B: MONITORING

National Aquatic Monitoring in Canada: Report of the Implementation Team

In 2006 the DFO Science Monitoring Implementation Team published Aquatic Monitoring in Canada. This report was the result of a major review of aquatic monitoring programs in order to identify new requirements, areas needing improvement and potential savings. The report can be viewed on the Canadian Science Advisory website at: http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/csas/Csas /Proceedings/2006/PRO2006_003_E.pdf

Arctic waters are sampled aboard CCGS Louis S. St-Laurent by physical oceanographer Sarah Zimmermann. Photo: © Paul Galipeau

Monitoring provides the underpinning for all scientific advice provided by the department. About two-thirds of the $56 million spent by DFO on aquatic monitoring is invested in activities that support sustainable fisheries and aquaculture. The remaining one-third is invested in monitoring to maintain healthy and productive aquatic ecosystems. Partners spend an additional $30 million on monitoring, mainly of fish stocks on the Pacific coast.

The area requiring the most improvement is monitoring in the Arctic and Canada's large boreal region. There are few systematic monitoring programs of ecosystem health, particularly in near-shore, coastal areas. Fish habitat, invasive species, food webs, species at risk, integrated management initiatives, marine protected areas and any effects of cumulative anthropogenic impacts are not well monitored. Almost all of our marine observations are made from ships, yet the number of available sea days has declined by half and the costs have doubled over the past two decades.

Improvements could also be made with information access and integration. The team remarked that the public lacks information on the importance of aquatic monitoring that would provide data on climate warming, loss of biodiversity and invasive species. Currently aquatic monitoring comprises a collection of regional initiatives. Taken together, these initiatives provide the basis for the implementation of a national monitoring program.

New requirements and areas in need of improvement identified by the team include:

• New technologies, such as automated drogues for collecting physical and chemical properties of the sea, could be used to reduce the demand and cost of vessels. The Government of Canada fleet could conduct more monitoring if equipped with appropriate data-gathering instruments.
• Partnerships could be expanded. Monitoring, however, is a long-term investment and the role of charities, academics and governments needs to be clear. Fisheries sampling is one potential area for more partnerships.
• Protocols for data acquisition, archiving and access are being improved.
• A standardized nation-wide reporting of aquatic ecosystems is being considered as well as ecosystem report cards that would help to identify ways to improve monitoring and the state of our knowledge.
• A clear commitment toward a national monitoring program is being developed to protect future investment in this area.
• Monitoring requires a higher profile among the science-based federal departments. Lately, there has been emphasis on innovation, excellence, creativity and new technologies, but it could be argued that these themes fall more into the domain of universities, whereas knowledge of the state of Canada's environment would be more the responsibility of federal science and technology departments. A visible aquatic monitoring program would be a key factor toward meeting this objective.

The team recommended the creation of a well-defined and integrated national aquatic monitoring program and noted that a useful model is the Atlantic Zone Monitoring Program and its link to the national, Marine Environmental Data Services.

A Model Monitoring Program

The Atlantic Zone Monitoring Program (AZMP) was implemented by DFO in five Atlantic provinces in 1998, with the aim of describing and understanding oceanic variability in the Atlantic zone. AZMP comprises: seasonal sampling of physical (temperature, salinity), chemical (nitrate, nitrite, phosphate, silicate, oxygen) and biological (fluorescence, chlorophyll a) variables along 13 sections; higher-frequency sampling of the same variables at six fixed stations; single samples of the same variables from more than 1,000 locations in multi-species trawl surveys; remote-sensing of sea-surface temperature, ocean colour and primary productivity and data from continuous plankton recorder lines (Scotian Shelf and Western Atlantic); sea-level at nine locations; the long-term near-shore temperature monitoring network; harmful algae monitoring; and meteorological data from Environment Canada. All data are validated, archived and accessible to the public at the AZMP website: http://www.meds-sdmm.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/isdm-gdsi/azmp-pmza/index-eng.html

Monitoring in Northern Canada

For decades scientists have collected valuable data on specific Arctic locations through DFO's Arctic research programs. In 2006–2007 DFO Science made strong progress in establishing a broader, sustained Arctic aquatic monitoring program modeled on DFO's Atlantic Zone Monitoring Program. In the offshore domain, DFO participates in a variety of programs to monitor factors such as ice thickness, oceanographic conditions and other climate indicators.

