billed Mostly coastal NCC. Prefers freshwater, Spring and fall migrant. Dowitcher although readily uses salt water during migration. Forages on tidal mudflats. Roosts on offshore rocks, islands and log booms. Estuaries only. Red-Neckeda Mostly offshore in NCC. Princess Royal Island Entirely pelagic in winter. Spring and fall migrant. Phalarope and Red Forage along tide-lines Small numbers in winter. Phalarope and edge of kelp beds. Possibly groups in wider Flocks of several channels in late summer. thousand during migration. Jaegers Pomarine, Long- Mostly offshore. Very Rare in CCAA Highly pelagic offshore Seasonal migrant. Tailed, and Long-tailed and migrants. Parasitic Jaeger Pomarine most pelagic Small numbers in near- of three species. shore bays, coves, Parasitic somewhat estuaries and surge more coastal. narrows Single birds on outer coast cobble beaches.
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Northern Gateway Pipelines Inc. Section No. 3.3: Fisheries Resources Survey Section 2: Fish and Fish Habitat
Species Habitat Use in NCC Sighting Locations within Marine Habitat Seasonal Occurrence the CCAA Gulls and Terns
Bonaparte's Gull Common throughout Bish and Emsley Coves Bays, harbours, lagoons, Spring and fall migrants. and Sabine’s Gull NCC. estuaries, areas of tidal Bonaparte’s occasional Sabine’s has an IBA of convergence and winter visitor. National Significance on upwelling. SWVI. Passages and narrows. Roosts in kelp beds, offshore islets and log booms. Large flocks on migration. Sabine’s further offshore. Ring-Billed and Common throughout All marine habitats, Spring and fall migrants. Western Gull NCC. bays, lagoons, estuaries, Overwinter on beaches. Vancouver Island Shelf. Regular vagrant. Herring, Thayer’s, Throughout NCC. Bish and Emsley Coves Open ocean, beaches, Over winter. and Glaucous Gull bays, fish plants, harbours, lagoons, mudflats, inlets, estuaries, spits. Regular vagrants. Mew Gull Occasional breeder in Nest in Alcan Settling Bays, estuaries, surge Year-round but mostly NCC. Ponds narrows, beaches, over winter. Common throughout mudflats, harbours. NCC. Open salt-water. Global IBA on SWVI.
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Northern Gateway Pipelines Inc. Section No. 3.3: Fisheries Resources Survey Section 2: Fish and Fish Habitat
Species Habitat Use in NCC Sighting Locations within Marine Habitat Seasonal Occurrence the CCAA California Gull Throughout the NCC. Bish and Emsley Coves Beaches, bays, Small numbers year SWVI is an IBA of global estuaries, lagoons, round but mostly spring significance. fields, open ocean, and fall. brackish sloughs and freshwater lakes. Regular vagrant. Glaucous-Winged Only colonial breeding Nest at Coste Island Bays, harbours, Year-round. Gull gull species on coast. Rock and at Moore, estuaries, rivers. National IBA throughout Mckenny and Whitmore Roosts in sheltered NCC, Global on WVI. Ecological Reserve waters. Nests on small offshore islands, treeless, with patches of grass, herbs or shrubs. Black-Legged Throughout NCC. Rocky islets and Winter. Kittiwake Winters widely at sea headlands, sandy and far offshore. beaches and spits, bays, harbours, surge narrows, estuaries, open waters. Very large flocks of non- breeders on outer coast. Some small groups in channels in spring. Caspian Tern Rare throughout most of Very Rare Outside of the Beaches, tidal mudflats, Primarily spring and fall NCC. South Coast sheltered bays. migration. Roosts on sandbars, mudflats, beaches and rocks. Arctic Tern Offshore NCC during Migrates offshore. Migrant. migration. Pelagic.
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Northern Gateway Pipelines Inc. Section No. 3.3: Fisheries Resources Survey Section 2: Fish and Fish Habitat
Species Habitat Use in NCC Sighting Locations within Marine Habitat Seasonal Occurrence the CCAA Alcids Common Murre Entire BC population Nests on steep cliffs. Year-round. breeds on only two sites Forages far offshore, but in summer: Kerouard also in protected marine and Scott Islands. waters off straits, inlets, Rest of year widespread. bays and channels. Wintering birds in Hecate Strait. Thick-Billed Murre BC population breeds Not Found in CCAA Nests on steep cliffs. Rare migrant and exclusively on Triangle Non-breeding population summer visitor along Island in dense colonies. seen mostly in northerly coast. waters in winter. Year-round on Triangle Island. Pigeon Guillemot Nesting colonies mostly Historic Breeding at Near-shore zone of Throughout NCC year- concentrated around Moore and Byers Islands bays, inlets, rocky round. QCI (EQCI is Global Breeding at Coste Island shorelines, channels, IBA) and Scott Islands. in Kitimat Arm and surge narrows, Small widely-scattered sound, coves and breeding groups. harbours. Marbled Murrelet 20–30% of global Bish and Emsley Coves Bays, inlets, fiords, Year-round. breeding population Kitimat Estuary lagoons, harbours and occurs and breeds in coves, as well as NCC. exposed coastal waters. Global IBA on WVI and Shelves at mouths of National IBA on NQCI. inlets and shallow banks important for foraging.
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Northern Gateway Pipelines Inc. Section No. 3.3: Fisheries Resources Survey Section 2: Fish and Fish Habitat
Species Habitat Use in NCC Sighting Locations within Marine Habitat Seasonal Occurrence the CCAA Ancient Murrelet Globally significant May Nest in the Moore, Avoids protected coastal Winter throughout NCC. population. McKenney and waters unless blown in Year-round in North and 74% of global breeding Whitmore Ecological by storm. around QCI. population breeds in BC, Reserve Forages in areas of almost entirely on QCI, upwelling and mixing - (entire QCI an IBA of surge narrows, channels global significance). and areas with strong eddies and tidal streams. Young reared at sea. Cassin's Auklet Globally significant Historic Breeding at Rarely inshore. Year round. population. Moore and Byers Islands Deep water of Hecate 80% of global breeding Nesting at Glide Island Strait. population breeds in BC. and Byers, Conroy and Forms large flocks well Global IBA on Scott Harvey Sinnett offshore. Islands, and NWVI, all Ecological Reserves Nests widely on remote around QCI, and offshore islands. Aristazabal Island. Rhinoceros Auklet Globally significant Historic Breeding at Prefers open marine Year round. population. Moore and Byers Islands waters; mouths of bays 56% of global breeding and inlets and outer population breeds in BC. limits of estuaries. Moore Islands, Prince Rarely in inlets, fiords Rupert, Scott Island and and estuaries. QCI IBA. Breeds at Moore Islands. Forages at channel mouths.
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Northern Gateway Pipelines Inc. Section No. 3.3: Fisheries Resources Survey Section 2: Fish and Fish Habitat
Species Habitat Use in NCC Sighting Locations within Marine Habitat Seasonal Occurrence the CCAA Tufted Puffin Breed in BC. Historic Breeding at Prefers outer coastal Winters offshore and in Roughly 90% of BC’s Moore and Byers Islands waters. Hecate Strait. tufted puffins occur on Rarely seen in harbours Year-round at Triangle Scott Islands (Global and bays. Island and QCI. IBA). Breeding colonies on Others on SQCI southern tip of QCI and (National IBA). Scott Island. Horned Puffin Tiny BC population Historic Breeding at Pelagic. Offshore waters in breeds only on Triangle Moore and Byers Islands Breeds colonially on winter. Island and southern cliffs. Year-round at Triangle QCI. Winters offshore. Island and QCI. Kingfisher Belted Kingfisher Breeds and winters in Marshes, coastal Coastal areas NCC. shorelines, lagoons, throughout NCC. tide-pools, estuaries, beaches, sloughs. Nests in cut banks. Single birds in channels and estuaries close to shore.
