Archived – International Scientists Work Collaboratively on a Groundbreaking Study to Survey the Sea Floor off Canada’s East Coast

August 24, 2009

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St. John’s, NL – Loyola Sullivan, Canada's Ambassador for Fisheries Conservation, on behalf of the Honourable Gail Shea, Federal Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, is pleased to announce a groundbreaking international survey of the largely unknown deep water terrain of the Continental Shelf off Canada’s East Coast. This research project is the largest of its kind conducted in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean. In total, it is a two-year undertaking.

Canada has joined Spain, the United Kingdom, the United States of America and Russia in this study. The researchers, including Canadian scientists from Fisheries and Oceans Canada, arrived in St. John’s, NL, August 23 onboard the Miguel Oliver, Spain’s state-of-the-art research vessel. They have now concluded the first three-month leg of at-sea research.

“Our objective through this project is to work collaboratively with our international partners to collect important new information from the sea floor. Our findings will help us to better identify and protect sensitive areas, while allowing responsible fisheries to continue,” said Ambassador Sullivan.

“Spain and Canada share an interest in adopting measures to ensure sustainable use of sea resources and conservation of marine biodiversity in all maritime areas,” said the Honourable Elena Espinosa Mangana, Spanish Minister of Environment, Rural Development and Marine Affairs. “This project is an example of the way forward within a framework of scientific cooperation between countries of traditional fisheries, such as Spain and Canada, with a goal of sustainable fishing activities and conservation of vulnerable marine ecosystems.”

Scientists working on the project are aiming to obtain new information in areas of geology, biology, and ecology from the deep sea, one of the least studied and understood of the world’s ecosystems. 

Researchers have now surveyed over 24,800 km2 and collected hundreds of deepwater samples from around the Flemish Cap, Flemish Pass, and an area south of the Grand Banks.  Scientists will analyze the raw data and samples in the coming months to verify results and gain further understanding of the characteristics of the survey area. 

If the research identifies new aspects of vulnerable marine ecosystems not already understood, the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) Contracting Parties are expected to review existing measures taken to protect these areas and explore any further measures that may be required.

Canada is one of 12 NAFO Contracting Parties. Other members include Denmark (in respect of the Faroe Islands and Greenland), the European Union, France (in respect of Saint Pierre et Miquelon), Iceland, Japan, Republic of Korea, Norway, Russian Federation, Ukraine, Cuba, and the USA. NAFO’s overall purpose is to help its members work together and share knowledge to effectively manage and conserve the high seas fishery resources of the Northwest Atlantic Ocean.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada scientists onboard the Canadian Coast Guard research vessel, The Hudson, are also contributing to this research, with a focus on collecting photographic data on corals and sponges on the ocean bottom.

For more information about the NAFO Research Project, see the attached backgrounder or visit our international fisheries website:

• Multinational Research into Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems off Canada’s East Coast
• Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems in the Deep Sea.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Scott Cantin
Media Relations Officer
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Ottawa
613-993-5413

Nancy Bishay
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
613-992-3474