Beaufort Regional Environmental Assessment Marine Fishing Program: Integrated Knowledge of the Canadian Beaufort Sea Jim Reist (lead PI) and Staff from
Beaufort Regional Environmental Assessment Marine Fishing
Program: Integrated Knowledge of the Canadian Beaufort Sea Jim
Reist (lead PI) and Staff from Arctic Aquatic Research Division,
Winnipeg, MB US-Canada Oil & Gas Forum, Anchorage, Nov 2012
Presented by Lisa Loseto
Slide 2
Beaufort Regional Environmental Assessment (BREA) Oil and Gas
Leases (Source: INAC) BREA announced by INAC in Aug 2010 $21.8
Million over 5 years Targeted research to support an efficient
regulatory process Based on the Beaufort Sea Strategic Regional
Plan of Action (BSTRPA) Supported by Inuvialuit, industry and
governments
Slide 3
Tier 1 Gap Identified for BREA: Presence & Relevance of
Fishes in Deepwater Areas? Project Linkages Multi-disciplinary
ecosystem study with two major themes: - Offshore Fishes:
diversity, habitat associations & ecosystem roles - Coastal
Fishes: linkages among sub- ecosystems Develop new knowledge for
unknown offshore ecosystem, establish key baselines &
understand vulnerabilities Work complements & extends previous
and ongoing DFO work - are coastal and offshore processes and
outcomes coupled? Linked with other BREA, ArcticNet projects and US
(BOEM) work in Beaufort Project Overview Deepwater fish project
proposed and approved (Sept 2011) by BREA - 5500k over 5 years (to
March 2015) BREA Proposal Leveraged: PERD (318k to 2012) ESRF
(1154k to 2014) DFO IGS (293k over 3 years) ArcticNet (68k ship
support) Other PI leveraging (~1158k) DFO in kind (~3000k) Total
~11.5M Participants: DFO 15 staff (~ 8 ftes) plus 6 ftes (terms);
Universities (3 Canada) staff + 6 students + other collaborators
Completely New Research: Due to previous persistent ice cover,
offshore deepwater fishes, their biodiversity & ecological
relationships are presently unknown (isolated occurrences only),
especially in deep waters first-ever systematic sampling to
1000m.
Slide 4
Overview of Fishes and Their Habitats in the Canadian Beaufort
Sea 70 fish sp. in the BS, heterogeneous in distribution and
association with sub ecosystems Fishes occupy several trophic
levels thus are pivotal within ecosystems e.g., rely on zooplankton
for food and in turn are food for seals, whales and sea birds
Fishes rely on key habitats at different stages of life e.g., most
larvae -pelagic near surface Sub-ecosystems/habitats are connected
abiotically (e.g., upwellings, currents) and biotically (e.g.,
passively by fish life stages and actively by migratory adult
fishes)
Slide 5
BREA Marine Fishes Project Objectives 1)Field survey of
offshore area to 1000m depths to establish: a) fish occurrence and
community diversity, b) habitat associations, and c) couplings
(e.g., foodweb or trophic patterns) within and among components in
offshore (~50-1000m) habitats 2) Establish the functional
relationships within/among offshore and slope, shelf and coastal,
benthic and pelagic sub-ecosystems 3) Summarize existing knowledge
of fish occurrences and habitat associations geo-spatially 4) Link
offshore research findings with past & ongoing research in the
estuary, coastal and the shelf areas in Canadian & US waters 5)
Establish regional contexts for future monitoring & assessments
(e.g., hydrocarbon metabolites, Hg, species diversity and habitat
use)
Slide 6
The Charter Vessel Name: F/V Frosti (1979) Home Port: Richmond
B.C. Length: 40 m Beam: 8 m Draft: 5 m Horsepower: 1200 Gross
Tonnage: 454 Vessel retrofitted with side crane & wet/dry lab
spaces Hydroacoustics system onboard (NOAA) Science sea trials,
calibration, gear lading & shakedown late July Frosti two weeks
transit to Canadian Beaufort Sea (arrive 31 July) Science program:
4 August 4 September, 4 transects each with 7 planned stations (all
science components) & hydroacoustics transect with targeted
trawling
Sampling Regime Station sampling (F/V Frosti): Oceanography and
water sampling: 4 primary transects x 7 stations/transect = 28
stations; 20-1000m depths; 475 linear km; 90km transect through key
transition zone Mackenzie Trough) Zooplankton & ichthyoplankton
(larval fishes) at 28 stations Sediments & benthic infauna at
27 stations Benthic macrofauna at 26 stations Fishing benthic nets
at 26 stations ( Atlantic Western IIA (WIIA) benthic otter trawl
& 3m beam trawl) Hydroacoustics & Water-Column (pelagic)
sampling (F/V Frosti): Re-run transect lines for spatial
distribution of biomass (~475 linear km) Identify potential
aggregations of fish in water column Mid-water and benthic fishing
to ground-truth hydroacoustics ( Cosoms- Swam midwater trawl; 3m
beam trawl) Run hydroacoustics section across area of highest
biomass concentration (i.e., shelf break at ~250-400m depths 385
linear km) Coastal Sampling (field camps & local fishers):
Sampled 3 estuarine and 3 marine sites near to traditional use
areas 6 sites for fishes, beluga, other biota; 2 also for
oceanographic parameters
Slide 9
Deploying the small 3-meter Beam Trawl To allow for comparison
of benthic catches with previous NCMS work on Mackenzie Shelf and
ongoing Alaskan work, this smaller trawl was deployed. The main
benthic trawl was a larger Otter trawl (not shown). Diversity of
catches in smaller trawls was similar to that of larger benthic
trawl but abundances were less. Larger-bodied fishes tend to avoid
these smaller trawls.