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Northern Gateway Pipelines Inc. Section No. 3.3: Fisheries Resources Survey Section 2: Fish and Fish Habitat
Figure 2-13 Important Areas of Bird Habitat Use in the NCC
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Northern Gateway Pipelines Inc. Section No. 3.3: Fisheries Resources Survey Section 2: Fish and Fish Habitat
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Northern Gateway Pipelines Inc. Section No. 3.3: Fisheries Resources Survey Section 3: Geographic Locations of Fishing Activities
3 Geographic Locations of Fishing Activities
3.1 Fishing Boundaries North Central Coast For statistical purposes, DFO has divided British Columbia into FMAs, which are subsequently divided into smaller sub-sections for local regulation. Management areas are generally organized by arbitrary or geographical means and are often bound by visible sightlines from navigational landmarks for the ease of managing fishing vessels. Thus, FMAs are often not biologically relevant and do not properly divide the NCC area, but can provide convenient geographic parcels for management. Confined Channel Assessment Area The smaller spatial scale of the CCAA renders Ecosections less useful as descriptive areas. The CCAA includes FMAs 5 and 6 within its boundaries. These FMAs are constrained to the nearshore environment and bound by the network of islands and inlets typical of the North Coast. Each FMA is further divided into subsections that allow for determination of vessel activity in small areas within the CCAA and within an area of similar biophysical characteristics. Thus, FMAs are used to describe fishing grounds and vessel activity in the CCAA (Figure 3-1 and Figure 3-2).
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Northern Gateway Pipelines Inc. Section No. 3.3: Fisheries Resources Survey Section 3: Geographic Locations of Fishing Activities
Figure 3-1 Fisheries Management Area 6 and Associated Sub-Areas (Image © Copyright DFO)
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Northern Gateway Pipelines Inc. Section No. 3.3: Fisheries Resources Survey Section 3: Geographic Locations of Fishing Activities
Figure 3-2 Fisheries Management Area 6 and Associated Sub-Areas (Image © Copyright DFO)
3.2 Areas of High Fishing Effort The extent of information available on fishing grounds varies by fishery. Fishing effort data is available for some fisheries while not for others. Measures of fishing effort (e.g., vessel hours) provides an indication of the level of fishing activity within a certain area and allows more accurate comparison between areas. It is important to note that when making commercial landings data available, DFO applies the principle commonly known as the „three party rule‟. In the event that only three or fewer vessels report landings from the same sub-area, the landings weight is considered confidential and therefore is not released. DFO will detail the number of vessels reporting and the species landed but not the volumes. When the „three party rule‟ is implemented the landings data are incomplete and therefore comparisons between FMAs and sub-areas are often not possible.
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Northern Gateway Pipelines Inc. Section No. 3.3: Fisheries Resources Survey Section 3: Geographic Locations of Fishing Activities
Areas of high fishing effort within the NCC are presented in Figure 3-3. Data were compiled using various metrics of effort based on fishery-specific gear and fishing methods for pelagic and benthic species (e.g., number of trap hours, number of hook hours, number of vessel hours). The differences between the effort metrics do not allow for comparison between fisheries but areas of high effort are mapped for descriptive purposes. Each individual data layer was collected from DFO sources and represents a single fishery, most of which are single species fisheries; however, groundfish, rockfish, salmon and shrimp fisheries all consist of multiple species. Such data layers specific to the CCAA were not available. Regions of overlapping fishery effort appear in the figure as darker blue areas. This overlap may indicate regions of particularly high commercial fishing vessel density. Some fishing effort is exerted in most regions of the NCC; however, there are a few regions of higher, more concentrated effort. These include: the eastern end of Dixon Entrance, the eastern edges of Hecate Strait and Queen Charlotte Sound (where the nearshore environment begins), Queen Charlotte Strait and the entire length of the continental slope.
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Northern Gateway Pipelines Inc. Section No. 3.3: Fisheries Resources Survey Section 3: Geographic Locations of Fishing Activities
Figure 3-3 Summary of High Commercial Fishing Effort Areas in the NCC
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Northern Gateway Pipelines Inc. Section No. 3.3: Fisheries Resources Survey Section 3: Geographic Locations of Fishing Activities
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Northern Gateway Pipelines Inc. Section No. 3.3: Fisheries Resources Survey Section 3: Geographic Locations of Fishing Activities
3.3 Major Fisheries and Important Fishing Grounds Identifying major fishing grounds informs the TERMPOL process by describing regions of the NCC and the CCAA where fishing vessels and their gear are most likely to be encountered. Coupling this spatial information with the seasonal use of fishing grounds best describes the areal use by fishing vessels. For the purposes of this study, commercially important fisheries are described below and fishing grounds identified for each of the NCC and the CCAA, where applicable. Also important to note in this section are the areas of important habitat use such as spawning or rearing relevant to the commercially important fish species. Common fishing seasons are described in Section 4 - Seasonal Variations in Fishing Activities.
3.3.1 Groundfish Major groundfish fisheries in the NCC can be separated into two main categories: 1. Groundfish trawl; and, 1. Groundfish by hook and line. In addition to these two main categories, Pacific halibut by hook and line and sablefish by trap and hook and line are of particularly high value and are often considered separately. The groundfish fishery is the largest fishery by weight on the Pacific Coast, and is the most valuable commercial fishing sector in British Columbia. Groundfish Trawl The trawl fishery targets a diverse groundfish community, with a combination of 35 groundfish species accounting for 95percent of the landings (MacConnachie et al. 2007). Some of the major species targeted in this fishery include Pacific cod, rockfish, walleye pollock, Pacific hake, and multiple species of sole and flounder (Fargo et al. 2007). Due to the non-specific targeting of fish, spawning grounds and seasons relative to the groundfish trawl fishery are variable. Pacific cod spawn in deep waters during winter months (February-March) and planktonic larvae settle in shallow waters. Walleye Pollock spawning areas include Hecate Strait, Queen Charlotte Sound and several areas in the inlets and channels associated with the Northern Fjords. The species group of sole and flounders have highly variable spawning and rearing patterns, depending on the specific life history strategies employed by each species. Areas of groundfish fishing activities are displayed in Figure 3-4. NCC Fishing Grounds: Groundfish trawl efforts indicate the importance of Queen Charlotte Sound and south-eastern Hecate Strait. Areas of the highest trawl efforts are characterized by edges of banks, and some portions of deep troughs (MacConnachie et al. 2007). There is generally high trawl effort at both the west and east ends of Dixon Entrance, indicating its importance to this fishery. Between Prince Rupert and Cape St. James, there is a corridor of high effort spanning across Hecate Strait and into Queen Charlotte Sound. The south of Queen Charlotte Sound is also of particularly high value in terms of trawl effort.
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CCAA Fishing Grounds: FMA 5 accounted for 0.04percent to 0.26percent of British Columbia‟s total landings from 1999 to 2004. Most of this effort takes place in the vicinity of Banks Island. In the Kitimat area groundfish species are fished using ground lines and hooks. Trolling does not occur in the upper portion of the channel and is mainly undertaken in Caamaño Sound and out in the Hecate Strait. FMA 6 is in the Groundfish Stock Management Area 5C, which is an important fishing area for the groundfish fishery (Ackerman 2006 pers. comm.). However, FMA 6 accounted for only 0.007 percent to 0.03 percent of British Columbia‟s total landings from 1999 to 2004.
