Inter-decadal variability in zooplankton and phytoplankton abundance on the Newfoundland and Scotian shelves

Continuous Plankton Recorder (CPR) sampling on the Newfoundland and Scotian shelves covers three multi-year periods characterised by negative (1962–1971), positive (1992–2000) and negative/neutral (2001–2003) values of the NAO index. Water temperatures respond differently to changes in the NAO in different regions: a positive NAO index tends to lead to reduced temperatures on the Newfoundland shelf and to increased temperatures on the central/western Scotian shelf, and a negative NAO index to the reverse. Since the 1960s, the hydrographic changes due to the NAO have been superimposed on a freshening of the water column throughout the region, which is attributed to increased contribution of Arctic water outflow. Changes in plankton abundance measured by the CPR for the three time periods were generally, but not always, similar on the Newfoundland and eastern and western regions of the Scotian shelf, although Arctic species (e.g. Calanus glacialis, Calanus hyperboreus) were notably more abundant and warm water species (e.g. Metridia lucens, euphausiids) less abundant on the Newfoundland shelf than on the Scotian shelf. Three categories of phytoplankton (colour, diatoms, dinoflagellates) increased in abundance in the 1990s, and these increases generally persisted into 2001–2003. This is believed to be a response to the persistent freshening of the water column, probably due to increased stratification. The Arctic species C. glacialis and C. hyperboreus also showed persistent increases in abundance after 1992, perhaps due to increased transport from the Arctic, although the abundance of the Arctic slope water species Metridia longa decreased. Two groups, Calanus 1–4 and euphausiids, both thought to play important roles in the food chain, showed persistent decreases in abundance after 1992, especially on the Newfoundland shelf. In all regions, Calanus finmarchicus 5–6, Oithona spp. and Centropages hamatus abundance changed in association with variations in the NAO, although no common mechanism could be identified. C. finmarchicus 5–6 abundance decreased in the 1990s and increased after 2001, while the other two species showed the opposite pattern. Centropages typicus and M. lucens abundance on the Scotian shelf increased with rising temperature. This is attributed to increased production rates for the former and an increased influx of warm, M. lucens-rich, slope water on to the shelf for the latter. A comparison between ring net and CPR sampling on the Newfoundland shelf suggests that the Calanus 1–4 category is dominated by C. finmarchicus and that late stage C. glacialis and C. hyperboreus are grossly under-sampled compared to late stage C. finmarchicus.     

The Newfoundland fishery: ten years after the moratorium

Excessive overfishing combined with negative environmental conditions led to the decimation of the northern cod stock and its closure to commercial fishing in 1992. During the ensuing dozen years, the stock has not recovered. This paper considers the current state of the Newfoundland economy and the Newfoundland fishery and asks whether the lessons of the earlier day have been learned. The answer appears to be no. The main mover of the economy is exogenous to the fishery, the unemployment rate remains high, currently more than twice the Canadian rate, and the population of the province has fallen by ten percent. With respect to the fishery, although the decimated groundfish have been replaced by shellfish and the nominal value of landings has doubled since 1992, the fishery still has excess capacity, fishermen and fish plant workers generally earn low incomes, and the fishery remains heavily subsidized.     

Notions of justice held by stakeholders of the Newfoundland fishery

Justice is an important and contested issue in the governance of fish stocks threatened by overexploitation. This study identifies the notions of justice held by stakeholders of the fishery in Newfoundland, Canada, using qualitative interviews, and interprets these notions in light of established justice theories. The interviews are analysed using inductive and deductive coding. A central result is that inshore fishers are seen as the main claim holders, with a claim to participate and be listened to, and the opportunity to make a living from the fishery. Moreover, rules play an important role in the justice notions of the interview partners, and their justice notions are clearly plural. The stakeholder notions of justice in the Newfoundland fishery resonate with the emphasis on recognition, participation and distribution as important aspects of justice within the environmental justice approach [59-61] (Schlosberg 2004, 2007, 2013).     