Preliminary Findings - Overall Fish Catch FamilyCommon name
Number of fish Weight of catch (kg) AgonidaeAlligatorfish130 0.27
CottidaeSculpins359 1.49 CyclopteridaeLumpsuckers5 0.07 Gadidae
Arctic/Polar Cod (mostly B. saida)7915 51.59 Larval fish? 0.03
LiparidaeSnailfishes286 6.09 MyctophidaeLanternfishes17 0.07
Pleuronectidae Righteye flounders113 115.18 PsychrolutidaeFathead
sculpins12 0.6 RajidaeSkates15 25.34 StichaeidaePricklebacks95 0.16
Unidentified0 0.11 ZoarcidaeEelpouts311 6.13 Grand Total9258 207.74
Arctic Cod (and Polar Cod) are largest percentage of catch (85%).
Most Arctic Cod caught in pelagic (water column habitats) at
~250-400m (= halocline transition between fresher warmer Pacific
and saltier colder Atlantic waters). Halocline likely is a dynamic
feature concentrating pelagic food and fishes. Benthos in shallower
depths appears to represent Pacific species (e.g., Bering Flounder,
Snow Crab). Deeper stations likely represent Atlantic water masses
& associated fishes (e.g., Greenland Halibut, some of these
species are new records for area). Much greater diversity in
benthic vs pelagic fishes in offshore areas.
Slide 12
Larger epibenthic species in the Canadian Beaufort Greenland
HalibutSnow Crab & Basket Starfish Bering Flounder (new
record?) Snow Crab
Slide 13
Offshore Demersal Fishes in the Canadian Beaufort Sea Fish
community composition shifts with depth These shifts are coincident
with changes in habitat features: depth, salinity, temperature,
sediment composition & prey composition Arctic cod present
across all offshore habitats but dominate the slope community BASIN
(>450m) Multi-year sea ice Warmer, saltier Atlantic water mass
Atlantic species present Benthic catch abundance less dominated by
Arctic Cod Lanternfishes Flatfishes Snailfishes Eelpouts B. Sheiko
All photos from DFO unless otherwise specified SHELF (shallow)
Disturbance from seasonal ice scour Pacific Water mass with
Mackenzie R. sediments & freshwater Shift in fish community
composition at 50 m depth (Majewski et al. submitted) Eelblennies
Alligatorfish > 50m< 50m Staghorn Sculpin B. Sheiko SLOPE
(200-450m) Convergence of Pacific & Atlantic water masses
Thermocline/Halocline concentrate food and fishes Demersal fish
community dominated by Arctic cod Snailfishes Arctic Cod B.
Sheiko
Slide 14
Benthic Fish Abundance by Habitat Arctic Cod (B. Saida)
Righteye Flounders Skates Snailfish
Slide 15
Pelagic Fish Relative Abundance by Habitat Arctic Cod (B.
saida) Lanternfish Snailfish
Slide 16
Preliminary Findings Fishes Oceanographic parameters, physical
topography and substrate type determine fish diversity Diversity
and biomass are both relatively high in benthic areas and in key
transition zones (especially on slope drop off) Arctic/Polar Cod is
most abundant and widespread fish species but others important
locally Species are associated with specific habitats (water
masses) but also geographically patterned (east-west) Fish benthic
diversity much higher than pelagic diversity Some large-bodied
fishes present So What? Benthic fishes tend to be more sedentary
than pelagic species, e.g., establish local home ranges, thus are
vulnerable to local impacts Pelagic species tend to be more mobile
thus are vulnerable to widespread impacts Some species and habitats
are more important than others Fishes in their Ecosystem Other
aspects of overall study will determine food web (trophic)
patterns, energetics, relevance of other key biota, and baselines
for monitoring and linkages with coastal systems and higher trophic
levels.