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Figure 3-4 Commercial Groundfish Trawl Effort Areas
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Groundfish Hook and Line Hook and line commercial fishing methods include both longline and handline methods. Longlines account for the majority of landings and target halibut, lingcod, sablefish, dogfish and rockfish. Longline methods allow for the exploitation of shallower reef habitats that cannot be trawled. Groundfish hook and line fisheries are summarized in Figure 3-5, Figure 3-6, Figure 3-7 and Figure 3-8. Halibut spawn in the waters along the Continental Shelf (180 m to 450 m depth). Eggs rise to the surface where planktonic larvae drift into shallow, nearshore environments (Lucas 2007). NCC Fishing Grounds: Considerable effort is exerted throughout most of the NCC. Areas of especially high effort include Dixon Entrance, Cape St. James, southern Queen Charlotte Sound and into the Vancouver Island Shelf. CCAA Fishing Grounds: In the CCAA, halibut fishing occurs in Douglas Channel, Campania Sound, Laredo Sound, and Caamaño Sound. FMA 6 accounted for 0.1 percent to 0.8 percent of British Columbia‟s total landings from 1999 to 2004. FMA 5 accounted for 0.1 percent to 0.5 percent of British Columbia‟s total landings from 1999 to 2004. The majority of this effort is focused around Banks Island. Rockfish do not generally disperse far from natal waters, thus spawning and rearing habitats may be extrapolated across all life stages. Important areas include the entire continental slope and deeper areas of Queen Charlotte Sound and Dixon Entrance. Rockfish Conservation Areas have been identified and prohibit fishing by hook and line within these areas (see Figure 2-3). NCC Fishing Grounds: Areas of considerable longline effort for rockfish in the NCC are concentrated adjacent to inside waters in Prince Rupert area and along most shorelines of Haida Gwaii. The outside rockfish fishery targets Pacific Ocean perch, yellowtail, and yellowmouth rockfish along the continental slope. CCAA Fishing Grounds: The only rockfish conservation areas within the CCAA are located east of Aristazabal Island and southwest of Porcher Island. Fishing for these species can be expected in all other areas of the CCAA. Sablefish generally spawn in very deep water from January to March and the juveniles reside inshore for 2 to 5 years before migrating back offshore (Lucas 2007). NCC Fishing Grounds: The sablefish longline fishery focuses effort on deep waters just south of Cape St. James as part of the continental slope. The sablefish trap fishery is unique in the NCC. Most of the trapping effort is concentrated along continental slope across whole NCC. Particularly high trapping effort is exerted at the western opening of Dixon Entrance and immediately south of Cape St. James. CCAA Fishing Grounds: Does not occur.
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Figure 3-5 Commercial Groundfish Schedule II Hook and Line Effort Areas
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Figure 3-6 Cumulative Commercial Outside Groundfish (ZN) Hook and Line Effort Area
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Figure 3-7 Cumulative Commercial Sablefish Longline Effort Areas
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Figure 3-8 Cumulative Commercial Sablefish Trap Effort Areas
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3.3.2 Pelagic and Anadromous Fishes The pelagic fisheries are, with the exception of salmon and tuna, focused on smaller forage fish species. As a result of their predictable migrations, many of these species are targeted upon returning to the nearshore environment. Herring There are four major types of herring fisheries practiced in coastal British Columbia: roe, spawn-on-kelp, special use, food and bait. The roe fishery uses both gill and seine nets in the nearshore environment as herring gather to spawn from February to April (DFO 2008j). The fishery is conducted on or adjacent to inter- and sub-tidal spawning locations in the nearshore environment. FMA 5 accounted for 3 percent to 20 percent of British Columbia‟s total Roe Fishery landings from 1999 to 2004 while FMA 6 accounted for 1 percent to 11 percent of British Columbia‟s total roe fishery landings from 1999 to 2004. The spawn-on-kelp fishery is primarily an inshore, First Nations fishery open during herring spawning season from February through April. FMA 5 accounted for 8 percent to 10 percent of British Columbia‟s total spawn-on-kelp landings from 1999 to 2004. FMA 6 accounted for 3 percent to 12 percent of British Columbia‟s total spawn-on-kelp landings from 1999 to 2004. NCC Fishing Grounds: Fisheries for herring take place in the nearshore environment throughout the NCC in the North Coast Fjords, around the Haida Gwaii, and into Queen Charlotte Strait. CCAA Fishing Grounds: Within FMA 5 all landings from 1999 to 2003 were reported from the northern portion of FMA 5 around Porcher Island within Sub-Areas 5-3 to 5-10 and 5-12. Within FMA 6 all landings from 1999 to 2003 were reported from the southern portion of FMA 6 around Aristazabal Island within Sub-Areas 6-13 and 6-16 to 6-19. Pacific Sardine The Pacific Sardine fishery is generally opportunistic and its availability depends on migration patterns of the sardines into Canadian waters. These fish migrate into Canadian waters seasonally to feed during summer, then return to spawn in waters off of California in fall-spring (Schwiegert et al. 2007). NCC Fishing Grounds: Sardine fisheries are concentrated along the west coast of Vancouver Island and the Central Coast of British Columbia (DFO 2008f). CCAA Fishing Grounds: Does not occur. Eulachon Eulachon spend the vast majority of their lifecycle in the marine environment; however, the fishery takes place exclusively in the river / estuary environment where they spawn. No commercial fishery for eulachon exists in British Columbia outside the Fraser River. Eulachon do, however, play a very important cultural role as a staple food source and valuable trade item for many First Nations along the coast.
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Spawning in streams and rivers in the NCC generally occurs at night during February and March, before the spring freshets. There are approximately 30 to 40 spawning rivers known in British Columbia and only half of these support regular spawning events (Hay and McCarter 2000). NCC Fishing Grounds: The Skeena River is known to host eulachon spawning runs and, thus, First Nations fisheries are associated with these populations. CCAA Fishing Grounds: The Kildala River, the Kitimat River and possibly other small channels off Gardner Canal (e.g., Kemano, Kowesas and Kitlope rivers) support consistent eulachon spawning (Hay and McCarter 2000). The harvest in the Kitimat area is limited to local First Nations communities. Salmon The six Pacific salmon species exhibit complex life histories that make their use of British Columbia waters highly variable. Seasonal migrations, combined with different habitat use during rearing, feeding, staging, and spawning contribute to the spatial variability seen in the fish and the associated fisheries. Salmon spawning takes place in streams, creeks and rivers throughout British Columbia. Their ubiquitous presence results in fisheries targeting salmon throughout the NCC and the CCAA. Fishing gear used in the major salmon fisheries include trollers, seine nets and gillnets. First Nations salmon fisheries are often equipped like the commercial fishery and licensed by DFO. The Food, Social, Ceremonial licenses specifies species, quantity, methods, location and times of harvest and may grant special access to stocks that cannot support commercial levels of harvest. NCC Fishing Grounds: Trollers account for most fishing effort in open waters of NCC, with high effort concentrated in Dixon Entrance, Hecate Strait and northern end of Queen Charlotte Sound. The Mid-west area of Queen Charlotte Sound, where it borders with continental slope in vicinity of Goose Island Bank, and southern end of Queen Charlotte Sound around northern Vancouver Island also heavily fished. The areas of the NCC subject to intensive net fishing (seine and gill) are in the nearshore environment and set in narrower inlets and channels. There is a focused netting effort around Prince Rupert and Queen Charlotte Strait, as well as in Douglas Channel. The nearshore environment surrounding Haida Gwaii is also subject to substantial netting pressure. The Continental Slope receives localized fishing pressure on the west coast of Haida Gwaii, while the Vancouver Island Shelf subject to uniformly high pressure, especially in the summer and early fall months. CCAA Fishing Grounds: The Kitimat Hatchery produces chum salmon that support a terminal fishery each year in Kitimat Arm. Effort within FMA 6 in recent years has been troll-focused; however specific locations have not been disclosed. The available location data for gill and seine net fisheries show high effort proximal to the Terminal site. Troll fisheries exist and are focused along the CCAA‟s western fringe or do not disclose location data as a result of the „three party rule‟. Commercial net fishing in FMA 6 is restricted to daylight hours and consists of seine and gill net fisheries. A relatively high amount of total landings are taken from FMA Sub-Area 6-1 near the head of Kitimat Arm.
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FMA 5 hosts a relatively small fishery, making up 1 percent to 2 percent of the total British Columbia landings of salmon from 1999 to 2004. FMA 6 made up 2 percent to 22 percent of the total British Columbia landings during those years. Albacore Tuna Albacore tuna are highly migratory, following prey species associated with warm ocean currents (Zainuddin et al. 2008). Important areas of habitat in the NCC have not been identified for this species and fisheries data has not been compiled to the extent that they have for resident species. Albacore tuna are caught using troll gear. This is entirely a jig fishery and there is no net gear permitted. NCC Fishing Grounds: The high seas fleet operates primarily from west of the international date line to Canadian EEZ in the North Pacific (DFO 2008n). CCAA Fishing Grounds: Does not occur. Summary of Ground, Pelagic, and Anadromous Fisheries Areas of high fishing effort generally indicate high use of that area by adults of the targeted fish species. The habitat used by adults of a species may be shared with juveniles, however many species of fish exhibit variable habitat use throughout their life cycle. Important areas of habitat use for spawning and juvenile rearing have implications for shipping routes. The life stages represented during these times are often the most sensitive to disturbance. Important habitat areas identified in both Table 2-4 and Figure 2-3 are generally comprised of key spawning and rearing areas for a number of pelagic and benthic species. Areas of darker orange in the figure indicate areas of overlap between important habitat areas and can be considered particularly significant. These areas include: the northern end of Hecate Strait; the western edge of Dixon Entrance, near Langara Island; the central and western Queen Charlotte Sound around Goose Island Bank and North Bank; and, Cook Bank around Scott Islands.
