Shellfish restoration in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence Shellfish restoration in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence (sGSL):(sGSL):

a case study in Caraquet Bay, New Brunswick, Canadaa case study in Caraquet Bay, New Brunswick, Canada

Marc OuelletteMarc Ouellette11, Jean-François Mallet, Jean-François Mallet1*1*, Ernest Ferguson, Ernest Ferguson22 and Denis Haché and Denis Haché33

Fisheries and Oceans Canada:Fisheries and Oceans Canada:11Aquaculture and Coastal Ecosystems SectionAquaculture and Coastal Ecosystems Section

22Oceans and Habitat DivisionOceans and Habitat Division33Small Craft Harbours Division Small Craft Harbours Division

Fisheries and OceansFisheries and Oceans Pêches et OcéansPêches et OcéansCanadaCanada CanadaCanada

Gulf of St. LawrenceGulf of St. Lawrence : a unique ecosystem: a unique ecosystem

The physical and biological The physical and biological environment:environment:

Partial isolation from the North AtlanticPartial isolation from the North Atlantic Freshwater runoff from the landFreshwater runoff from the land A deep trough running along its lengthA deep trough running along its length Presence of a cold intermediate layerPresence of a cold intermediate layer Shallow depthsShallow depths Seasonal iceSeasonal ice High biological productivity and High biological productivity and

diversitydiversity

The human environment:The human environment: Surrounded by five Canadian provincesSurrounded by five Canadian provinces Populations composed of Anglophones, Populations composed of Anglophones,

Francophones and many First Nations Francophones and many First Nations Wide array of culturally and socially Wide array of culturally and socially

distinct settlements distinct settlements

American OysterAmerican OysterCrassostrea virginicaCrassostrea virginica

Blue MusselBlue MusselMytilus edulisMytilus edulis

Aquaculture & FisheriesAquaculture & Fisheries

Commercial Molluscan Species (sGSL)Commercial Molluscan Species (sGSL)

Giant ScallopGiant ScallopPlacopecten magellanicusPlacopecten magellanicus

Soft-Shell ClamSoft-Shell Clam Mya arenariaMya arenaria

QuahaugQuahaugMercenaria mercenariaMercenaria mercenaria

Bar ClamBar ClamSpisula solidissimaSpisula solidissima

Fisheries & Aquaculture Fisheries & Aquaculture (potential)(potential)

Ocean QuahaugOcean QuahaugArctica islandicaArctica islandica

Fisheries (traditional)Fisheries (traditional)

Stimpson ClamStimpson ClamSpisula polynimaSpisula polynima

Razor ClamRazor ClamEnsis directusEnsis directus

Shellfish restorationShellfish restoration (sGSL): a growing interest(sGSL): a growing interest

Alleviate the pressures:Alleviate the pressures: OverexploitationOverexploitation Disease outbreaksDisease outbreaks

Mapleque diseaseMapleque disease MSX (Bras d’Or Lakes, NS, MSX (Bras d’Or Lakes, NS,

2002 )2002 ) Interspecific competitionInterspecific competition

Invasive species (PEI)Invasive species (PEI) Habitat alterationsHabitat alterations

Malpeque diseaseMalpeque disease

•1915/35 - PEI1915/35 - PEI•1957 - NB1957 - NB

•1957 - NS1957 - NS

MSXMSX•2002 2002

Bras d’Or Lakes, NSBras d’Or Lakes, NS

Botryllus schlosseri Botrylloides violaceusCiona intestinalisStyela clava Codium fragileCarcinus maenas

Invasive species in the sGSL (PEI)Invasive species in the sGSL (PEI)

Human activities:Human activities:•forestryforestry• minesmines• agricultureagriculture• peat moss harvestpeat moss harvest• fish transformation plantsfish transformation plants• maritime transportmaritime transport• fisheriesfisheries• aquacultureaquaculture• petrol and gaspetrol and gas• municipalitiesmunicipalities• leisureleisure - marina- marina - golf courses- golf courses - landscape- landscape

Aquatic ecosystems Aquatic ecosystems (cumulative effects)(cumulative effects)

How?How? techniquestechniques, protocols, monitoring..., protocols, monitoring...

Why?Why? Ecological valuesEcological values

turbidity, nutriment cycling, fish habitat (biodiversity), productivity (species, turbidity, nutriment cycling, fish habitat (biodiversity), productivity (species, ecosystem ...)ecosystem ...)

Human valuesHuman values socio-economics (fishery & aquaculture), cultural, environmental health socio-economics (fishery & aquaculture), cultural, environmental health

(eutrophication ...)(eutrophication ...) Legislation (Fisheries act ...)Legislation (Fisheries act ...)

