Orphan Basin Strategic Environmental Assessment Prepared by Prepared for Canada-Newfoundland Offshore Petroleum Board Fifth Floor, TD Place 140 Water Street St. John’s, NL A1C 6H6 11 November 2003 SA767 Orphan Basin Strategic Environmental Assessment Prepared by Prepared for Canada-Newfoundland Offshore Petroleum Board Fifth Floor, TD Place 140 Water Street St. John’s, NL A1C 6H6 11 November 2003 SA767 Orphan Basin Strategic Environmental Assessment Prepared by LGL Limited environmental research associates 388 Kenmount Road St. John’s, NL A1B 4A5 709 754-1992 (p) 709 754-7718 (f) Prepared for Canada-Newfoundland Offshore Petroleum Board Fifth Floor, TD Place 140 Water Street St. John’s, NL A1C 6H6 11 November 2003 SA767 Table of Contents Page Table of Contents........................................................................................................................................ ii List of Tables ............................................................................................................................................. xi List of Figures........................................................................................................................................... xii 1.0 Introduction..................................................................................................................................... 1 2.0 Oil and Gas Activities in Orphan Basin.......................................................................................... 3 2.1 Rights Issuance Process and Call for Bids.......................................................................... 3 2.2 Exploration.......................................................................................................................... 3 2.3 Future Exploratory Activity................................................................................................ 5 2.4 Production Activity............................................................................................................. 7 3.0 Existing Environment ..................................................................................................................... 8 3.1 Physical Environment ......................................................................................................... 8 3.1.1 Geology....................................................................................................................8 3.1.2 Climatology..............................................................................................................9 3.1.3 Wind and Visibility................................................................................................10 3.1.4 Waves.....................................................................................................................10 3.1.5 Water Currents.......................................................................................................10 3.1.5.1 Labrador Current.....................................................................................10 3.1.5.2 Eddies, Fronts and Upwelling.................................................................12 3.1.6 Water Characteristics.............................................................................................12 3.1.7 Ice Conditions ........................................................................................................14 3.1.8 Planning Implications ............................................................................................15 3.2 Biological Environment.................................................................................................... 20 3.2.1 Plankton .................................................................................................................20 3.2.1.1 Planning Implications .............................................................................22 3.2.2 Benthic Invertebrates .............................................................................................22 3.2.2.1 Grand Banks Continental Shelf (50 – 183-m) ........................................25 3.2.2.2 Carson Canyon (76 to 1,129-m)..............................................................27 3.2.2.3 Deep-water Coral Communities .............................................................28 Orphan Basin Strategic Environmental Assessment: LGL Limited 11 November 2003 Page ii 3.2.2.4 Biodiversity in Deep-sea Habitats ..........................................................29 3.2.2.5 Sensitive Species/Communities..............................................................30 3.2.2.6 Existing Anthropogenic Disturbances in the Orphan Basin ...................31 3.2.2.7 Summary of Existing Data/Data Gaps....................................................35 3.2.2.8 Planning Implications .............................................................................37 3.2.3 Fish and Fisheries ..................................................................................................37 3.2.3.1 Overview of Commercial Fisheries ........................................................37 3.2.3.1.1 Snow Crab.............................................................................40 3.2.3.1.2 Northern Shrimp ...................................................................43 3.2.3.1.3 Greenland Halibut.................................................................45 3.2.3.1.2 Other Commercial Species With Landings Values > $100,000................................................................................46 3.2.3.1.5 Other Finfish Species of Note...............................................52 3.2.3.2 Invertebrate Species Profiles...................................................................56 3.2.3.2.1 Snow Crab.............................................................................56 3.2.3.2.2 Northern Shrimp ...................................................................56 3.2.3.3 Finfish Species Profiles...........................................................................58 3.2.3.3.1 Greenland Halibut.................................................................58 3.2.3.3.2 American Plaice....................................................................59 3.2.3.3.3 Witch Flounder .....................................................................60 3.2.3.3.4 Large Pelagic Fish (Tunas and Swordfish)...........................61 3.2.3.3.5 Roughhead Grenadier ...........................................................62 3.2.3.3.6 Atlantic Cod..........................................................................63 3.2.3.3.7 Redfishes...............................................................................65 3.2.3.3.8 Capelin ..................................................................................67 3.2.3.3.9 Thorny Skate.........................................................................67 3.2.3.4 Fish Species Considered ‘At-Risk’.........................................................68 3.2.3.4.1 Atlantic Cod..........................................................................68 3.2.3.4.2 Cusk ......................................................................................68 3.2.3.4.3 Barndoor Skate......................................................................69 3.2.3.4.4 Wolffish ................................................................................70 3.2.3.4.5 Atlantic Salmon ....................................................................71 3.2.3.5 Planning Implications .............................................................................71 3.2.4 Seabirds..................................................................................................................73 Orphan Basin Strategic Environmental Assessment: LGL Limited 11 November 2003 Page iii 3.2.4.1 Important Bird Areas and Rare Species..................................................73 3.2.4.2 Breeding Biology and Nesting Populations............................................76 3.2.4.3 Prey and Foraging Habits........................................................................82 3.2.4.4 Geographic and Seasonal Distribution....................................................83 3.2.4.5 Summary of Important Areas, Times and Species..................................87 3.2.4.5.1 Summer Concentrations........................................................88 3.2.4.5.2 Winter Concentrations ..........................................................88 3.2.4.6 Planning Implications .............................................................................88 3.2.5 Marine Mammals...................................................................................................88 3.2.5.1 Offshore Labrador Biological Studies (OLABS) Surveys......................91 3.2.5.2 DFO Cetacean Sighting Database...........................................................93 3.2.5.3 Species Profiles.......................................................................................94 3.2.5.3.1 Baleen Whales (Mysticetes) .................................................94 3.2.5.3.2 Humpback Whale..................................................................95 3.2.5.3.3 Blue Whale............................................................................95 3.2.5.3.4 Fin Whale..............................................................................95 3.2.5.3.5 Sei Whale..............................................................................96 3.2.5.3.6 Minke Whale.........................................................................96