3.3.3 Invertebrates British Columbia‟s invertebrate fisheries focus mainly on the inner coast, with some effort localized in Haida Gwaii. Sea urchins, shrimp, crabs, clams and geoducks account for the vast majority of commercially caught invertebrates. Crab Dungeness crab is the primary target of the commercial crab fishery in British Columbia. This fishery uses traps and is managed under a precautionary regime that includes limited entry licensing, area licensing, trap limits, soak limits, minimum harvestable size limit, sex restrictions, soft shell restrictions and gear restrictions(DFO 2008a). The First Nations and recreational fisheries are open year round for crab; however the commercial fisheries are closed seasonally in many areas, such as Hecate Strait and Haida Gwaii, to protect moulting crabs and their associated soft shells. There are no mandated soft shell closures in other areas - such closures are managed individually and intermittently. Areas where commercial crabbing occurs is shown in Figure 3-9.
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NCC Fishing Grounds: Hecate Strait and the northern end of Queen Charlotte Sound are two areas of major focus for crab fishing effort in the NCC. In addition, the inshore area around Prince Rupert is along heavily fished. CCAA Fishing Grounds: FMA 6 accounted for 0.1 percent to 0.4 percent of British Columbia‟s total landings from 1999 to 2004. FMA 5 accounted for 0.4 percent to 1.3 percent of British Columbia‟s total landings from 1999 to 2004. Most of the effort in these areas was not disclosed under the „third party rule‟. There are a number of sub-areas subject to commercial closures to improve First Nations and recreational access to the resource (DFO 2008a): Kitkatla Village: Sub-Areas 5-3 and 5-10, Kitimat: Sub- Area 6-1, Portions of Sub-Area 6-2.
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Figure 3-9 Cumulative Commercial Crab Trap Effort Areas
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Shrimp Trawl The commercial fishery for shrimp by trawl utilizes small tow beam or otter trawls. Seasonal closures of this fishery occur when schooling eulachon return to spawn and are determined on an annual basis (DFO 2008m). General areas of commercial shrimp harvest are shown in Figure 3-10. NCC Fishing Grounds: The Prince Rupert area is subject to very high effort, most of which is concentrated in the southeast portion of Queen Charlotte Sound. The majority of commercial shrimp catches are from the Vancouver Island shelf, ranging from Bamfield to Nootka (CRIMS 2008) CCAA Fishing Grounds: FMA 6 accounted for 0.6 percent to 11 percent of British Columbia‟s total landings from 1999 to 2004. FMA 5 accounted for 1.6 percent to 37.6 percent of British Columbia‟s total landings from 1999 to 2004. The location of the effort exerted within these two FMAs is not disclosed by DFO.
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Figure 3-10 Cumulative Commercial Shrimp Trawl Effort Areas
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Prawn The prawn trap fishery occurs mostly within nearshore environment. The commercial season generally opens May 1 and closure of the fishery is dictated by proportion of total catch made up by spawners and thus varies between years (DFO 2008g). Prawns are also an important resource for First Nations. Areas identified as important by First Nations are monitored with special attention. In the NCC these included Cumshewa Inlet in Haida Gwaii, and Loughborough Inlet northeast of Campbell River. General areas of commercial prawn harvest are shown in Figure 3-11. NCC Fishing Grounds: The areas surrounding Prince Rupert are high effort for prawn trap fisheries. In addition, Drury Inlet in Queen Charlotte Sound is the most productive area for prawns, with the largest commercial harvests coming from this area as well as along the southern areas of Haida Gwaii (DFO 2008g). CCAA Fishing Grounds: FMA 5 accounted for 0.4 percent to 1.3 percent of British Columbia‟s total landings from 1999 to 2004. FMA 6 accounted for 1.9 percent to 3.6 percent of British Columbia‟s total landings from 1999 to 2004. The location of the effort exerted within these two FMAs is not disclosed by DFO.
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Figure 3-11 Cumulative Commercial Prawn Trap Effort Areas
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Geoduck Geoducks are a large bivalve, and are harvested by divers using hand-held, manually operated water nozzles almost exclusively in the nearshore environment. The location of the fishery and schedule of openings and closings vary from year to year. Commercial fishery openings are scheduled to allow for a year-round supply of geoducks to the market (DFO 2008c). The fishery is open when biotoxin monitoring permits or when requested by the Underwater Harvester‟s Association. The open times in the fishery will be scheduled to prevent conflict with herring fisheries and herring spawning activity in the North Coast. Areas of commercial Geoduck harvest are displayed in Figure 3-12. NCC Fishing Grounds: High densities of geoducks are found in the coastal areas of Queen Charlotte Sound adjacent to Bella Bella. There is a particular concentration of effort offshore of Prince Rupert and Cape St. James. CCAA Fishing Grounds: FMA 6 has accounted for 0 percent to 19 percent of total British Columbia landings of geoducks from 1999 to 2004. It is important to note that in 2000 and 2003 the fishery was closed in FMA 6 due to paralytic shellfish poisoning concerns. The effort within FMA 6 is focused around Trutch, Campania, and Aristazabal Islands. In FMA 5, most of the effort is exerted in Principe Channel.
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Figure 3-12 Commercial Geoduck Effort Areas
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Sea Urchins Both red and green sea urchins are targeted by dive fisheries in the NCC. Red sea urchins are harvested throughout the entire coast of British Columbia, including Haida Gwaii, and are limited to shallower coastal waters (DFO 2008h). This fishery is open year-round. The green sea urchin commercial fishery is important to First Nations who harvest them for food, social, and ceremonial purposes. Areas of commercial sea urchin harvest are shown in Figure 3-13. NCC Fishing Grounds: Areas of high fishing effort for red sea urchins are distributed uniformly along the whole NCC, but especially near Prince Rupert and Cape St. James. The green sea urchin fishery concentrates its effort primarily within Queen Charlotte Strait. CCAA Fishing Grounds: Within the CCAA, red sea urchins are harvested commercially by diver. FMA 6 accounted for 23 percent to 30 percent of the total British Columbia catch from 1999 to 2004. Most of this effort concentrated around Trutch and Aristazabal Islands. FMA 5 accounted for 12 percent to 17 percent of the total British Columbia catch from 1999 to 2004 most effort exerted in the vicinity of Banks Island. There is no significant fishery for green sea urchins within the CCAA.
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Figure 3-13 Cumulative Commercial Red and Green Sea Urchin Effort Areas
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Sea Cucumber The sea cucumber fishery is generally open for 1 to 2 months over the winter when the sea cucumber muscle weight is at its greatest (DFO 2008l). The commercial fishery is small, with only 85 licenses currently allocated each season. Harvesting is performed by divers who remove the animals from the substrate by hand. Initially open only in the Georgia Strait of the South Coast, sea cucumber landings are now reported from all FMAs except the north and west Haida Gwaii. Over 50 percent of British Columbia‟s coast is closed to sea cucumber commercial harvest. The Central Coast, including FMAs 5 and 6 currently supports about 80 percent of the fishery (Bartosh and Hrynyshyn 2008). NCC Fishing Grounds: Minimal harvest activity is expected to be encountered in the NCC in association with the proposed shipping lanes. CCAA Fishing Grounds: FMA 6 accounted for 20 percent to 42 percent of British Columbia‟s total landings from 1999 to 2004. Most of the effort location not disclosed but some is known to occur in Caamaño Sound and in the vicinity of Trutch, Campanina, and Aristazabal Islands. FMA 5 accounted for 4 percent to 10.1 percent of British Columbia‟s total landings from 1999 to 2004. Most of the effort location not disclosed but some is known to occur in Principe Channel. Summary of Invertebrate Fisheries Invertebrate species are harvested through a variety of methods across many different habitats within the study area. They are valuable economically as commercial fisheries and culturally for the role they play for First Nations.