Slide 17
Where to next on fishes and other biota ? Sample Processing
Identifications confirmed Biological parameters Tissues for lab
analyses Diversity and abundance over space, habitat and depth Lab
Analyses Fatty Acids, Hg, PAHs & stress metabolites at DFO
Winnipeg Water Chemistry at DFO Winnipeg and IOS Sidney Linkages to
past coastal & nearshore studies (data analysis) Linkages to
coastal components (sample & data analyses) Follow-on
Collaborations Stable Isotopes (C,N) U Waterloo Benthic
invertebrates U Quebec at Rimouski Energetics & coastal work U
Manitoba Hydroacoustics Data Analysis U Laval (ArcticNet) Linkages
with BOEM & U Alaska Fairbanks matching of outcomes Future Work
Planning 2013 BREA field program Planning/linkages to ArcticNet
2013 field program (hydroacoustics) Integration of relevant data
into geospatial planning tools
Slide 18
BREA Frosti Offshore Fishes Crew 2012 Back Left to Right:
Wojciech Walkusz Andy Majewski Lorena Edenfield Guillaume
Meisterhans Laure de Montety Front Left to Right: Sheila Atchison
Shannon MacPhee Charlie Reuben Jane Eert (Present in Spirit: Jim
Reist & Rob Young photos) Field Crew aboard F/V Frosti Other
project participants at DFO: B. Cress, J. Delaronde, J. Johnson, T.
Loewen, L. Loseto, B. Lynn, A. MacHutchon, C. Michel, B. Rosenberg,
G. Stern & G. Tomy. Outside direct participants: B. Norcross
(UAF), L. Fortier (ULaval), M. Geoffroy (ULaval), M. Power
(UWaterloo), J. Treberg (UManitoba), H. Swanson (UWaterloo).
Slide 19
Overview of Fishes and Their Habitats in the Canadian Beaufort
Sea Beaufort Sea Fishes: ~70 species Fishes Associate with Areas or
Sub- ecosystems and Habitats: Freshwater species some times in
freshened nearshore areas Sea-run species (chars, whitefishes)
seasonally present (summer only) coastally and on shelf Coastal (0-
~20+m depths) marine species tolerant of wide salinities
Nearshore/Shelf (~20-200m) species Pelagic species (water column)
Benthic species (bottom) Slope (~200-400+m) species Pelagic species
Benthic species Offshore (~400-1500m) species Pelagic species
Benthic species Abyssal species Ice if present acts as focal point
for biota (e.g., feeding area) and also as predatory refuge for
some fishes Some Overall Considerations Fishes occupy several
trophic levels thus are pivotal within ecosystems e.g., rely on
zooplankton for food and in turn are food for seals, whales and sea
birds Fishes rely on key habitats at different stages of life e.g.,
most larvae are pelagic near surface Sub-ecosystems/habitats are
connected abiotically (e.g., upwellings, currents) and biotically
(e.g., passively by fish life stages and actively by migratory
adult fishes)
Slide 20
Hydroacoustics Midwater Trawl Sampling Detect pelagic organisms
and document their assemblage and biomass within surface and bottom
aggregations, with particular focus on Arctic Cod Truth targets
identified on acoustic echogram with fishing nets Work linked with
Laval University (ArcticNet program Geoffroy & Fortier) 200 m
400 m Adult Arctic Cod After all stations on a transect were
sampled, the transect was re- run using the hydroacoustic system to
estimate pelagic biomass. Preliminary results suggest a near-bottom
aggregation of Arctic Cod between approximately 200 400 m depth
spanning the Canadian Beaufort Shelf. Arctic/Polar Cod relatively
abundant in pelagic habitats also, but less so in deeper water
further offshore.
Slide 21
Pelagic Sampling & Hydroacoustics Groundtruthing Arctic Cod
= typical midwater catch. Glacier Lanternfish (Benthosema glaciale)
new Beaufort Sea record (?); Baffin Bay, North Atlantic, pelagic to
1250m.
Slide 22
Possible Points of Intersection of O&G Development with
Marine Fishes Development Activity Seismic Exploration Ship-based
Drilling Pelagic ecosystem Benthic ecosystem habitat loss
Land-based Drilling Habitat alteration (borrow pits, islands)
Support Activities (ice-breaking, marine traffic) Discharges &
minor spills Catastrophic incidents Cumulative Effects (O&G
Activity) Temporal cumulation over life time of population Spatial
cumulation over life history Cumulative Effects (many stressors)
Temporal cumulation Spatial cumulation Activity Consequences Noise
(pelagic & benthic habitats): episodic high dB outputs have
uncertain effects on fish hearing and sound communications (e.g.,
?fatal close to source; cods attracted to air guns); effects on
Arctic Cod a key pelagic species are unknown. Small footprints
relative to area and general habitat types suggest limited benthic
effects. Chronic noisy sources (e.g., ship operation) at lower dB
are unknown but could include exclusion from pelagic habitats.