A unique co-management arrangement in the Canadian Arctic under Land Claims agreements has resulted in community-based resource sampling programs. Local residents, including youth and elders, participate in basic collections to address objectives common to local populations and resource managers and the broader scientific community. This is a consistent and cost-effective program for collecting basic variables over time, including marine mammal tissue samples from local harvests, basic biological parameters from subsistence fishing, and basic observations of change to the aquatic freshwater and marine ecosystems where they live.

Marine mammal surveys and community-based observation and tissue collections in key locations of the eastern and western Arctic underpin research on aquatic resource management. The programs are an important element in detecting changes in the ecosystem and guiding research projects specific to the needs of the local resource users. Community sampling programs also take place in the inshore lakes and rivers of importance to local fisheries and in areas of high resource development. All programs are being enhanced through strengthened relationships and understanding of common objectives under climate change scenarios and the rapidly changing environments in the Arctic.

The Many Benefits of Ocean Modeling and Ecosystem Applications

Dr. Guoqi Han leads a team of experts who are modeling ocean currents. To complement the DFO Atlantic Zone Monitoring Program, to explore implications of ocean circulation and hydrography for biology and fisheries, and to benefit offshore hydrocarbon exploration activities, he and his team of scientists developed a suite of state-of-the-art ocean models for circulation and dispersion off Newfoundland and Labrador. For the first time, the model solutions provided high-resolution, monthly mean, observationally based and dynamically consistent ocean currents, temperature, salinity and turbulence fields for the Newfoundland and Labrador Shelf and Slope. They were extensively validated against historical current metre data, vessel-mounted Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler data and satellite-tracked drift data.

Dr. Han's work exemplifies the ecosystem approach and has many management benefits. The study significantly advances the knowledge of the seasonal and interannual variability of the Labrador Current, its crossand along-shelf changes, and its forcing mechanism. The model current fields were used in the design of the offshore drilling, in the assessment of marine renewable resources and in a geographic information system for fisheries. The circulation and hydrography can influence and at times control the biological and fishery productivity. The model current fields also helped to quantify characteristic time scales of biological importance for the Flemish Cap ecosystem.

Alternative ballast water exchange zones off the coast of the island of Newfoundland were assessed and recommended based on model circulation and turbulence solutions. Model simulations were conducted to clarify cross-shelf exchanges of zooplankton after over-wintering over the Labrador Slope. The model circulation fields were helpful to explain white hake recruitment and abundance over the Grand Bank and the spread of snow crab disease over the northeastern Newfoundland Shelf.

Monitoring Canada's Waters from Space

Through the Canadian Space Agency, DFO researchers have access to data from the Medium Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MERIS) aboard the European satellite Envisat. A project led by Dr. Jim Gower of the Institute of Ocean Sciences uses MERIS to detect plankton blooms in western Canadian coastal waters and to distinguish between species groups (coccolithophores, diatoms, blue-green algae, etc.). The MERIS data are used to image both offshore waters and the narrow coastal inlets where fish-farms are located. Damage to the aquaculture industry from harmful blooms, or “red tides,” is assessed at several million dollars per year.

By chance, the optical radiance data research also identified extensive lines of floating Sargassum seaweed in the western Gulf of Mexico. This was the first time that Sargassum had ever been detected by satellite, in spite of frequent reports since the time of Columbus and earlier that it covered large areas of the Atlantic Ocean in the Sargasso Sea. The research also led to detection of ice in Antarctica that appears to be coloured by significant concentrations of algae, forming a type of bloom referred to by observers in the 1970s as “superblooms” because of a high density of phytoplankton.

The greater significance of the bloom detections, Sargassum observations and algae in ice is that the work by Jim Gower and his colleagues adds new tools for monitoring the primary productivity of the ocean — a factor in climate change prediction. Marine primary production is the process by which floating vegetation, such as phytoplankton and seaweed, absorb atmospheric carbon dioxide through photosynthesis and convert it into organic carbon. By absorbing half of the carbon dioxide emitted into the atmosphere, the oceans have a profound influence on climate, making them major areas of interest for climate modelers. On a more technical level, the work confirms the importance of the 709 nm band of MERIS, a band that is not included in other similar present or planned satellite instruments.