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Figure 3-14 Commercial Sea Cucumber Effort Areas
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4 Seasonal Variations of Fishing Activities Knowledge of fisheries openings play an important role in the TERMPOL process, as navigation through fishing grounds can present hazards to both fishers and vessels. When engaged in fishing activities, fishing vessels may have limited mobility that can present navigational hazards to other vessels. Additionally, designation of new shipping lanes can represent a loss of potential fishing grounds for some fisheries. In general, the entire NCC is used by commercial fishing vessels; however, some areas have higher seasonal commercial fishing densities. Dixon Entrance, Hecate Strait, Queen Charlotte Strait and the southern and eastern edges of Queen Charlotte Sound host higher densities of fishing vessels year round. The central portion of Queen Charlotte Sound sees seasonal increases in fishing vessel density during the winter. These vessels, and their gear, can potentially interact and conflict with commercial shipping activities. Fishing seasons are typically re-assessed on an annual basis, and individual fisheries are subject to localized closures, reflected in Table 4-1.
Table 4-1 Fishery Openings and Closures in the Study Area
LEGEND: Month Grey: Closure
Y: Fishing depends Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec on seasonal openings. Groundfish Trawl Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Groundfish Hook and Line Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y h Sablefish Trap and Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Longline Groundfis Herring Roe Y Y Y
Herring Spawn-On-Kelp Y Y Y Pacific Sardine Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Albacore Tuna Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Pelagics Salmon Trolla Y Y Y Y Y Y
Crab Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Geoduck Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Prawnb Y Y Shrimp Trawl Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Red Sea Urchin Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Invertebrates Green Sea Urchin Y Y Y Y Y
Notes: a Salmon fisheries are open year-round and species, area and gear-specific. The majority of salmon are caught during the months indicated. b Prawn fishery closes based on catch characteristics and varies by year. Approximate months are indicated.
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4.1 Fishery Openings and Closures in the Study Area NCC net fisheries are normally restricted to daylight hours, with a maximum of 16 hours per day at the start of the season, decreasing to 13 hours towards the end. The number of hours is dependent on by-catch concerns, strong returns of target species, abundance of prohibited species, weather, etc. In the 2004 / 2005 seasons, the gill net fishery opened on July 4, 2004 in FMA 5, and the seine fishery opened on July 11. In FMA 6, the first gill net opening and seine opening were both on July 11, gill nets being restricted to the Douglas channel and seine areas being determined in-season. Many commercial openings are not confirmed until a few days before the actual opening. This is due to the uncertainty of both timing and size of returning runs. The integrated fisheries management plan (IFMP) for any FMA can change for the season based on factors such as weak stock concerns, target stock abundance, fishing effort, rate of gear selectivity, domestic allocations and other factors. Groundfish The groundfish fishery generally stays open year round and total yield is regulated by Total Allowable Catch (TAC) and Individual Vessel Quota (IVQ‟s) restrictions set by the DFO (DFO 2008e) Halibut In 2008, the halibut longline season was open from March to November (DFO 2008e). Rockfish The outside rockfish fishery is open year-round in the NCC (DFO 2008e). Sablefish This sablefish trap fishery is open year-round (DFO 2008e). Herring Spawn On Kelp This is primarily an inshore, First Nations fishery open during herring spawning season from February through April (DFO 2008j). Roe The roe fishery uses both gill and seine nets in the nearshore environment as herring gather to spawn from February to April (DFO 2008j). Pacific Sardine Pacific sardine is an opportunistic fishery dependent on the migration rate of sardines in Canadian waters. It is anticipated that Pacific sardine stock size and production will be sufficient to support a moderate fishery in British Columbia over the short and medium term (DFO 2008f).
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Albacore Tuna The fishery is open year round in Canadian Waters. The high seas fleet operates primarily from west of the international date line to Canadian EEZ in the North Pacific, usually starting in May and lasting through late fall (DFO 2008n). Salmon Fishery openings are species and population dependent, but the majority of salmon are caught between May and October (DFO 2008k). There are salmon fisheries open year round and they fill an important socioeconomic role in British Columbia. Initial season openings are based on the expected returns for a given year. For example, if a surplus of Chinook or sockeye is predicted, gill net openings will be planned. If no surpluses are forecast, fisheries will not take place until it is determined, in-season, that the run-size is sufficient to produce a fishable surplus. Eulachon Eulachons are harvested when they return to freshwater to spawn. Timing of fisheries is area dependent, with spawners returning to the NCC in February / early-March (DFO 2008b). Currently there is no commercial fishery for eulachon in the NCC; however, eulachons are of continuing importance to First Nations who harvest them for food, social and ceremonial purposes. Crab The First Nations and recreational fisheries are open year round for crab; however the commercial fisheries are closed seasonally in many areas, such as Hecate Strait and Haida Gwaii, to protect moulting crabs and their associated soft shells (DFO 2008a). There are no mandated soft shell closures in other areas – such closures are managed individually and intermittently. Geoduck The location of the fishery and schedule of openings and closings vary from year to year. Commercial fishery openings are scheduled to allow for a year-round supply of geoducks to the market (DFO 2008c). The fishery is open when biotoxin monitoring permits or when requested by the Underwater Harvester‟s Association. The open times in the fishery will be scheduled to prevent conflict with herring fisheries and herring spawning activity in the North Coast, Shrimp and Prawn Trap The commercial season generally opens May 1 and closure of the fishery is dictated by proportion of total catch made up by spawners and thus varies between years (DFO 2008g) Trawl The commercial shrimp trawl season is generally open from mid-May to March. Seasonal closures occur when schooling eulachon return to spawn and are determined on an annual basis (DFO 2008m).
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Northern Gateway Pipelines Inc. Section No. 3.3: Fisheries Resources Survey Section 4: Seasonal Variations of Fishing Activities
Urchins The commercial fishery for green sea urchins is generally anticipated to occur in early November (depending on market demand) and run until March the following year (DFO 2008d). The red urchin fishery consists of scheduled openings determined through consultation with the Pacific Urchin Harvesters Association and timed in order to meet market demands and prevent local stock depletion (DFO 2008h). Sea Cucumber The sea cucumber fishery is open from October through November, although it generally only lasts three weeks (DFO 2008l).
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Northern Gateway Pipelines Inc. Section No. 3.3: Fisheries Resources Survey Section 5: Customary Routes to Major Fishing Grounds
5 Customary Routes to Major Fishing Grounds Routing for fishing vessels on the British Columbia coast is dependent on the starting location, the location of the fishing grounds, the type of fishing vessel and the specific environmental conditions. The majority of fishing vessel traffic uses the inside passage as the customary route to fishing grounds (MacConnachie et al. 2007). The inside passage consists of a series of interconnecting naturally deep waterways and sheltered waters with relatively few exposed areas. Most of the northbound and southbound coastal traffic will use this route especially during winter months. This can be clearly seen as the high density areas displayed Figure 5-1 and Figure 5-2. Another major route for fishing vessels is the outside passage. The outside passage can be clearly seen in Figure 3-14 and Figure 5-1 as the green route just seaward of the inside passage. Although less protected than the Inside Passage, the Outside Passage offers some protection from rough seas for north / south coastal marine traffic in British Columbia. This route uses connecting waterways from Chatham Sound (Prince Rupert) including Principe Channel, Estevan Sound or Squally Channel, Laredo Channel and Millbank Sound. Once in Millbank Sound, traffic may proceed direct to their destination or opt to connect with the southern part of the Inner Passage depending upon weather. Other major fishing vessel routes include the direct run from the mainland to Masset and Sandspit on Haida Gwaii Island, and Dixon Entrance (Figure 5-2).
