TYPE II ERROR ON THE GRAND BANKS INADEQUATE MONITORING OF MARINE BIRDS AND MAMMALS AT HIBERNIA AND TERRA NOVA TYPE II ERROR ON THE GRAND BANKS INADEQUATE MONITORING OF MARINE BIRDS AND MAMMALS AT HIBERNIA AND TERRA NOVA W.A Montevecchi, C.M Burke, G.K. Davoren 2, and F.K. Wiese 3 Coasts Stress Project Biopsychology Programme, Memorial University of Newfoundland 2 Zoology Dept., University of Manitoba; 3 School of Aquatic and Fisheries Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, USA

2 MAJOR SOURCES OF OIL POLLUTION IN NEWFOUNDLAND 1 – Illegal, chronic discharges of oily waste waters from vessels at sea (eg tankers, cargo ships, fishing vessels, etc) 2 – Accidental spills and pollution from vessels, oil facilities and offshore platforms

Is offshore environmental monitoring adequate? Anonymous Are there significant effects on seabirds and mammals that are not being detected ?

Type II Error Failure to detect an effect due to a weak or ineffective experimental design (particular concern with negative environmental effects  Precautionary Approaches)

Objectives Objectives to present data from independent surveys that document to present data from independent surveys that document seasonal diversity, distribution, abundance of birds & mammals on support vessel routes & at offshore platforms seasonal diversity, distribution, abundance of birds & mammals on support vessel routes & at offshore platforms mortality & disturbance associated with oil and gas activities at offshore platforms mortality & disturbance associated with oil and gas activities at offshore platforms to use this information to mitigate & minimize mortality & disturbance to use this information to mitigate & minimize mortality & disturbance

The Characters - Seabird Diversity

Auks – most vulnerable to oil pollution

Offshore Oil and Gas Activity Offshore Oil and Gas Activity

Tanker and Shipping Traffic

Unique Oceanographic Regime lowest penetration of Arctic water in the Atlantic

Regional Seabird Populations Witless Bay Baccalieu Island Common Murre Atlantic Puffin Black-legged KittiwakeManx Shearwater Latitude Newfoundland Funk Island Cape St. Mary’s N Longitude Northern Gannet Leach’s Storm-Petrel

Global Seabird Populations Northern Migrants Southern Migrants Dovekies Thick – billed Murres Northern Fulmars Sooty Shearwaters Greater Shearwaters N America S America Africa Europe

Offshore Support Vessel Surveys Offshore Support Vessel Surveys Maersk Bonavista

Survey Design & Methodology Survey Design & Methodology Longitude Latitude Newfoundland Terra Nova Hibernia 200 m 3000 m Funk Island Cape St. Mary's Baccalieu Witless Bay N Newfoundland

Seasonal Abundance of Marine Birds FebAprMayJulAugSeptOctNov birds/km Results

percent Seasonal Species Diversity WinterSpringSummerFall FulmarShearwatersPetrelsGullsKittiwakesAuks

Marine Bird Distribution Newfoundland Mean birds/ 5km 1 to to to 60 Latitude Longitude

Marine Mammal Distribution and Abundance Humpback whale mean mammals/per 5 km 1 to to to 10 Latitude Terra Nova Longitude Newfoundland Hibernia N Newfoundland Funk Island Cape St. Mary's Baccalieu

Observations at Offshore Platforms

artificial reefs artificial reefs – prey concentrations – grey water fertilization artificial lights and flares artificial lights and flares roosting refuge roosting refuge Attraction to Offshore Platforms

Mortality from Platform Flares and Lights

Mortality Associated with Oil Pollution Hibernia Ice Wall

large seasonal shifts in animal diversity, distribution and abundance (changing risks and vulnerabilities) large seasonal shifts in animal diversity, distribution and abundance (changing risks and vulnerabilities) offshore platforms create artificial reefs and concentrate fish, birds and mammals offshore platforms create artificial reefs and concentrate fish, birds and mammals oil is spilled at platforms and oils seabirds oil is spilled at platforms and oils seabirds mortality associated with flaring and collisions mortality associated with flaring and collisions Summary

There has never been an effective monitoring system to reliably document mortality, pollution and disturbance associated with offshore developments in eastern Canada Despite recommendations of the independent report for the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (1999) that laid out protocols for such monitoring, there has never been an independent observer allowed on the Hibernia or Terra Nova platforms. Why? CONCLUSIONS

Addressing the Problem reinstate discontinued independent monthly offshore support vessel surveys reinstate discontinued independent monthly offshore support vessel surveys develop protocols to document mortality and collect dead birds develop protocols to document mortality and collect dead birds legislate arms length dedicated observers on vessels and platforms as a condition of operation legislate arms length dedicated observers on vessels and platforms as a condition of operation

Industry self reporting will not ensure environmental protection