Science and Technology for Canadians

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NARRATOR:

Rising out of the Atlantic ocean is Cape Breton Island. Twice a day, the tide flows through these narrow channels to Cape Breton's inland sea.

A mixture of salt and fresh water, the Bras d'Or lakes is one of the most complex and delicate ecosystems in the world.

NARRATOR:

Fisheries and Oceans Canada researchers aboard the MV Creed are part of a huge study in cooperation with the Mi'Kmaq community. The study is to find out how to ensure the long-term health of the lakes.

This team is mapping the bottom of the lakes. Creating images that will be a huge advance over existing nautical charts.

Side scan sonar bounces sound waves off the lake floor and records the time they take to return. The data is then integrated to provide a continuous profile of the bottom.

They must be careful that there are no gaps in their coverage.

NARRATOR:

Throughout the day they will drop what they call a fish over the back of the boat. The fish will measure the temperature of the surface layers of the lake.

(pause)

Heating from the sun affects the density of the water. It turns the top layer into a giant lens that bends sonar waves. By knowing the temperature range, the researchers can compensate for this effect.

KEN PAUL:

We've got approximately 3 million data points in this one small section.

NARRATOR:

Lead researcher, Ken Paul turns the data into spectacular 3D images of the lake floor.

KEN PAUL:

I'm going to make the educated guess that these aren't real data points. And then flag them out.

There's all kinds of things it could be, but we're really interested in what's really the bottom of the ocean.

KEN PAUL:

Super: Ken Paul, Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Specifically what we're trying to do is benthic habitat mapping. To find out which areas are good for different kinds of fish species. And if we can pair that up with some of the other science such as the currents, the salinity, the temperature changes as well as some of the fishers' knowledge to find out what they have caught or what they do catch in certain areas, we can find out areas that are more sensitive and more productive, and try to make those areas I guess more protected.

NARRATOR:

Another team from Fisheries and Oceans heads out to retrieve instruments they left anchored in the lake a year ago.

Once they get close to the spot, they send a signal to release the instrument package.

They left several of these packages dotted around the lake last year.

The instruments have been recording current, temperature, and salinity at various depths.

Other packages have collected samples of microscopic marine life.

BARRY HARGRAVE:

Super: Barry Hargrave, Fisheries and Oceans Canada

We're actually trying to study the ecosystem as a whole. I would say the unique thing about this study in Bras d'Or that we're looking at the system, the Bras d'Or lakes ecosystem. We're not just looking at a single part of it. We're not just looking at the fish, or the sediments or the water which we have done in the past where all of these different studies were done by different teams of people in different disciplines. Actually, we're trying to involve all disciplines in this and it even extends to the social community of the aboriginal people as well. So that's an integral part of the study and that hasn't been done before so that truly is new.

NARRATOR:

The Mi'Kmaq community has been involved in the project right from the start. In 1996 they organized workshops that showed the need for a large scale scientific study of the lakes.

They started a research centre.

The Eskasoni Fish and Wildlife commission is growing, to become the hub of scientific activity on the lakes.

CHARLIE DENNIS:

Super: Charlie Dennis, executive director, Eskasoni Fish and Wildlife Commission

The federal government has a fiduciary responsibility to First Nations people to protect their resources. First Nations have a fiduciary responsibility to resources out there.

NARRATOR:

The Eskasoni Fish and Wildlife Commission has teamed up with the University College of Cape Breton.

They're training a new generation of Mi'Kmaq scientists to take responsibility for the lakes.

NARRATOR:

The students also study the traditional knowledge of their elders. Here, the elders are discussing salmon populations.

NARRATOR:

The elders represent a wealth of information. Not just their life experiences but the continuous oral tradition of their community.

The Eskasoni Fish and Wildlife Commission has found a way to record this vast body of knowledge.

NARRATOR:

They're using a computer-based Geographic Information System or GIS.

TOM JOHNSON:

Super: Tom Johnson, Eskasoni Fish and Wildlife Commission

We could open up just a certain plant layer, we could open up a certain fish species layer, a hunting layer, a traditional ceremonial place layer and add on. You can add as many layers as you want on top on the GIS system.

NARRATOR:

The elders' knowledge combines well with data collected by Fisheries and Oceans scientists. It provides an amazingly complete picture of the lakes.

ALBERT MARSHALL:

Super: Albert Marshall

Isn't that what evolution is all about. We all learn from each other and I think ultimately this is our vision. The more we share of what we know with each other then I think that way we can create a much more friendly environment for future generations.

NARRATOR:

The Bras d'Or Lakes study is combining everybody's point of view to get a complete picture of the lakes.