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Northern Gateway Pipelines Inc. Section No. 3.3: Fisheries Resources Survey Section 5: Customary Routes to Major Fishing Grounds
Figure 5-1 Summer Fishing Industry Vessel Traffic 2003 (Image © Copyright DFO)
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Northern Gateway Pipelines Inc. Section No. 3.3: Fisheries Resources Survey Section 5: Customary Routes to Major Fishing Grounds
Figure 5-2 Winter Fishing Industry Traffic 2003 (Image © Copyright DFO)
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Northern Gateway Pipelines Inc. Section No. 3.3: Fisheries Resources Survey Section 6: References
6 References
6.1 Literature Cited Anderson, T. 2005. Opportunistic sightings during field programs in Kitimat Arm. JWL, Kitimat. August 2005. BC Ministry of Environment (BCMOE). 2009. BC Species and Ecosystem Explorer. Bigg, M.A., G.M. Ellis, P. Cottrell and L. Milette. 1990. Predation by harbour seals and sea lions on adult salmon in Comox Harbour and Cowichan Bay, British Columbia. Canadian Technical Report of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. 1769:1-31. British Columbia Forest Service. 1998. Eulachon: A significant fish for First Nations communities. Forest Sciences, Prince Rupert Forest Region. Smithers, BC. Calambokidis, J., G.H. Steiger, J.M. Straley, L.M. Herman, S. Cerchio and D.R. Salden. 2001. Movements and population structure of humpback whales in the north Pacific. Marine Mammal Science. 17(4):769-794. Campbell, R.W., N.K. Dawe, I. McTaggart-Cowan, J.M. Cooper, G.W. Kaiser and M.C.E. McNall. 1990. The Birds of British Columbia. Vols. 1, 2. Victoria, BC. Canadian Wildlife Service. 2007. British Columbia marine bird area of interest database (March 2007). Pacific Wildlife Research Centre, Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment Canada. Chittleborough, R.G. 1965. Dynamics of two populations of the humpback whale. Megaptera novaeangliae (Borowski). Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research. 16:33-128. Clark, C.W. and J.H. Johnson. 1984. The sounds of the bowhead whale, Balaena mysticetus, during the spring migrations of 1979 and 1980. Canadian Journal of Zoology. 62:1436-1441. Clarke, C.L. and G.S. Jamieson. 2006. Identification of ecologically and biologically significant areas in the Pacific North Coast Integrated Management Area: Phase I - Identification of important areas. Canadian Technical Report of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 2678, DFO. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC). 2003. COSEWIC assessment and update status report on the humpback whale Megaptera novaeangliae in Canada. Ottawa. Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO). 1999. Giant Red Sea Cucumber. DFO Science Stock Status Report, C6-10. Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO). 2000a. Hexactinellid sponge reefs on the British Columbia continental shelf: geological and biological structure. DFO Pacific Region Habitat Status Report 2000 / 02. Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO). 2000b. Red Sea Urchin: Underwater World. Department of Fisheries and Oceans.
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Northern Gateway Pipelines Inc. Section No. 3.3: Fisheries Resources Survey Section 6: References
Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO). 2006. Rockfish Conservation Areas: Protecting British Columbia’s Rockfish. Department of Fisheries and Oceans. Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO). 2008a. Amended Integrated fisheries Management Plan: Crab by Trap January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2008. Department of Fisheries and Oceans. Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO). 2008b. Amended Integrated Fisheries Management Plan: Eulachon April 1, 2008 to March 31, 2009. Department of Fisheries and Oceans. Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO). 2008c. Amended Integrated Fisheries Management Plan: Geoduck and Horse Clam, January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2008. Department of Fisheries and Oceans. Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO). 2008d. Amended Integrated Fisheries Management Plan: Green Sea Urchin September 1, 2008 to August 31, 2009. Department of Fisheries and Oceans. Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO). 2008e. Amended Integrated Fisheries Management Plan: Groundfish March 8, 2008 to February 20, 2009. Department of Fisheries and Oceans. Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO). 2008f. Amended Integrated Fisheries Management Plan: Pacific Sardine June 15, 2008 to February 9, 2009. Department of Fisheries and Oceans. Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO). 2008g. Amended Integrated Fisheries Management Plan: Prawn and Shrimp by Trap, May 1, 2008 to April 30, 2009. Department of Fisheries and Oceans. Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO). 2008h. Amended Integrated Fisheries Management Plan: Red Sea Urchin by Dive August 1, 2008 - July 31, 2009. Department of Fisheries and Oceans. Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO). 2008i. Amended Integrated Fisheries Management Plan: Red Sea Urchin by Dive, August 1, 2008 to July 31, 2009. Department of Fisheries and Oceans. Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO). 2008j. Amended Integrated Fisheries Management Plan: Roe Herring February 10, 2008 to April 20, 2008. Department of Fisheries and Oceans. Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO). 2008k. Amended Integrated Fisheries Management Plan: Salmon June 1, 2008 - May 31, 2009. Department of Fisheries and Oceans. Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO). 2008l. Amended Integrated Fisheries Management Plan: Sea Cucumber by Dive. Department of Fisheries and Oceans. Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO). 2008m. Amended Integrated Fisheries Management Plan: Shrimp Trawl, April 1, 2008 to March 31, 2009. Department of Fisheries and Oceans. Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO). 2008n. Amended Integrated Fisheries Management Plan: Tuna, April 1, 2008 to March 31, 2009. Department of Fisheries and Oceans. Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO). 2008p. Recovery Strategy for the Northern and Southern Resident Killer Whales (Orcinus orca) in Canada. Ottawa. Fargo, J., L. MacDougall and I. Pearsall. 2007. Appendix G: Groundfish. In Ecosystem Overview: Pacific North Coast Integrated Management Area (PNCIMA). Edited by Lucas, B.G.,Verrin, S., and Brown, R. Can. Tech. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 2667.
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Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the Abalone Recovery Team. 2004. National Recovery Strategy for the Northern Abalone (Haliotis kamtschatkana) in Canada. Ford, J.K.B. 2005. Research Scientist, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Conservation Biology Section, Nanaimo, British Columbia. Conference call November 1, 2005. Ford, J.K.B. and G.M. Ellis. 2005. Prey selection and food sharing by fish-eating 'resident' killer whales (Orcinus orca) in British Columbia. Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat, DFO. Gateway Environmental Management Team. 2006. Marine Mammals and Underwater Sound Scape Technical Data Report. Prepared for Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipelines Limited Partnership. Burnaby, BC. Gillespie, G.E. 1999. Status of Olympia Oyster, Ostrea conchaphila, in Canada. Canadian Stock Assessment Secretariat Research Document (No. 99 / 150). Gregr, E.J. and A.W. Trites. 2001. Predictions of critical habitat for five whale species in the waters of coastal British Columbia. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. 58(7):1265-1285. Hay, D. and P.B. McCarter. 2000. Status of the Eulachon Thaleichthys pacificus in Canada. Canadian Stock Assessment Secretariat, Government of Canada, DFO. Hay, D.E., P.B. McCarter and K.S. Daniel. 2001. Tagging of Pacific herring Clupea pallasi from 1936– 1992: a review with comments on homing, geographic fidelity, and straying. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. 58:1356–1370. Heise, K., J.K.B. Ford and P.F. Olesiuk. 2007. Appendix J: Marine mammals and turtles. In B. G. Lucas, S. Verrin & R. Brown (Eds.). Ecosystem Overview: Pacific North Coast Integrated Management Area (PNCIMA). Can. Tech. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. Vol. 2667. Hyatt, K., M.S. Johannes and M. Stockwell. 2007. Appendix I: Pacific Salmon. In B. G. Lucas, S. Verrin & R. Brown (Eds.). Ecosystem Overview: Pacific North Coast Integrated Management Area (PNCIMA). Can. Tech. Rep. Fish Aquat. Sci. 2667. Jamieson, G.S. 2002. Underwater World Factsheet Series: Dungeness Crab. Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Jamieson, G.S. and L. Chew. 2002. Hexactinellid sponge reefs: Areas of interest as Marine Protected Areas in the North and Central Coast areas. Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat Research Document 2002 / 122. LGL Limited Environmental Research Associates. 2004. A review of the state of knowledge of marine and shoreline areas in the Haida Gwaii basin. University of Northern British Columbia's Northern Land Use Institute. Lucas, B.G., Verrin, S., Brown, R. 2007. Ecosystem Overview: Pacific North Coast Integrated Management Area (PNCIMA). Canadian Technical Report of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. 2667. MacConnachie, S., J. Hillier and S. Butterfield. 2007. Marine Use Analysis for the Pacific North Coast Integrated Management Area. Can. Tech. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 2677.
