TRIM Jl ~.~ J c:''723;;l.. Dt,te n':"'_,f\yr; I~~c~I_,_ 0-..-'-' -c: Energy f de .lj ~1:i500b -_cO~ __-_gJl /O~ -'::>1 :)ffshore _,. .Jvurd ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT FOR MARINE 2D SEISMIC REFLECTION SURVEY LABRADOR SEA AND DAVIS STRAIT OFFSHORE LABRADOR BY MULTI KLiENT INVEST AS (MKI) Report No. HOP0417 RPS Energy (Halifax) Liberty Place, 2nd Floor Authors Tony LaPierre, M.A.Sc., P.Geoph. 1545 Birmingham Street Alexandra Arnott, PhD. (Earth Sciences) Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3J 2J6 Chris Hawkins, PhD. (Marine Ecology) Canada Kent Simpson, B.Sc., Dip. GIS, P. Geo. Tel: +1 9024251622 Darlene Davis, Project Co-ordinator Fax: +1 902 425 0703 Web: www.rpsgroup.com/energy/ Date of Issue March zs", 2011 1. INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................. 10 1.1 2D MARINE SEISMIC EXPLORATION SURVEY ..................................... 12 2. REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS AND JURISDICTION ................................ 14 3. PROJECT DESCRIPTION ............................................................................... 15 3.1 PURPOSE ................................................................................................. 15 3.2 LOCATION ................................................................................................ 15 3.3 SITE HISTORY .......................................................................................... 15 3.4 SCHEDULE ............................................................................................... 15 3.4.1 Operating Schedule .......................................................................... 16 3.5 OFFSHORE SEISMIC SURVEY ............................................................... 16 3.6 SOUND AND SEA LIFE ............................................................................ 18 3.6.1 Effects of Noise ................................................................................ 22 3.7 SEISMIC EQUIPMENT ................................................................................ 1 3.7.1 Survey Vessel ..................................................................................... 1 3.7.2 Support Vessels ................................................................................. 2 3.7.3 Energy Source .................................................................................... 2 3.7.4 Streamer .............................................................................................. 3 3.8 PROJECT ALTERNATIVES ....................................................................... 4 4. PHYSICAL SETTING ......................................................................................... 6 4.1 CLIMATE ..................................................................................................... 6 4.2 OCEANOGRAPHY ..................................................................................... 7 4.3 SEA CONDITIONS ...................................................................................... 8 4.4 BATHYMETRY ............................................................................................ 8 4.5 ICE CONDITIONS ....................................................................................... 9 4.6 GEOLOGY .................................................................................................. 9 5. BIOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT ........................................................................ 10 5.1 PHYTOPLANKTON .................................................................................. 10 5.2 ZOOPLANKTON ....................................................................................... 11 5.3 MARINE BENTHOS .................................................................................. 11 5.4 SNOW CRAB AND SHRIMP .................................................................... 11 5.5 SOFT CORALS ......................................................................................... 11 5.6 MARINE FISH ........................................................................................... 14 5.6.1 Behavioural Effects .......................................................................... 17 5.6.2 Physical Effects ................................................................................ 18 5.7 MARINE ASSOCIATED BIRDS ................................................................ 19 5.7.1.1 Thick-Billed Murres ...................................................................... 21 5.7.1.2 Northern Fulmars ........................................................................ 24 5.7.1.3 Black-legged Kittiwakes .............................................................. 26 5.7.1.4 King Eiders .................................................................................. 28 5.7.1.5 Ivory Gull ..................................................................................... 30 5.7.1.6 Harlequin Duck ............................................................................ 32 5.7.1.7 Peregrine Falcon ......................................................................... 34 5.8 MARINE MAMMALS ................................................................................. 35 5.8.1 Pinnipeds .......................................................................................... 35 5.8.1.1 Ringed seal (Phoca hispida)....................................................... 35 5.8.1.2 Bearded Seal (Erignathus barbatus) ........................................... 38 Multi Klient Invest ii Environmental Impact Assessment 2D Marine Seismic Survey, Labrador Sea 5.8.1.3 Harp seal (Phoca groenlandica) .................................................. 38 5.8.1.4 Harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) .................................................... 40 5.8.1.5 Hooded seal (Cystophora cristata) .............................................. 41 5.8.1.6 Grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) ................................................. 41 5.8.1.7 Walrus (Odobenus rosmarus ) .................................................... 41 5.8.2 Polar Bears (Ursus maritimus) ........................................................ 41 5.8.2.1 Beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) ...................................... 43 5.8.2.2 Harbour Porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) ...................................... 3 5.8.2.3 Narwhal (Monodon monoceros) .................................................... 5 5.8.2.4 Northern Bottlenose Whale (Hyperoodon ampullatus) .................. 7 5.8.2.5 White-sided dolphin (Lagenorhynchus acutus).............................. 9 5.8.2.6 Pilot Whale (Globicephala melaena) ............................................. 9 5.8.2.7 Killer Whale (Ornicus orca) ........................................................... 9 5.8.2.8 Sperm Whale (Physeter macrocephalus) ...................................... 9 5.8.2.9 Sowerby’s Beaked Whale (Mesoplodon bidens) ......................... 10 5.8.3 Baleen Cetaceans ............................................................................. 12 5.8.3.1 Bowhead Whale (Balaena mysticetus) ........................................ 12 5.8.3.2 Minke Whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) ................................. 13 5.8.3.3 Fin Whale (Balaenoptera physalus) ............................................ 15 5.8.3.4 Sei Whale (Balaenoptera borealis) .............................................. 17 5.8.3.5 Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) ............................. 19 5.8.3.6 Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus) ......................................... 21 5.8.4 Marine Reptiles ................................................................................. 23 5.9 SPECIES AT RISK .................................................................................... 25 6. COMMERCIAL FISHING.................................................................................. 27 6.1 KEY FISHERIES ....................................................................................... 27 6.1.1 Shrimp ............................................................................................... 27 6.1.2 Snow Crab ......................................................................................... 29 6.1.3 Greenland Halibut (Turbot) ............................................................. 32 7. SENSITIVE AREAS ......................................................................................... 35 7.1 GILBERT BAY .......................................................................................... 35 7.2 HAWKE CHANNEL................................................................................... 35 7.3 TIDAL WATERS OF THE LABRADOR INUIT SETTLEMENT AREA (THE ZONE). ........................................................................................................ 37 8. SOCIO ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT .............................................................. 39 8.1 COMMUNITY ............................................................................................ 39 8.2 SOCIETY AND CULTURE ........................................................................ 39 8.3 ABORIGINAL PEOPLES .......................................................................... 39 9. VALUED ECOSYSTEM COMPONENT (VEC) SELECTION ........................... 40 9.1 SELECTED VEC ASSESSME NT ............................................................. 43 9.1.1 Impact Definitions and Criteria........................................................ 43 9.1.2 Marine Fish ......................................................................................