Shellfish Restoration Shellfish Restoration (sGSL)(sGSL)

09/23/0807/08/08 07/08/08

How?: Shellfish Restoration How?: Shellfish Restoration (techniques)(techniques)

PassivePassive ActiveActive

Closures/ProtectionClosures/Protection

« problematic = habitat »« problematic = habitat » « problematic = population »« problematic = population »« problematic = ? »« problematic = ? »

ShellingShelling

« problematic = substrate »« problematic = substrate »

RelayRelay

« problematic = productivity »« problematic = productivity »

habitathabitat

ex. ‘stunted growth’ex. ‘stunted growth’populationpopulation

ex. densityex. density

SeedingSeeding

« problematic = productivity »« problematic = productivity »

DesiltingDesilting

« problematic = substrate »« problematic = substrate »

available (sedimentation)available (sedimentation)

not available and/or no structurenot available and/or no structure

Why?: Shellfish Restoration Why?: Shellfish Restoration (goal)(goal)

EcologicalEcological BiomassBiomass CommunityCommunity

EnvironmentEnvironment EconomicEconomic SocialSocial

objectives objectives (techniques, protocols...)(techniques, protocols...)

measure of success (monitoring...)measure of success (monitoring...)

« realistic expectations! »« realistic expectations! »

« « consists of favoring the return of degraded ecosystem to its previous state, by consists of favoring the return of degraded ecosystem to its previous state, by abandon or reasonably abandon or reasonably controlling the anthropogenic activitiescontrolling the anthropogenic activities and/or by and/or by

calculated interventionscalculated interventions » »

Shellfish Restoration Shellfish Restoration (examples in the sGSL)(examples in the sGSL)

EcologicalEcological

BiomassBiomass

CommunityCommunity

Giant ScallopGiant ScallopMaritime Fishermen AssociationMaritime Fishermen Association

EcologicalEcological

BiomassBiomass

CommunityCommunity

American LobsterAmerican LobsterMaritime Fishermen AssociationMaritime Fishermen Association

EcologicalEcological

BiomassBiomass

CommunityCommunity

American OysterAmerican OysterPEI Shellfish AssociationPEI Shellfish Association

Traditionally shellfish restoration initiatives are biomass Traditionally shellfish restoration initiatives are biomass driven in order to enhance or sustain a wild fisherydriven in order to enhance or sustain a wild fishery

(Since 1987)(Since 1987) (Since 2001)(Since 2001) (Since 1996)(Since 1996)

BiomassBiomass

EcologicalEcological

CommunityCommunity

American OysterAmerican OysterCase study in Caraqet Bay, NBCase study in Caraqet Bay, NB

Habitat bankingHabitat banking

The ecological approach The ecological approach to shellfish restoration is to shellfish restoration is

relatively new in the sGSLrelatively new in the sGSL

(2007-2011)(2007-2011)

Case study in Caraquet Bay, New Brunswick, Case study in Caraquet Bay, New Brunswick, CanadaCanada

Caraquet Bay hosts the northmost Caraquet Bay hosts the northmost commercially significant oyster commercially significant oyster population in eastern North America.population in eastern North America.

The bay freezes over in the winter timeThe bay freezes over in the winter time up to 1 meter of iceup to 1 meter of ice

Caraquet oysters are harvested since Caraquet oysters are harvested since 17571757

deeply anchored in the culturedeeply anchored in the culture

The abundance and productivity of this The abundance and productivity of this oyster population is in declineoyster population is in decline

significant drop in the landingssignificant drop in the landings obvious socio-economic concernsobvious socio-economic concerns environmental concernsenvironmental concerns

increasing understanding of the increasing understanding of the importance of this species in its importance of this species in its ecosystem.ecosystem.

An ecological restoration pilot project is An ecological restoration pilot project is currently being undertaken in Caraquet currently being undertaken in Caraquet Bay (Bay (Habitat bankingHabitat banking))

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

1984 1986 1988 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003

Année

Po

ids

(x 1

000

kg)

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

Val

eur

(x 1

000

$)

Poids

Valeur

Oyster landings and their corresponding values in district 65 (Caraquet area), from 1984 to 2003 (DFO 2007).

Why?: The Fisheries ActWhy?: The Fisheries Act Under the fisheries Act, the conservation and the protection of “Under the fisheries Act, the conservation and the protection of “fish fish

habitatshabitats” are key elements of the DFO mandate.” are key elements of the DFO mandate.

Definition of a fish:Definition of a fish: "includes fish, shellfish, crustaceans, marine animals and any their eggs, sperm, "includes fish, shellfish, crustaceans, marine animals and any their eggs, sperm,

spawn, larvae, spat and juvenile stages." spawn, larvae, spat and juvenile stages." (Fisheries Act, sec. 2).(Fisheries Act, sec. 2).

