Shellfish restoration in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence (sGSL): a case study in Caraquet Bay, New Brunswick, Canada Shellfish restoration in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence (sGSL): a case study in Caraquet Bay, New Brunswick, Canada Marc Ouellette 1, Jean-François Mallet 1*, Ernest Ferguson 2 and Denis Haché 3 Fisheries and Oceans Canada: 1 Aquaculture and Coastal Ecosystems Section 2 Oceans and Habitat Division 3 Small Craft Harbours Division Fisheries and OceansPêches et Océans CanadaCanada

Gulf of St. Lawrence : a unique ecosystem The physical and biological environment: The physical and biological environment: Partial isolation from the North Atlantic Freshwater runoff from the land A deep trough running along its length Presence of a cold intermediate layer Shallow depths Seasonal ice High biological productivity and diversity The human environment: The human environment: Surrounded by five Canadian provinces Populations composed of Anglophones, Francophones and many First Nations Wide array of culturally and socially distinct settlements

American Oyster Crassostrea virginica Blue Mussel Mytilus edulis Aquaculture & Fisheries Commercial Molluscan Species (sGSL) Giant Scallop Placopecten magellanicus Soft-Shell Clam Mya arenaria Quahaug Mercenaria mercenaria Bar Clam Spisula solidissima Fisheries & Aquaculture (potential) Ocean Quahaug Arctica islandica Fisheries (traditional) Stimpson Clam Spisula polynima Razor Clam Ensis directus

Shellfish restoration (sGSL): a growing interest Alleviate the pressures: Alleviate the pressures: Overexploitation Overexploitation Disease outbreaks Disease outbreaks Mapleque disease Mapleque disease MSX (Bras d’Or Lakes, NS, 2002 ) MSX (Bras d’Or Lakes, NS, 2002 ) Interspecific competition Interspecific competition Invasive species (PEI) Invasive species (PEI) Habitat alterations Habitat alterations Malpeque disease 1915/35 - PEI1915/35 - PEI NB NB NS NS MSX Bras d’Or Lakes, NS Botryllus schlosseriBotrylloides violaceusCiona intestinalisStyela clavaCodium fragileCarcinus maenas Invasive species in the sGSL (PEI)

Human activities: forestryforestry mines mines agriculture agriculture peat moss harvest peat moss harvest fish transformation plants fish transformation plants maritime transport maritime transport fisheries fisheries aquaculture aquaculture petrol and gas petrol and gas municipalities municipalities leisure leisure - marina - marina - golf courses - golf courses - landscape - landscape Aquatic ecosystems (cumulative effects)

How? How? techniques, protocols, monitoring... techniques, protocols, monitoring... Why? Why? Ecological values Ecological values turbidity, nutriment cycling, fish habitat (biodiversity), productivity (species, ecosystem...) turbidity, nutriment cycling, fish habitat (biodiversity), productivity (species, ecosystem...) Human values Human values socio-economics (fishery & aquaculture), cultural, environmental health (eutrophication...) socio-economics (fishery & aquaculture), cultural, environmental health (eutrophication...) Legislation (Fisheries act...) Legislation (Fisheries act...) Shellfish Restoration (sGSL) 09/23/0807/08/08

How?: Shellfish Restoration (techniques) PassiveActive Closures/Protection « problematic = habitat » « problematic = population » « problematic = ? » Shelling « problematic = substrate » Relay « problematic = productivity » habitat ex. ‘stunted growth’ population ex. density Seeding « problematic = productivity » Desilting « problematic = substrate » available (sedimentation) not available and/or no structure

Why?: Shellfish Restoration (goal) EcologicalBiomassCommunity EnvironmentEconomic Social objectives (techniques, protocols...) measure of success (monitoring...) « realistic expectations! » « consists of favoring the return of degraded ecosystem to its previous state, by abandon or reasonably controlling the anthropogenic activities and/or by calculated interventions »

Shellfish Restoration (examples in the sGSL) Ecological Biomass Community Giant Scallop Maritime Fishermen Association Ecological Biomass Community American Lobster Maritime Fishermen Association Ecological Biomass Community American Oyster PEI Shellfish Association Traditionally shellfish restoration initiatives are biomass driven in order to enhance or sustain a wild fishery (Since 1987) (Since 2001) (Since 1996) Biomass Ecological Community American Oyster Case study in Caraqet Bay, NB Habitat banking The ecological approach to shellfish restoration is relatively new in the sGSL ( )