Oil and gas resources offshore Newfoundland

In earlier issues of this journal two Canadian court decisions concerning continental shelf rights offshore Newfoundland were discussed.¹ It will be recalled that both the Newfoundland Court of Appeal ² and, thereafter, the Supreme Court of Canada ³ held that the right to explore for and exploit the resources of the continental shelf adjacent to the province, and to legislate with respect thereto, rested exclusively with the relevant federal authorities.     

Results from a detailed aeromagnetic survey across the northeast Newfoundland margin, Part II: Early opening of the North Atlantic between the British Isles and Newfoundland

Poles of rotation for the North Atlantic have been derived from the results of a new aeromagnetic survey northeast of Newfoundland. Reconstruction of the North Atlantic at anomaly 34 time shows a band of large amplitude magnetic anomalies which parallels anomaly 34 on both sides of the Atlantic from Flemish Cap and Goban Spur to the Azores-Gibraltar Fracture Zone. A group of similar anomalies has also been identified in the Bay of Biscay. North of Goban Spur and Flemish Cap, these anomalies follow the ocean-continent boundary. Poles of rotation derived for this anomaly show that it forms an isochron (100–110 m.y.) during the long Cretaceous normal polarity interval. The cause of this anomaly is not definite, but it may represent an increase in the magnetization of the crust during a limited time within the Cretaceous Magnetic Quiet Zone by a process such as replacement of thermoremanent magnetization by chemical remanent magnetization as proposed by Raymond and LaBrecque.The North Atlantic has also been reconstructed at the time of the initial opening in the region between Flemish Cap and the Charlie-Gibbs Fracture Zone, using inferred ocean-continent boundaries on the west and east sides: it has been shown that the entire region could not have saparated at one time, but that spreading between the British Isles and Newfoundland had to progress from south to north. Consequently, when active sea-floor spreading was taking place between Goban Spur and Flemish Cap (about 110 m.y.) the region to the north was still being stretched. The calculated amount of stretching as derived from the reconstructions (about 25%) agrees well with the extension of the lithosphere obtained from modelling the subsidence history of this region, and with the results of deep seismic studies. Active spreading in the north started about 100 m.y. ago.     

Influence of diet on growth, condition and reproductive capacity in Newfoundland and Labrador cod (Gadus morhua): Insights from stable carbon isotopes (δC)

Cod populations in Newfoundland and Labrador waters have shown differing growth, condition and recruitment since near-universal declines in these properties during the cold period of the late 1980s and early 1990s. To assess the influence of variable prey communities on these parameters, we compared cod energetics and diet in populations off Labrador and the northeast and south coasts of Newfoundland. Many properties were highest in the southern group(s) and lowest in the northern group(s), including growth, somatic condition, liver index and age-at-maturity. Most differences could be explained by variations in diet, as measured by stomach contents and stable carbon isotopes (δ¹³C). The diet of Labrador cod consisted almost entirely of northern shrimp (Pandalus borealis), and these cod displayed the most benthic δ¹³C signatures. Northeast cod had a more varied diet that included capelin and other fish, but still had mostly benthic δ¹³C signatures, suggesting the importance of benthic prey like shrimp in this population. South coast cod exhibited the most varied diet, including capelin (Mallotus villosus), zooplankton, crabs and other fish, and had the most pelagic δ¹³C signatures. Among and within populations, the benefits of a more pelagic diet in medium-sized (30–69 cm) cod included higher somatic condition, higher liver index (lipid stores) and greater spawning potential (decreased incidence of atresia). It is hypothesized that major rebuilding of Newfoundland and Labrador cod stocks will require a return to a system that supports mostly pelagic feeding (i.e. capelin) in cod.     

