Environmental Assessment of Seitel’s East Coast Offshore Seismic Program, 2016-2025 Prepared by Prepared for February 2016 LGL Project No. FA0071 Environmental Assessment of Seitel’s East Coast Offshore Seismic Program, 2016-2025 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] for Seitel Canada Ltd. 1000, 550-6th Avenue SW Calgary, AB T2P 0S2 Canada February 2016 LGL Project No. FA0071 Suggested Format for Citation: LGL Limited. 2016. Environmental Assessment of Seitel’s East Coast Offshore Seismic Program, 2016-2025. LGL Rep. FA0071. Rep. by LGL Limited, St. John’s, NL for Seitel Canada Ltd., Calgary, AB. 211 p. + Appendix. Table of Contents Page Table of Contents ............................................................................................................................ ii List of Figures ..................................................................................................................................v List of Tables ............................................................................................................................... viii 1.0 Introduction ..........................................................................................................................1 1.1 Relevant Legislation and Regulatory Approvals .....................................................1 1.2 The Operator ............................................................................................................3 1.3 Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Benefits ........................................................3 1.4 Contacts....................................................................................................................3 2.0 Project Description...............................................................................................................4 2.1 Spatial and Temporal Boundaries ............................................................................4 2.2 Project Overview .....................................................................................................5 2.2.1 Objectives and Rationale .............................................................................6 2.2.2 Project Scheduling .......................................................................................6 2.2.3 Site Plans ......................................................................................................7 2.2.4 Personnel ......................................................................................................7 2.2.5 Seismic Vessel .............................................................................................7 2.2.6 Seismic Energy Source Parameters .............................................................7 2.2.7 Seismic Streamers ........................................................................................7 2.2.8 Ocean Bottom Nodes ...................................................................................8 2.2.9 Gravity and Magnetic Surveys.....................................................................8 2.2.10 Logistics/Support .........................................................................................9 2.2.11 Waste Management ......................................................................................9 2.2.12 Air Emissions ...............................................................................................9 2.2.13 Accidental Events ........................................................................................9 2.3 Mitigation and Monitoring .......................................................................................9 2.4 Project Site Information .........................................................................................10 2.4.1 Environmental Features .............................................................................10 2.5 Consultations..........................................................................................................12 2.6 Effects of the Project on the Environment .............................................................14 2.7 Environmental Monitoring.....................................................................................14 3.0 Physical Environment ........................................................................................................15 3.1 Bathymetry and Geology .......................................................................................15 3.2 Climatology............................................................................................................16 3.2.1 Wind ...........................................................................................................17 3.2.2 Waves .........................................................................................................18 3.2.3 Wind and Wave Extreme Value Analysis .................................................20 3.2.4 Weather Variables ......................................................................................21 3.2.5 Weather Systems ........................................................................................24 3.3 Physical Oceanography ..........................................................................................30 3.3.1 Major Currents in the Study Area ..............................................................30 Environmental Assessment – Seitel East Coast Offshore Seismic Program, 2016 – 2025 Page ii 3.4 Ice Conditions ........................................................................................................33 3.4.1 Sea Ice ........................................................................................................34 3.4.2 Icebergs ......................................................................................................39 4.0 Biological Environment .....................................................................................................42 4.1 Ecosystem ..............................................................................................................42 4.2 Fish and Fish Habitat VEC ....................................................................................42 4.2.1 Fish Habitat ................................................................................................42 4.2.2 Fish .............................................................................................................53 4.2.3 Fish and Fish Habitat Data Gaps Identified in Relevant SEAs .................61 4.3 Fisheries .................................................................................................................61 4.3.1 Information Sources ...................................................................................63 4.3.2 Regional NAFO Fisheries ..........................................................................63 4.3.3 Domestic Fisheries .....................................................................................64 4.3.4 Traditional and Aboriginal Fisheries .........................................................91 4.3.5 Recreational Fisheries ................................................................................92 4.3.6 Aquaculture ................................................................................................92 4.3.7 Macroinvertebrates and Fishes Collected during DFO Research Vessel (RV) Surveys ..................................................................................92 4.3.8 Industry and DFO Science Surveys .........................................................103 4.3.9 Fisheries Data Gaps Identified in Relevant SEAs ...................................105 4.4 Marine-associated Birds.......................................................................................106 4.4.1 Seasonal Occurrence and Abundance ......................................................108 4.4.2 Breeding Seabirds in Southeastern Labrador, Eastern Newfoundland and Southeastern Newfoundland .............................................................111 4.4.3 Prey and Foraging Habits.........................................................................120 4.4.4 Marine-associated Bird Data Gaps Identified in Relevant SEAs ............120 4.5 Marine Mammals and Sea Turtles .......................................................................122 4.5.1 Marine Mammals .....................................................................................122 4.5.2 Sea Turtles ...............................................................................................133 4.5.3 Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Data Gaps Identified in Relevant SEAs ........................................................................................................135 4.6 Species at Risk .....................................................................................................135 4.6.1 Profiles of Marine Species/Populations with Endangered or Threatened Status under Schedule 1 of SARA .........................................139 4.6.2 Species at Risk Data Gaps Identified in Relevant SEAs .........................142 4.7 Sensitive Areas.....................................................................................................142 5.0 Effects Assessment ..........................................................................................................144 5.1 Scoping ................................................................................................................144