Massive algal blooms in coastal regions may be harmful or toxic to humans and marine life. Identifying harmful algal blooms (HABS), known as “red tides,” using remote sensing technology devoted to decoding satellite ocean colour data, was difficult because coastal waters, in particular, feature high concentrations of organic and inorganic materials. Substances in the ocean, both organic and inorganic, create fluorescence – they release light of one wavelength when exposed to light of another wavelength. The benefit of fluorescence imaging using the Medium Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MERIS) is that scientists can use finely tuned light bandwidths to gauge the maximum chlorophyll unit per area (MCI – left image) and ascertain the intensity of chlorophyll fluorescence (FLH – right image).
This pair of images shows that MERIS saw a dense red tide surface bloom of harmful algae off the West coast of North America in June 2007. It was more extensive than any seen before. This massive algae bloom occurred among a bright green bloom that was identified by other ocean colour sensors as due to coccolithophores – one-celled organisms that are not usually harmful. The exciting part is that for the first time, MERIS enables scientists to see the red tide from space!

MERIS and the Red Tide Investigation

MERIS data are also being used in southwestern New Brunswick where personnel from the Ocean Sciences (OSD) and Ecological Research Divisions (ERD) at the Bedford Institute of Oceanography (BIO), and the St. Andrews Biological Station (SABS), are collaborating in the use of remote sensing for studying toxic algal blooms.

The Bay of Fundy has a long history of red tide, but predicting its onset and duration has not been possible. With access to the MERIS data researchers hope to develop the first species-specific remote sensing algorithm for Alexandrium, the phytoplankton responsible for red tide. MERIS data are enabling the researchers to associate multi-spectral satellite images with measurements of cell numbers, water column optical properties and particle size distributions during this year's Alexandrium bloom. As red tide occurs in coastal waters, a complicating factor for developing remote sensing algorithms is the presence of sediment in the water, since its amount and size distribution affect remote sensing reflectance.

Over the course of the bloom, measurements of water column properties are being made by Gary Bugden of OSD and Ed Horne and Brent Law of ERD. An in-situ laser particle size analyzer (LISST) is being deployed with a digital floc camera to give complete size spectra for suspended particles. At the same time, measurements of the optical properties and plant pigments are being made, and cell counts determined, by Jennifer Martin of SABS. This experiment marks one of the first times that the size spectra and other details of the suspended particulate matter were measured at the same time as plant pigments and cell numbers. It is hoped that these complementary measurements will aid the development of a species-specific algorithm, something which has — up to now — proven elusive.

Long-term Monitoring Shows Dramatic Shifts in the Composition of the Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence Ecosystem

Since 1971, a standardized multi-species bottom trawl survey has tracked the abundance of the main groundfish resources in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence. This longterm dataset has become an invaluable tool for monitoring changes over time in species abundance and composition, and thus the overall health of the southern Gulf ecosystem.

Species composition has been in steady flux over the 36-year time series. The abundance of large demersal fishes has declined and has been at a low level since the early 1990s. In contrast, the abundance of small-bodied forage fishes and many unfished macroinvertebrates increased to high levels in the 1990s. Changing biogeographic composition of the fish community suggests an effect of climate variation on species composition. For example, increases in the abundance of Arctic species in the mid- to late-1990s likely reflect the cold bottom waters occurring during the 1990s. However, direct and indirect effects of fishing also appear to be a major cause of these changes in species composition. The availability of such a wealth of data is a boon to researchers past and present, and will continue to be used in innovative ways by DFO Science.

Development of a Satellite Buoy Network for Real-time Acoustic Localization of Whales in the St. Lawrence

An integrated system of intelligent acoustic buoys has been developed to detect, identify and localize whales in real-time in their environment, and to communicate this information to land-based stations or ships via satellite, Internet and radio frequency (RF) communications. This low-cost portable buoy network can be used as a marine mammal observatory to gather continuous space-time series of vocalizing animals over large basins, or as early warning systems for improving whale protection on navigation routes or around moving or fixed platforms during threatening high-level acoustic activity. The buoy system is easily adapted to various tasks and is designed to accommodate future developments. It can be deployed as a drifting network, or anchored to the bottom or the ice sheet. The first sea trials were in August 2006 in the St. Lawrence. There is more information (French language only) at: http://www.uqar.ca/uqar-info/010407/Bouees_YSimard.asp

Acoustic buoys ready for deployment to detect marine mammals in the St. Lawrence

Aquatic Invasive Species in the Great Lakes

Monitoring activities directed toward aquatic invasive species (AIS) in the Great Lakes were carried out in 2006 in the St. Marys River (Lake Huron) and Hamilton Harbour (Lake Ontario). The surveys were planned at Great Lakes' Areas of Concern to complement ongoing studies of fish (electrofishing) and invertebrates to support DFO's commitment to the international Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. Great Lakes Areas of Concern (AOCs) are defined by the Canada-U.S. Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement as "geographic areas that fail to meet the general or specific objectives of the agreement where such failure has caused or is likely to cause impairment of beneficial use of the area's ability to support aquatic life." The two federal governments identified 43 such areas: 26 in U.S. waters, and 17 in Canadian waters (five are shared between U.S. and Canada on connecting river systems). Two of the 43 sites have been delisted.