Light effects: unknown/uncertain summer relevance. Ice-breaking and
Ice loss/alteration: Habitat or refugium loss (e.g., Arctic Cod)
Benthic Habitat loss/alteration: Hard substrate (rocks, gravel
fields, etc.) limited in location and extent removal may affect
naturally rare species requiring these habitats Creation of
artificial islands would result in small losses of local habitat,
but diversity of habitats likely increased (?positive effect) Toxic
or Contaminant Effect (episodic release): Localized (spatial &
temporal) habitat exclusion of organisms Short-term productivity
effects Limited entrainment and bioaccumulation in ecosystem
Chronic Toxic or Contaminant Effect (catastrophic release):
Extensive (spatial & temporal) habitat exclusion Long-term
productivity effects Significant entrainment and bioaccumulation in
ecosystem
Slide 23
Overview Other Components: Oceanography (Eert) Conductivity,
Temperature & Depth and Water Sampling Rosette Salinity
Dalhousie 12 Temperature Dalhousie 12
Slide 24
Zooplankton and fish larvae sampling - MultiNet & Bongos
(Walkusz) 200 zooplankton samples Copepods, Euphausids and
Amphipods mainly 320 fish larvae collected (1/3 Arctic cod) Spatial
& depth analyses for taxonomy, diversity & relative
abundance ongoing 21 taxa chosen for analysis of foodweb patterns,
energetics and baseline contaminant markers (Hg, PAHs)
Slide 25
Sediments & Benthic Invertebrates MacPhee, de Montety &
Archambault Characterize bottom substrate as a key habitat feature
for benthic marine fishes (% sand, silt, clay, organic content,
contaminants & benthic chlorophyll) Characterize benthic fauna
as important food resources to marine fishes and other biota
(diversity, abundance, biomass, and food-web linkages) Box Coring
for Sediments & Infauna No. Stations Sampled: 27 Bottom
Trawling for Epifauna No. Stations Sampled: 29
Slide 26
Infauna Many invertebrates sampled are important food sources
to fishes and marine mammals Stable isotope and fatty acid analyses
will be used to assess benthic-pelagic coupling and the ecological
role of benthic invertebrates Establish baselines for contaminants
(Hg & PAHs) from key species Photos: Laure de Montety (UQAR)
except Themisto, R. Hopcroft Benthos in the Offshore Canadian
Beaufort Sea Bivalves & Gastropods present in sediment with
higher % sand and gravel Cephalopods Snow Crab Polychaete worms
occurred at all depths and substrate types Themisto Epifauna Polar
Shrimp Squid Asteridae
Slide 27
Primary Productivity - Michel & Meisterhans Spatial
distribution of surface chlorophyll a Note strong influence of
Mackenzie River Section distance (km) TBS12 transect Note low
productivity offshore water
Slide 28
To date, virtually no information is available on
biomagnification and bioaccumulation of mercury in deep water and
shelf adult fishes. Key baselines established for future reference.
Mercury exists in a range of chemical forms as it cycles through
the Arctic environment; mercury bioaccumulates and biomagnifies
within ecosystems and biota. Hg Structural and Functional
Relationships of Mercury: Baselines & Patterns (Stern)
Slide 29
Establish baseline levels of Poly Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH)
and their metabolites in fish from coastal waters in the Beaufort
Sea PAHs can be readily metabolized by many fish species; the
resulting metabolites pose a greater threat to fish health than do
the parent compounds Background values will be established for
indicators of fish health (e.g., thyroid hormone levels, levels of
oxidative stress) due to exposure to PAHs and their toxic
metabolites Baselines will provide for future comparative studies
PAHs and metabolites in Beaufort Sea Biota (Tomy)
Slide 30
Fish Habitats in the Beaufort Sea in Summer Three Groups of
Fish Habitats 1.Water column (pelagic) with layers of different
densities (salinities): Fresh river inputs (Mackenzie R.) 0-10m
(highly mixed waters 0-30 psu) Mixed layers (SML/WML) on the shelf
10-60m Pacific (BSSW/BSWW) water 60-200m Sharp halocline (LHW)
200-300m Atlantic Water (AW) 300-1000+m 2.Bottom (benthic) types:
Fine muds and clays (Mackenzie eastwards) Gravel patches & muds
(western areas) Bedrock further offshore in west 3.Coastal &
nearshore surface (0-5+m): highly freshened (5-20 psu) narrow band
west and east, wide near Mackenzie outflow Combinations of
salinity, temperature, depth, and/or bottom type determine fishes
present in pelagic (water column) or benthic (bottom) habitats. (E.
Carmack)