Strengthening relationships through coastal environmental baseline data collection: a case study in the Port of Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada

Graham Bartlett (graham.bartlett@dfo-mpo.gc.ca), Rachel Long (rachel.long@dfo-mpo.gc.ca), Claire Mussells (claire.mussells@dfo-mpo.gc.ca), Stacey Paul (Stacey.paul@dfo-mpo.gc.ca), Mike Sullivan... [ view full abstract ]

Graham Bartlett (graham.bartlett@dfo-mpo.gc.ca), Rachel Long (rachel.long@dfo-mpo.gc.ca), Claire Mussells (claire.mussells@dfo-mpo.gc.ca), Stacey Paul (Stacey.paul@dfo-mpo.gc.ca), Mike Sullivan (mike.sullivan@dfo-mpo.gc.ca)

Fisheries and Oceans Canada, St. Andrews Biological Station, 531 Brandy Cove Rd., St. Andrews, NB E5B 2L9

Ecosystem characterization and evidence-based decision making are crucial to the effective management and preservation of marine ecosystems in Canada’s busiest and most industrial ports. The collection of comprehensive baseline data, will provide a snapshot in time, and allow for changes in the environment to be better detected over time. Over the next 4 years, the Coastal Environmental Baseline program, an initiative under Canada’s Ocean Protection Plan, will be piloted in 6 sites across Canada - the Port of Saint John being one of the pilots. The Port of Saint John is located in the Bay of Fundy, which has the highest tidal ranges in the world, and is home to industries such as fisheries, aquaculture, oil and gas, mining and ecotourism. Fisheries and Oceans Canada is working with local Indigenous and stakeholder groups to collaboratively identify key ecosystem components and study site boundaries; compile current and historical environmental datasets to identify outstanding data needs; prioritize, plan and carry out data collection; as well as data management and visualization. The data sets will be available to participating groups as well as Fisheries and Oceans Canada and other federal departments to inform management decisions in areas such as fisheries management and protection, species at risk and aquatic invasive species and Transport Canada’s Cumulative Effects of Shipping program etc. This program sets out to strengthen relationships with local indigenous and stakeholder groups by helping to increase local capacity to collect ecological, social and culturally important ecosystem indicators to better reflect their needs in decision making and to allow for changes in the environment to be better detected over time.