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Home  Infocentre Publications Annual Report 2001-2002
6.0 Scientific Support
Timely, relevant data, information and advice are essential to ensure that
the activities of the Program are based on sound science.
National Highlights
Environmental Science is a Headquarters coordinated Program that is delivered
by the regional Environmental Science managers and scientists.
The mandate of Environmental Science is to generate knowledge through research;
to collect, assess, and interpret scientific information from diverse domestic
and international sources; and, to integrate data, information and technology
into useable services, products and advice, including risk management advice,
for policy and program decision makers - foremost for Habitat Management and
Oceans Management.
In the case of Habitat Management, Environmental Science is responsible for
leading in all aspects of science management and science delivery in support
of the habitat management program. Environmental Science identifies scientific
aspects of habitat issues, sets science priorities, manages science programs,
leads the collection, analysis and integration of information from a variety
of internal and external sources, and manages partnering initiatives with other
sectors, agencies, universities, as well as national and international agencies.
Regional Highlights
Examples of regional activities in habitat enhancement during fiscal year
2001‑2002 are highlighted below. Details are provided in Supporting Documents
available electronically at <http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/canwaters-eauxcan/infocentre/publications/index_e.asp>.
Newfoundland
- Participated in a research program aimed at evaluating the production
characteristics of a compensation channel constructed within the Rose
Blanche Hydroelectric Project.
- Developed a Habitat Monitoring Database to among other things,
evaluate the effectiveness of prescribed mitigative measures.
- Monitored construction of the Trans Labrador Highway (Red Bay
to Cartwright) and the fish bypass system at the Grand Falls hydroelectric
power canal, designed to prevent entrainment of Atlantic salmon smolts.
- Conducted several projects aimed at improving DFO’s understanding
of the productive capacity of near shore habitats in the marine environment.
A summary of individual projects is provided in the region’s Supporting
Document.
Maritimes
- Continued to work with industry to monitor the Maritimes & Northeast
Pipeline Compensation Projects, as well as other habitat restoration projects
in the region.
- Conducted various scientific research studies on:
- impacts of mobile fishing gear on fish habitat;
- environmental impacts
of salmon sea-cage culture;
- fate, distribution and biological effects
of contaminants in the coastal zone;
- offshore oil and gas impacts; and
- deepwater marine habitats of the Gully
(located near Sable Island).
- Worked with the Marine Environmental Science Division to develop
a Decision Support System for use in assessing aquaculture sites.
Quebec
- Continued to study the impact of disposal of dredged sediments
on fish, fish habitat and benthic fauna. The objective of these studies is
to develop reliable methods for assessing the loss of fish and benthic productivity
associated with the impact of the disposal of dredged sediments.
- Analysed
several design and installation trials of artificial lobster reefs carried
out over the last 35 years. The goal was to highlight the important
elements to be considered in the choice of site, design, implementation as
well as follow-up of these facilities.
- Undertook a study in the Cascapedia
Bay in the Gaspé Peninsula in
order to understand the effects of mussel culture on the marine environment.
Two sites using different culture methods will be compared to control sites
to verify how these activities affect the environment and the composition
of its communities.
- Conducted research to develop coastal marshes bioremediation
methods in Sainte-Croix-de-Lotbinière
in the fluvial portion of the St. Lawrence and in Conrod's Beach in Nova
Scotia. These projects involve conducting field trials of shoreline bioremediation
after an oil spill under controlled conditions.
- Continued work that assesses
the impact of the Iceland scallop fishery on the benthic habitat of the
St. Lawrence. A better understanding of the effects
of this fishery will allow more effective management concerning environmental
conservation.
Central and Arctic
- The Western Arctic Area supported bull trout habitat utilization
research conducted by a Masters student from the University of Manitoba.
- A ten-year monitoring program, initiated in 1998, on the effectiveness
of stream habitat compensation efforts at the BHPB Ekati Diamond
Project saw its fourth year of monitoring during the summer of 2001.
- Habitat engineering staff, in partnership with Alberta Environment,
is developing a scientifically defensible means of extrapolating
Instream Flow Needs data from surveyed streams to un-surveyed streams.
Pacific
- Continued to develop a scientifically defensible protocol for
indicators of marine environmental quality, to be used by volunteer Habitat
Stewards. Data from a three-year trial of the Shorekeepers protocol was audited
to determine scientific rigor. Data from a three-year “Reefkeepers” project
was assessed and presented at an international workshop at the Institute
of Ocean Sciences.
- Presented and published a Working Paper on the scientific defensibility
of the Province of British Columbia Performance Based Standards for
regulating aquaculture. The paper concluded that no single performance parameter
would be adequate to measure the impact of waste from salmon net-pen farms.
- Reviewed population levels in marine mammals. Results indicate
that unexpectedly high levels of persistent organic pollutants from certain
Pacific Region waters are found in marine mammals. One conclusion is that
marine mammals serve as excellent “early warning” species
on marine ecosystem quality. Another conclusion is that certain populations
of killer whales found in British Columbia waters are amongst the most
contaminated marine mammals found anywhere.
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