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McAlpine, D.F., M.C. James, J. Lien and S.A. Orchard. 2007. Status and conservation of marine turtles in Canadian waters. In C. N. L. Seburn & C. A. Bishop (Eds.), Ecology, Conservation and Status of Reptiles in Canada. Herpetological Conservation. (Salt Lake City, Utah: Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles. Vol. 2, 85-112. McFarlane Tranquilla, L., K. Truman, D. Johannessen and T. Hooper. 2007. Appendix K: Marine Birds. In Ecosystem overview: Pacific North Coast Integrated Management Area (PNCIMA). Edited by Lucas, B.G., Verrin, S., and Brown, R. Can. Tech. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 2667. Milko, R., L. Dickson, R. Eliot and G. Donaldson. 2003. Wings Over Water. Canada’s Water Bird Conservation Plan. Morgan, K.H., K. Vermeer and R.W. McKelvey. 1991. Atlas of pelagic birds of Western Canada. Pacific Leatherback Turtle Recovery Team. 2006. Recovery Strategy for Leatherback Turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) in Pacific Canadian Waters. Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Vancouver. Pellegrin, N., J. Boutillier, R. Lauzier, S. Verrin and D. Johannessen. 2007. Appendix F: Invertebrates, Ecosystem Overview: Pacific North Coast Integrated Management Area (PNCIMA). Canadian Technical Report of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 2667. Perry, R.I., M. Stocker and J. Fargo. 1994. Environmental effects on the distributions of groundfish in Hecate Strait, British Columbia. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 51:1401-1409. Rambeau, A.L. 2008. Determining abundance and stock structure for a widespread, migratory animal: The case of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) in British Columbia, Canada. Unpublished MSc Thesis, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC. Schwiegert, J., B. McCarter, T. Therriault, L. Flostrand, C. Hrabok, P. Winchell, et al. 2007. Appendix H: Pelagics. In Ecosystem overview: Pacific North Coast Integrated Management Area (PNCIMA). Can. Tech. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 2667. Sea Otter Recovery Team. 2007. Recovery Strategy for the Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris) in Canada. Vancouver. Slattery, S., B. Gray, L. Bogdan, K. Guyn, D. Buffet, J. Griffith, et al. 2000. A proposal for habitat conservation in the Fraser River Delta. Ducks Unlimited Canada British Columbia Coastal Field Office. Williams, G.L. 1989b. Coastal / Estuarine Fish Habitat Description and Manual, Part 1: Species / Habitats Outline. Prepared for Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Zainuddin, M., K. Saitoh and S.I. Saitoh. 2008. Albacore (Thunnus alalunga) fishing ground in relation to oceanographic conditions in the western North Pacific Ocean using remotely sensed satellite data. Fisheries Oceanography 17:61-73.
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6.2 Personal Communications Ackerman, B. 2006. Groundfish Trawl Coordinator. Fisheries Management Branch. Meeting.
6.3 Internet Sites B.C. Cetacean Sightings Network. 2005. The Newsletter of the B.C. Cetacean Sightings Network, SPLASH: North Pacific humpback researchers working together. Available at: http://www.wildwhales.org/newsletter/nov_dec_2004.htm. Accessed: September 18, 2008. Bartosh, G. and J. Hrynyshyn. 2008. Fish Stocks of the Pacific Coast: Online Book. Available at: http://www-comm.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/publications/speciesbook/introduction/default.html. Accessed: October 2008. BirdLife International. 2008. Important Bird Areas. Available at: http://www.bsc-eoc.org/iba/spmaps.jsp. Accessed: November 2008. Cetacealab. 2009. Cetacealab: Humpbacks. Available at: http://cetacealab.org/humpbacks.htm. Accessed: January 2009. Coastal Resource Information Management System (CRIMS). 2008. British Columbia Coastal Resource Information System. Available at: http://maps3.gov.bc.ca/imf406/imf.jsp?site=dss_coastal. Accessed: November 2008. Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO). 2008o. Dungeness, Red Rock Crab and Tanner Crab, Fact Sheet. Available at: http://www-comm.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/publications/factsheets/species/crab_e.htm. Accessed: November 2008. Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO). 2008. MAPSTER (version 2.2). Available at: http://www- heb.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/maps/maps-data_e.htm. Accessed: November 2008. Guilbault, J., M. Krautter, K.W. Conway and J.V. Barrie. 2006. Modern Foraminifera Attached to Hexactinellid Sponge Meshwork on the West Canadian Shelf: Comparison with Jurassic Counterparts from Europe. Paleontological Society. 9.1.3A. Available at: http://palaeo- electronica.org/2006_1/sponge/setting.htm. Accessed: November, 2008. SARA. 2007. Species at Risk Public Registry. Available at: http://www.sararegistry.gc.ca/default_e.cfm. Accessed: November, 2008. Sport Fishing Institute of British Columbia (SFIBC). 2008. Octopus. Available at: http://www.sportfishing.bc.ca/fish/octopus.htm Accessed: November, 2008. Williams, G.L. 1989a. Coastal/Estuarine Fish Habitat Description and Assessment Manual. Part I. Available at: http://www.shim.bc.ca/species/species.htm Accessed: November, 2008.
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Northern Gateway Pipelines Inc. Section No. 3.3: Fisheries Resources Survey Appendix A: Figure Layer Keys
Appendix A Figure Layer Keys
Table A-1 Figure 4: Marine and Anadromous Fish Summary Figure References
Legend Title Data Layers Data Source Reference Comments Included Number Areas of Green DFO 2 Important habitat area as Identified Important Fish Sturgeon PNCIMA in PNCIMA report. Habitat Important Areas Rockfish DFO 18 Important habitat area as Identified Important PNCIMA in PNCIMA report. Areas Pollock DFO 57 Important spawning and rearing Important PNCIMA habitat areas. Areas Lingcod DFO 59 Important spawning and rearing Important PNCIMA habitat areas. Areas Pacific Halibut DFO 60 Important spawning and rearing Important PNCIMA habitat areas. Areas Herring DFO 21 Important spawning, rearing and Important PNCIMA migration habitat areas. Areas Major Herring CRIMS 168 Major Herring Spawning areas Spawning 2000–2007. Areas Eulachon DFO 3 Important spawning and summer Important PNCIMA feeding habitat areas. Areas Eulachon CRIMS 240 Represents the known spawning Spawning rivers for Eulachon. Rivers Salmon DFO 1 Important migratory, staging, Important PNCIMA rearing, and feeding habitat areas. Areas Sole and DFO 17 Important spawning and rearing Flounder PNCIMA habitat areas. Important Areas Sablefish DFO 16 Important habitat area as Identified Important PNCIMA in PNCIMA report.
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Northern Gateway Pipelines Inc. Section No. 3.3: Fisheries Resources Survey Appendix A: Figure Layer Keys
Legend Title Data Layers Data Source Reference Comments Included Number Areas Hake Important DFO 20 Important migration habitat areas. Areas PNCIMA Pacific Cod DFO 59 Important spawning and rearing Important PNCIMA habitat areas. Areas Rockfish Rockfish DFO 37 Areas of important rockfish Conservation Conservation PNCIMA conservation closed to commercial Areas Areas and recreational fishing.
