A Biophysical Overview of Eastport, Bonavista Bay Prepared By environmental research associates Prepared For Department of Fisheries & Oceans NAFC, White Hills St. John’s, Newfoundland A1C 5X1 LGL Report SA684 November 2001 A Biophysical Overview of Eastport, Bonavista Bay By R. A. Buchanan, J. Christian, S. Grant, E. Lee, B. Mactavish and V. Moulton LGL Limited environmental research associates P.O. Box 13248, Stn. A 388 Kenmount Road St. John’s, Newfoundland A1B 4A5 709-754-1992 (Tel) 709-754-7718 (Fax) [email protected] For Department of Fisheries & Oceans NAFC, White Hills St. John’s, Newfoundland A1C 5X1 LGL Report SA684 November 2001 This document has been prepared under contract, and DFO assumes no liability for the accuracy of the information contained therein. This document is a compilation of existing biological and physical information intended for use by the MPA Steering Committee in identifying information gaps, determining research priorities, and management planning. Eastport Biophysical Overview November 2001 Table of Contents List of Tables ...................................................................................................................... v List of Figures.................................................................................................................... vi Acknowledgements..........................................................................................................viii 1.0 Introduction............................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Background Information............................................................................. 1 1.2 Eastport AOI ............................................................................................... 2 1.3 Protected Areas within the Study Area....................................................... 3 2.0 Physical Overview .................................................................................................. 6 2.1 Climate/Predominate Weather Conditions ................................................. 6 2.2 Geology, Geomorphology and Geographic Features.................................. 7 2.3 Oceanography ........................................................................................... 16 2.3.1 Temperature/Salinity..................................................................... 16 2.3.2 Nutrients........................................................................................ 23 2.3.3 Tides.............................................................................................. 23 2.3.4 Waves............................................................................................ 23 2.3.5 Ice.................................................................................................. 24 3.0 Environmental Changes........................................................................................ 30 4.0 Marine Environmental Quality (Human Inputs)................................................... 31 5.0 Biological Overview ............................................................................................. 33 5.1 Surrounding Ecosystem ............................................................................ 33 5.2 Important Species in the Study Area ........................................................ 35 5.3 Plankton .................................................................................................... 37 5.4 Benthos and Benthic Habitat .................................................................... 38 5.5 Marine Plants and Algae........................................................................... 42 5.5.1 Eel Grass ....................................................................................... 43 5.5.2 Irish Moss...................................................................................... 45 5.5.3 Kelp............................................................................................... 46 5.5.4 Rockweed...................................................................................... 47 5.6 Invertebrates.............................................................................................. 48 5.6.1 Giant Scallop................................................................................. 48 5.6.2 American Lobster.......................................................................... 51 5.6.3 Mussel........................................................................................... 58 5.6.4 Clam.............................................................................................. 60 5.6.5 Sea Urchin..................................................................................... 62 5.6.6 Snow Crab..................................................................................... 65 5.6.7 Toad Crab...................................................................................... 66 Page ii Eastport Biophysical Overview November 2001 5.6.8 Rock Crab ..................................................................................... 68 5.6.9 Whelk............................................................................................ 70 5.7 Nekton....................................................................................................... 72 5.7.1 Squid ............................................................................................. 72 5.8 Fish............................................................................................................ 74 5.8.1 American Plaice............................................................................ 75 5.8.2 Atlantic Cod.................................................................................. 77 5.8.3 Lumpfish....................................................................................... 79 5.8.4 Skate.............................................................................................. 82 5.8.5 Turbot............................................................................................ 85 5.8.6 Winter Flounder............................................................................ 86 5.8.7 Witch Flounder ............................................................................. 89 5.8.8 White Hake ................................................................................... 91 5.8.9 Capelin .......................................................................................... 93 5.8.10 Atlantic Herring .......................................................................... 97 5.8.11 Atlantic Mackerel...................................................................... 102 5.8.12 Atlantic Salmon ........................................................................ 105 5.9 Marine-Related Birds.............................................................................. 107 5.9.1 Colonial Breeding Species.......................................................... 107 5.9.2 Non-breeding Seabirds................................................................ 108 5.9.3 Bay and Estuary Species............................................................. 117 5.9.4 Tidal Zone and Terrestrial Species ............................................. 118 5.9.5 Occasional Species...................................................................... 118 5.9.6 Rare Species................................................................................ 119 5.10 Marine Mammals.................................................................................... 119 5.10.1 Mysticetes (Baleen Whales) ..................................................... 119 5.10.2 Odontocetes (Toothed Whales)................................................. 124 5.10.3 Phocids (True Seals) ................................................................. 126 6.0 Summary, Conclusions and Recommendations.................................................. 129 6.1 Physical Environment ............................................................................. 129 6.2 Plankton .................................................................................................. 129 6.3 Marine Plants and Algae......................................................................... 130 6.4 Benthic Invertebrates .............................................................................. 130 6.5 Fish.......................................................................................................... 130 Page iii Eastport Biophysical Overview November 2001 6.6 Marine Birds ........................................................................................... 130 6.7 Marine Mammals.................................................................................... 131 6.8 Ecosystem ............................................................................................... 131 7.0 References........................................................................................................... 133 7.1 Literature Cited ....................................................................................... 133 7.2 Personal Communications ............................................................. 161 Page iv Eastport Biophysical Overview November 2001 List of Tables Table 2.1 Bonavista, Newfoundland climate normals and extremes………………8 Table 5.1 Summary list of important species known to occur in the Eastport study area………………………………………………………………..35 Table 5.2 Avifauna legend for Eastport…………………………………………