As part of the AIS project, led by DFO Science staff Christine Brousseau, Tom Pratt and Lisa O'Connor, multiple fishing gear types were evaluated and compared to electrofishing for their efficacy in detecting new species in coastal waters of the Great Lakes. Results indicated that a multi-gear survey protocol is needed because of the diversity of habitats being surveyed (near-shore coastal, harbours, rivers and interconnecting channels). In the St. Marys River, five invasive species were caught. Found in Hamilton Harbour were eight invasive species, including: rudd (Scardinius erythrophthalmus); bigmouth buffalo (Ictiobus cyprinellus), a species at risk; and two previously unrecorded fishes. DFO Science staff working with Mohi Munawar also monitored Hamilton Harbour lower trophic levels (plankton and benthos) and samples are currently being processed. These results will be used to design and implement an AIS monitoring program in 2007 and beyond.

Groundfish Monitoring and Assessment in British Columbia

Fishing surveys targeting groundfish species on the British Columbia coast have been widely attempted over time, with approximately 680 undertaken by DFO in the Pacific Region over the last 60 years. Early surveys during the 1940s and 1950s were largely exploratory and focused on discovering new fishing grounds. During the 1980s and 1990s, surveys primarily evaluated the effects of commercial fisheries on the abundance of single groundfish species. These latter surveys were funded exclusively by the federal government.

The groundfish trawl fishery on the Pacific coast is a multi-species fishery with over 200 species caught, but only about 20 species stocks have been assessed to date. To meet the more complex demands on assessment, and to increase efficiency where resources were limited, it became necessary to find a new approach. In 2003, scientists at the Pacific Biological Station developed a coast-wide plan for multi-species surveys that encompasses every area on the Pacific coast, with each area surveyed every two years. Major funding for this work was provided jointly by the commercial fishing industry, DFO and stakeholders who helped design the surveys as well as participate in them. The surveys are designed to meet the requirements for fisheries management, to address recommendations of the recent Stock Assessment Review, to provide support for legislation contained in the Species at Risk Act, and to facilitate an ecosystem approach to stock assessment.

Multi-species surveys provide important data for ecosystem science. Seen here are DFO staff sampling and entering data for a 2006 multi-species survey in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

A report written in 2006 (Stanley et al. 2007) evaluated the results, costs and expectations of the surveys. A survey simulator was used to examine the accuracy of the surveys for tracking fish populations over time and to explore cost-effectiveness of the current survey design. Data analysis results for about 40 species indicated that the surveys provided adequate to excellent tracking for most, and that the current configuration and frequency of the surveys were the most cost-effective. Survey design will be re-examined prior to the 2009 surveys when additional data are available. See a review of the Queen Charlotte Sound Groundfish Bottom Trawl Survey (2003–2005) in Can. Tech. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 2709: viii + 59 p.

Developing New Technologies for Visual Surveys for Rockfishes

Observation and assessment of many demersal rockfish species on Canada's Pacific coast present some unique challenges to DFO Science researchers, particularly with hard bottom surveys in the mid to deep (20 to 200 metre) range. Traditional acoustic methods and survey techniques are not effective sampling tools for studying fish living on or near rough steep terrain. Survey tools of choice for biologists include manned submersibles and remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) equipped with underwater cameras. Visual data can provide information on abundance, species interaction, and behaviour of fishes; however, observations are limited to a few metres — or they could be misleading because fish have avoided the approaching vehicle.

B.C. Rockfish captured by ROV camera

The Applied Technology Section at the Pacific Biological Station (PBS) proposed linking the proven technology of the Dual-frequency IDentification SONar (DIDSON) with underwater cameras to increase the range of target detectability and to monitor fish behaviour in response to an approaching ROV. Long hours in the electronics shop and at dockside by the dedicated technical team, and careful maneuvering of CCGS Vector during survey operations, translated to 33 successful transects. Preliminary analysis of the DIDSON images showed little to no reaction by rockfish — or avoidance by other species — to the approaching ROV.

The science crew, comprising 10 from PBS and one from BIO (Halifax), benefited from the opportunity to test ROV survey modes and techniques and receive ROV pilot training. Additional work is planned to further evaluate the DIDSON system as a tool to help identify and measure sizes of observed targets.