Table A-2 Figure 5: Benthos Summary Figure References
Legend Title Data Layers Data Source Reference Comments Included Number Red and Important DFO 27 The IA's represent areas identified Green Sea Areas as having high aggregations and Urchins good fitness for Green Urchins. Marine MAPSTER 62, 67 Represents Red and Green Urchin Resources- (DFO) distribution. Local Knowledge Red and Green CRIMS 160 Represents Red and Green Urchin Sea Urchins distribution. Sea Important DFO 26 IA's were identified for Giant Red Cucumber Areas Sea Cucumber for concentrations of productivity and high densities. Marine MAPSTER 70, 74 Represents Sea Cucumber Resources - (DFO) distribution. Local Knowledge Olympia Important DFO 25 Identified IA in the PNCIMA. Oyster Areas Known SARA 228 Most of the distribution data came Distributions from COSIEWIC report. Shrimp Important DFO 30 IA's were identified based on trawl Areas industry log books and research trawl data, for aggregations and uniqueness. Known CRIMS 158 Represents data derived from Distributions fisheries records. Prawn Known MAPSTER 93 Represents data derived from Distributions (DFO) fisheries records
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Northern Gateway Pipelines Inc. Section No. 3.3: Fisheries Resources Survey Appendix A: Figure Layer Keys
Legend Title Data Layers Data Source Reference Comments Included Number Tanner Crab Important DFO 29 The areas identified are based on Areas research surveys done on the continental shelf. However there is not much information at the moment and the area is subject to change. Dungeness Important DFO 28 Identified IA's in the PNCIMA were Crab Areas identified important because of uniqueness, aggregations and fitness. Corals and Important DFO 56 IA's were identified from bycatch Sponges Areas from fisheries. Data was provided by Living Oceans Society and produced by DFO. Sponge Reefs Important DFO 55 Sponge reefs were identified for Areas their uniqueness, aggregations, naturalness and their low resilience. Sponge Reef Natural 219, 220 Layers of sponge reef for Hecate Distribution Resources and Georgia Straits were used to Canada identify sponge reefs and more specifically areas where the Hexatinellid glass sponges exist. Manila Clam Important DFO 22 IA's were identified for high Areas densities of aggregations. Razor Clam Important DFO 23 The IA was identified for high Areas uniqueness and aggregations. Geoduck Important DFO 24 The IA was identified for high Clam Areas productivity and density beds.
Table A-3 Figure 8: Marine Mammals and Turtles Summary Figure References
Legend Title Data Layers Data Source Reference Comments Included Number Important Sperm Whale PNCIMA 6 Functional habitat use - deep Marine IA water area; Layer does not include Mammal distribution beyond the continental Habitat shelf or south of Brooks Peninsula. Grey Whale IA PNCIMA 8 Important migration and feeding areas; Layer does not include distribution south of Brooks Peninsula. Blue Whale IA PNCIMA 9 Functional habitat use - deep
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Northern Gateway Pipelines Inc. Section No. 3.3: Fisheries Resources Survey Appendix A: Figure Layer Keys
Legend Title Data Layers Data Source Reference Comments Included Number water area; Layer does not include distribution beyond the continental shelf or south of Brooks Peninsula. Northern PNCIMA 5 Functional habitat use - Resident Killer socialization and migration area. Whale IA Humpback PNCIMA 7 Functional habitat use - feeding Whale IA area; Layer does not include distribution beyond the continental shelf or south of Brooks Peninsula. Sei Whale IA PNCIMA 10 Functional habitat use - deep water area; layer does not include distribution beyond the continental shelf or south of Brooks Peninsula. Fin Whale IA PNCIMA 11 Functional Habitat Use - based on sightings and historic whaling records; layer does not include distribution beyond the continental shelf or south of Brooks Peninsula. Northern Fur PNCIMA 13 Foraging and feeding areas; layer Seal IA does not include distribution beyond the continental shelf or south of Brooks Peninsula. Northern Fur CRIMS 184 Extends range down SWVI - which Seal was missing from PNCIMA layer. Steller Sea Lion PNCIMA 12 Haulouts; layer does not include IA distribution beyond the continental shelf or south of Brooks Peninsula. Steller Sea Lion CRIMS 189 Extends range down SWVI - which was missing from PNCIMA layer. Leatherback PNCIMA 31 Feeding area; layer does not Turtle IA include distribution beyond the continental shelf or south of Brooks Peninsula. California Sea CRIMS 176 Range in BC. Lion Humpback Humpback PNCIMA 7 Known concentrations; layer does Whale Known Whale IA not include distribution beyond the Concentration continental shelf or south of s Brooks Peninsula. Northern N.R. Killer PNCIMA 5 Important areas based on formally Resident Killer Whale IA identified critical habitat, or areas Whale Critical listed as potential critical habitat in and Potential future. Critical Habitat
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Northern Gateway Pipelines Inc. Section No. 3.3: Fisheries Resources Survey Appendix A: Figure Layer Keys
Legend Title Data Layers Data Source Reference Comments Included Number Sea Otter Sea Otter IA PNCIMA 14 Sea otter established range. Layer Known does not include distribution south Concentration of Brooks Peninsula. Sea Otter CRIMS 186 Extends range down SWVI - which was missing from PNCIMA layer. Steller Sea Steller Sea Lion PNCIMA 12 Rookeries. Lion IA Rookeries
Table A-4 Figure 9: Marine Birds Summary Figure References
Legend Title Data Layers Data Source Reference Comments Included Number Sea Bird Bald Eagles CRIMS 130 Habitat and distribution in BC. Habitat Black CRIMS 131 Habitat and distribution in BC. Oystercatchers Cormorants CRIMS 132 Habitat and distribution in BC. Dabbling Ducks CRIMS 133 Habitat and distribution in BC. Diving Ducks CRIMS 134 Habitat and distribution in BC. Fulmars, CRIMS 135 Habitat and distribution in BC. Shearwaters and Petrels Geese and CRIMS 136 Habitat and distribution in BC. Swans Great Blue CRIMS 137 Habitat and distribution in BC. Heron Gulls CRIMS 138 Habitat and distribution in BC. Loons and CRIMS 139 Habitat and distribution in BC. Grebes Shorebirds CRIMS 140 Habitat and distribution in BC. Pelagic birds CRIMS 143 Habitat and distribution in BC. Important Bird CWS BC Environment 222 Marine areas with a heightened Areas of Marine Bird Canada ecological value for migratory Significance Area of Interest birds. Bird Important PNCIMA 4 Important areas identified for Areas marine birds; layer does not include distribution beyond the continental shelf, south of Brooks Peninsula, or inlets. Globally BirdLife 223 Polygon near Aristazabal Island identified International was Digitized based on BirdLife important bird International’s identification of IBAs
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Northern Gateway Pipelines Inc. Section No. 3.3: Fisheries Resources Survey Appendix A: Figure Layer Keys
Legend Title Data Layers Data Source Reference Comments Included Number area of global or national significance. Alcid Range Alcid Range CRIMS 129 Habitat and distribution in BC. Marbled Marbled CRIMS 142 Habitat and distribution in BC. Murrelet Murrelet Range Range Important Bird Sea Bird CRIMS 144 Distribution of nesting areas for Colonies Colonies bird colonies in coastal BC.
Table A-5 Figure 17: Commercial Fisheries Summary Figure References
Legend Title Data Layers Data Source Reference Comments Included Number Areas of Groundfish DFO 39 Groundfish trawl tow hours. Commercial Trawl Effort PNCIMA Fishing Effort (Tow Hours) Soak time DFO 40 Outside rockfish hook and line (Outside ZN PNCIMA soak time. Cumulative Hook and Line Effort) Minutes DFO 41 Groundfish hook and line soak (Groundfish PNCIMA time. Schedule II Cumulative Hook and Line Effort) Number of DFO 42 Sablefish trap fishery number of Traps Used PNCIMA traps used. (Sablefish Cumulative Trap Effort) Soak Days DFO 50 Crab fishery trap soak time (days). (Crab PNCIMA Cumulative Trap Effort) Shrimp Trawl DFO 47 Shrimp trawl tow hours. Effort (Tow PNCIMA Hours) Sablefish DFO 43 Sablefish longline hook number. Longline Effort PNCIMA (Number of Hooks Used) Red Sea Urchin DFO 51 Red sea urchin dive hours.
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Northern Gateway Pipelines Inc. Section No. 3.3: Fisheries Resources Survey Appendix A: Figure Layer Keys
Legend Title Data Layers Data Source Reference Comments Included Number Effort (dive PNCIMA hours) Prawn Trap DFO 48 Prawn trap soak time (hours). Effort (soak PNCIMA hours) Green Urchin DFO 52 Green sea urchin dive hours. Effort (dive PNCIMA hours) Geoduck Effort DFO 45 Geoduck dive hours. (dive hours) PNCIMA Excluded from Halibut Fishery DFO Halibut number of skates Figure Effort (Number PNCIMA (equipment with hooks) data layer of Skates) not received. Excluded from Salmon Troll CRIMS Salmon troll fishery coverage - not Figure Fishery a metric of effort Excluded from Fishing Vessel PNCIMA Fishing vessel routes and density - Figure Density - summer - data layer not received. Summer 2003 Excluded from Fishing Vessel PNCIMA Fishing vessel routes and density - Figure Density - winter - data layer not received. Winter 2003
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