Definition of a fish habitatDefinition of a fish habitat " Spawning grounds and nursery, rearing, food supply and migration areas on " Spawning grounds and nursery, rearing, food supply and migration areas on

which fish depend directly or indirectly in order to carry out their life processes." which fish depend directly or indirectly in order to carry out their life processes." (Fisheries Act, sec. 34(l)).(Fisheries Act, sec. 34(l)).

Section 35Section 35 Subsection 35(1)Subsection 35(1) is a general is a general prohibitionprohibition of harmful alteration, of harmful alteration,

disruption or destruction (HADD) of fish habitat.disruption or destruction (HADD) of fish habitat.

The only relief from this general prohibition is when a The only relief from this general prohibition is when a Subsection Subsection 35(2)35(2) AuthorizationAuthorization is issued for the HADD. is issued for the HADD.

A HADD is any change in the habitat that reduces it’s capacity to sustain one or A HADD is any change in the habitat that reduces it’s capacity to sustain one or more vital life processes of fishes.more vital life processes of fishes.

If an Authorization is issued, the compensation plan of HADD has to take in If an Authorization is issued, the compensation plan of HADD has to take in account the account the guiding principle of no net loss of the fish habitat’s productivityguiding principle of no net loss of the fish habitat’s productivity

It is important to note that this 35(2) Authorization authorizes the HADD and not It is important to note that this 35(2) Authorization authorizes the HADD and not the project resulting in the HADD.the project resulting in the HADD.

The Fisheries Act: The habitat banking conceptThe Fisheries Act: The habitat banking concept

In its most basic form, habitat banking is the completion of compensation In its most basic form, habitat banking is the completion of compensation prior to a subsection 35(2) Authorization being issued.prior to a subsection 35(2) Authorization being issued.

The proponent creates or improves fish habitat for future use as compensation.The proponent creates or improves fish habitat for future use as compensation. The creation of a habitat bank does not involve monies, nor does it "Pre-The creation of a habitat bank does not involve monies, nor does it "Pre-

approve" any future HADDs.approve" any future HADDs. The location and design of a habitat bank must first be approved by DFO and The location and design of a habitat bank must first be approved by DFO and

proponents should provide data describing the "before" conditions. proponents should provide data describing the "before" conditions.

Habitat banks are useful in situations where a proponent needs to Habitat banks are useful in situations where a proponent needs to compensate for several small HADDs, and few compensation options exist compensate for several small HADDs, and few compensation options exist at the site(s).at the site(s).

Habitat banking may have the benefit of requiring smaller replacement Habitat banking may have the benefit of requiring smaller replacement ratios, since effectiveness is already known.ratios, since effectiveness is already known.

During the time between the creation of the new habitat and its use as During the time between the creation of the new habitat and its use as compensation, fish benefit from the existence of the habitat bank and a compensation, fish benefit from the existence of the habitat bank and a Net Gain of productive capacity occurs.Net Gain of productive capacity occurs.

For further information on Habitat management:For further information on Habitat management:http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/habitat/habitat-eng.htmhttp://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/habitat/habitat-eng.htm

Projet objective:Projet objective: Apply and evaluate the success of four restoration Apply and evaluate the success of four restoration

techniques in Caraquet Bay, NB. techniques in Caraquet Bay, NB. Increase the American oyster populationIncrease the American oyster population Enhance the productivity of the fish habitatEnhance the productivity of the fish habitat Beneficiate the estuarine environmentBeneficiate the estuarine environment Develop a local expertiseDevelop a local expertise

Habitat banking: Caraquet Bay Habitat banking: Caraquet Bay (summary)(summary)

TechniquesTechniques AreaArea

(Hectares)(Hectares)20082008 20092009 20102010

DesiltingDesilting 2525 Study periodStudy period 12.5 (1/2)12.5 (1/2) 12.5 (1/2)12.5 (1/2)

ShellingShelling 55 1.7 (1/3)1.7 (1/3) 1.7 (1/3)1.7 (1/3) 1.7 (1/3)1.7 (1/3)

RelayRelay 2.52.5 0.8 (1/3)0.8 (1/3) 0.8 (1/3)0.8 (1/3) 0.8 (1/3)0.8 (1/3)

SeedingSeeding 1.51.5 0.5 (1/3)0.5 (1/3) 0.5 (1/3)0.5 (1/3) 0.5 (1/3)0.5 (1/3)

TotalTotal 3434 3.03.0 15.515.5 15.515.5

« Natural sciences versus Human sciences »

Ecological restorationEcological restoration

Added valueAdded value

(et autres associations de pêcheurs)(et autres associations de pêcheurs)

(and other fishermen association)(and other fishermen association)

““Tout comme le récif... l’union fait la force!”Tout comme le récif... l’union fait la force!”

““Just like a reef… unity is strenght!”Just like a reef… unity is strenght!”