Case study in Caraquet Bay, New Brunswick, Canada Caraquet Bay hosts the northmost commercially significant oyster population in eastern North America. Caraquet Bay hosts the northmost commercially significant oyster population in eastern North America. The bay freezes over in the winter time The bay freezes over in the winter time up to 1 meter of ice up to 1 meter of ice Caraquet oysters are harvested since 1757 Caraquet oysters are harvested since 1757 deeply anchored in the culture deeply anchored in the culture The abundance and productivity of this oyster population is in decline The abundance and productivity of this oyster population is in decline significant drop in the landings significant drop in the landings obvious socio-economic concerns obvious socio-economic concerns environmental concerns environmental concerns increasing understanding of the importance of this species in its ecosystem. increasing understanding of the importance of this species in its ecosystem. An ecological restoration pilot project is currently being undertaken in Caraquet Bay (Habitat banking) An ecological restoration pilot project is currently being undertaken in Caraquet Bay (Habitat banking) Oyster landings and their corresponding values in district 65 (Caraquet area), from 1984 to 2003 (DFO 2007).

Why?: The Fisheries Act Under the fisheries Act, the conservation and the protection of “fish habitats” are key elements of the DFO mandate. Under the fisheries Act, the conservation and the protection of “fish habitats” 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, spawn, larvae, spat and juvenile stages." (Fisheries Act, sec. 2). "includes fish, shellfish, crustaceans, marine animals and any their eggs, sperm, spawn, larvae, spat and juvenile stages." (Fisheries Act, sec. 2). Definition of a fish habitat Definition of a fish habitat " 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." (Fisheries Act, sec. 34(l)). " 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." (Fisheries Act, sec. 34(l)). Section 35 Section 35 Subsection 35(1) is a general prohibition of harmful alteration, disruption or destruction (HADD) of fish habitat. Subsection 35(1) is a general prohibition of harmful alteration, disruption or destruction (HADD) of fish habitat. The only relief from this general prohibition is when a Subsection 35(2) Authorization is issued for the HADD. The only relief from this general prohibition is when a Subsection 35(2) Authorization is issued for the HADD. A HADD is any change in the habitat that reduces it’s capacity to sustain one or more vital life processes of fishes. A HADD is any change in the habitat that reduces it’s capacity to sustain one or more vital life processes of fishes. If an Authorization is issued, the compensation plan of HADD has to take in account the guiding principle of no net loss of the fish habitat’s productivity If an Authorization is issued, the compensation plan of HADD has to take in account the guiding 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 the project resulting in the HADD. It is important to note that this 35(2) Authorization authorizes the HADD and not the project resulting in the HADD.

The Fisheries Act: The habitat banking concept In its most basic form, habitat banking is the completion of compensation prior to a subsection 35(2) Authorization being issued. In its most basic form, habitat banking is the completion of compensation 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-approve" any future HADDs. The creation of a habitat bank does not involve monies, nor does it "Pre-approve" any future HADDs. The location and design of a habitat bank must first be approved by DFO and proponents should provide data describing the "before" conditions. The location and design of a habitat bank must first be approved by DFO and proponents should provide data describing the "before" conditions. Habitat banks are useful in situations where a proponent needs to compensate for several small HADDs, and few compensation options exist at the site(s). Habitat banks are useful in situations where a proponent needs to compensate for several small HADDs, and few compensation options exist at the site(s). Habitat banking may have the benefit of requiring smaller replacement ratios, since effectiveness is already known. Habitat banking may have the benefit of requiring smaller replacement ratios, since effectiveness is already known. 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 Net Gain of productive capacity occurs. 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 Net Gain of productive capacity occurs. For further information on Habitat management:

Projet objective: Projet objective: Apply and evaluate the success of four restoration techniques in Caraquet Bay, NB. Apply and evaluate the success of four restoration techniques in Caraquet Bay, NB. Increase the American oyster population Increase the American oyster population Enhance the productivity of the fish habitat Enhance the productivity of the fish habitat Beneficiate the estuarine environment Beneficiate the estuarine environment Develop a local expertise Develop a local expertise Habitat banking: Caraquet Bay (summary) TechniquesArea(Hectares) Desilting25 Study period 12.5 (1/2) Shelling5 1.7 (1/3) Relay (1/3) Seeding (1/3) Total « Natural sciences versus Human sciences » Ecological restoration Added value

(et autres associations de pêcheurs) (and other fishermen association) “Tout comme le récif... l’union fait la force!” “Just like a reef… unity is strenght!”