Environmental Assessment Update (2017) of the MKI Northeast Newfoundland Slope Seismic Survey Programme, 2012–2017 Prepared by for Multi Klient Invest AS & TGS-NOPEC Geophysical Company ASA 30 August 2017 LGL Report No. FA0118-5 (Revised) Environmental Assessment Update (2017) of the MKI Northeast Newfoundland Slope Seismic Survey Programme, 2012–2017 Prepared by LGL Limited environmental research associates P.O. Box 13248, Stn. A St. John’s, NL A1B 4A5 Tel: 709-754-1992 [email protected] Prepared for Multi Klient Invest AS Lilleakerveien 4C, P.O. Box 251 Lilleaker, 0216, Oslo, Norway & TGS-NOPEC Geophysical Company ASA 1051 Clay Road Houston, Texas, 77043, USA 30 August 2017 LGL Report No. FA0118-5 (Revised) Suggested format for citation: LGL Limited. 2017. Environmental Assessment Update (2017) of the MKI Northeast Newfoundland Slope Seismic Survey Programme, 2012‒2017. LGL Rep. FA0118-5 (revised). Rep. by LGL Limited, St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador for Multi Klient Invest AS, Oslo, Norway, and TGS-NOPEC Geophysical Company ASA, Houston, Texas. 61 p. + appendices. Table of Contents Page Table of Contents ........................................................................................................................................ ii List of Figures ............................................................................................................................................ iv List of Tables ...............................................................................................................................................v 1.0 Introduction ......................................................................................................................................1 2.0 Project Description...........................................................................................................................3 2.1 Vessels and Equipment ........................................................................................................3 2.2 Spatial Scope ........................................................................................................................3 2.3 Temporal Scope ...................................................................................................................4 2.4 Seismic Survey Activities Planned for 2017 .......................................................................4 2.5 Mitigation Measures ............................................................................................................6 3.0 Physical Environment ......................................................................................................................7 4.0 Biological Environment ...................................................................................................................7 4.1 Fish and Fish Habitat ...........................................................................................................7 4.1.1 Plankton ................................................................................................................7 4.1.2 Benthos .................................................................................................................8 4.1.3 Snow Crab .............................................................................................................8 4.1.4 Northern Shrimp .................................................................................................12 4.1.5 Atlantic Cod ........................................................................................................12 4.1.6 Greenland Halibut ...............................................................................................12 4.2 Fisheries .............................................................................................................................13 4.2.1 Commercial Fisheries .........................................................................................13 4.2.2 Traditional and Aboriginal Fisheries ..................................................................24 4.2.3 Recreational Fisheries .........................................................................................24 4.2.4 Aquaculture .........................................................................................................25 4.2.5 DFO and Industry Science Surveys ....................................................................25 4.3 Seabirds ..............................................................................................................................30 4.3.1 Breeding Colonies ...............................................................................................30 4.3.2 Murre Distribution and Movements....................................................................32 4.3.3 Seabird Hearing ..................................................................................................32 4.4 Marine Mammals and Sea Turtles .....................................................................................32 4.4.1 Updated SARA and COSEWIC Designations .....................................................33 4.4.2 Updated Population/Abundance Estimates .........................................................33 4.4.3 DFO Sightings Database .....................................................................................33 4.4.4 Additional References .........................................................................................34 4.5 Species at Risk ...................................................................................................................39 4.5.1 Red-necked Phalarope ........................................................................................42 4.5.2 Other Species ......................................................................................................43 4.6 Sensitive Areas...................................................................................................................43 5.0 Consultations..................................................................................................................................46 EA Update (2017) of the MKI Northeast Newfoundland Slope Page ii Seismic Survey Programme, 2012‒2017(Revised) 6.0 Environmental Assessment ............................................................................................................46 6.1 Mitigation Measures ..........................................................................................................46 6.2 Validity of Significance Determinations ...........................................................................51 6.2.1 Cumulative Effects..............................................................................................51 7.0 Concluding Statement ....................................................................................................................54 8.0 References ......................................................................................................................................55 Appendix 1 – MKI Newsletter Distributed to Consultees .........................................................................61 Appendix 2 – List of Consultees Contacted by MKI .................................................................................61 EA Update (2017) of the MKI Northeast Newfoundland Slope Page iii Seismic Survey Programme, 2012‒2017(Revised) List of Figures Page FIGURE 1.1. Locations of the Project Area, Study Area and 2017 Survey Areas for MKI’s Northeast Newfoundland Slope Seismic Survey Programme, 2012–2017. ........................1 FIGURE 2.1. MV Atlantic Explorer. .........................................................................................................5 FIGURE 2.2. MV Ramform Thethys. .........................................................................................................5 FIGURE 2.3. MV Ramform Sterling..........................................................................................................6 FIGURE 4.1. A comparison of the locations of significant concentrations of sponge areas as identified in 2010 (yellow outline) and 2015 (blue polygons).. ..........................................9 FIGURE 4.2. A comparison of the locations of significant concentrations of large gorgonian coral areas as identified in 2010 (blue outline) and 2015 (yellow polygons).. ...........................10 FIGURE 4.3. A comparison of the locations of significant concentrations of small gorgonian coral areas as identified in 2010 (yellow outline) and 2015 (brown polygons)..........................11 FIGURE 4.4. Distribution of commercial fishery harvest locations, all species, May‒November 2015. .......................................................................................................14 FIGURE 4.5. Distribution of commercial fishery harvest locations, snow crab, May‒November 2015. .......................................................................................................15 FIGURE 4.6. Distribution of commercial fishery harvest locations, Greenland halibut, May‒November 2015. .......................................................................................................16 FIGURE 4.7. Distribution of commercial fishery harvest locations, redfishes, May‒November 2015. .......................................................................................................17 FIGURE 4.8. Distribution of commercial fishery harvest locations, Atlantic halibut, May‒November