Mooring system reliability in tropical cyclone and North Sea winter storm environments

The characteristics of waves, winds and currents in a tropical cyclone environment differ significantly from those in a winter storm environment, like the North Sea. This can have a significant effect on the reliability of a mooring system that is designed to satisfy 100 yr conditions with specified Factors of Safety in accordance with ISO19901-7 or API RP 2SK. This paper presents reliability analysis of the mooring system of a permanently connected Floating LNG vessel, placed at two locations: (a) a tropical cyclone environment of the North West Shelf of Australia and (b) a winter storm environment of the North Sea. It is demonstrated that as a result of differences in the long term distribution of environmental parameters (waves, winds) between a North Sea environment and a tropical cyclone environment, the long term distribution of the mooring line response differs significantly in these two locations.This paper shows that a mooring system which is designed in accordance with ISO (or API), in these two environments, will achieve very different reliability levels because of the significant differences in environmental characteristics. In order to achieve the same reliability for the mooring system at these two geographical locations, Factors of Safety for use with 100 yr environmental conditions (Ultimate Limit State) were derived to achieve the same target probability of failure of 10⁻⁴/annum. It was found that for the North Sea environment, a factor of 1.5 is required for both the mooring chain and the pile, while for the tropical cyclone environment the required Factor of Safety has to be increased to 2.1. These differences are very significant and design standards need to be revised to reflect these findings.     

Industrial aquaculture and the politics of resignation

While neoliberalism is often framed as a withdrawal of the state, many scholars have noted that what is occurring is not so much a withdrawal, as a repositioning. Although many social services and regulatory functions once provided by government agencies have indeed been eroded, there has been a simultaneous channeling of new resources into other arenas, in an effort to create conditions in which private corporations can operate more profitably. This, however, often places the state in a contradictory position, simultaneously serving as regulator, investor, and development advocate for the private sector. This can become especially problematic in moments of ecological crisis when decisive and unbiased responses are needed. This paper explores these dynamics through an examination of the cycles of growth and crisis that have characterized the aquaculture industry on the south coast of Newfoundland since the late 1970s as well as the ongoing attempts by aquaculture advocates to characterize industrial-scale fish farming as a sustainable industry, despite evidence to the contrary.     

Variability and propagation of Labrador Sea Water in the southern subpolar North Atlantic

The variability of two modes of Labrador Sea Water (LSW) (upper and deep Labrador Sea Water) and their respective spreading in the interior North Atlantic Ocean are investigated by means of repeated ship surveys carried out along the zonal WOCE line A2/AR19 located at 43–48°N (1993–2007) and along the GOOS line at about 48–51°N (1997–2002). Hydrographic section data are complemented by temperature, salinity, and velocity time series recorded by two moorings. They have been deployed at the western flank of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (MAR) in the Newfoundland Basin during 1996–2004. The analysis of hydrographic anomalies at various longitudes points to a gradual eastward propagation of LSW-related signals, which happens on time scales of 3–6 years from the formation region towards the MAR. Interactions of the North Atlantic Current (NAC) with the Deep Western Boundary Current (DWBC) close to Flemish Cap point to the NAC being the main distributor of the different types of LSW into the interior of the Newfoundland Basin. Comparisons between the ship data and the mooring records revealed that the mooring sites are located in a region affected by highly variable flow. The mooring time series demonstrate an elevated level of variability with eddy activity and variability associated with the NAC considerably influencing the LSW signals in this region. Hydrographic data taken from Argo profiles from the vicinity of the mooring sites turned out to mimic quite well the temporal evolution captured by the moorings. There is some indication of occasional southward flow in the LSW layer near the MAR. If this can be considered as a hint to an interior LSW-route, it is at least of minor importance in comparison to the DWBC. It acts as an important supplier for the interior North Atlantic, distributing older and recently formed LSW modes southward along the MAR.     

New evidence for widespread mass transport on the Northeast Newfoundland Shelf revealed by Olex single-beam echo sounding

Based on Olex single-beam sounder data, multibeam sonar surveys, and sparse seismic reflection profiles, we recognize a large area of anomalous bathymetry on the Northeast Newfoundland Shelf as having formed as a result of mass-transport processes. Transported masses include (1) an arcuate ridge of deformed material with an area of 430 km², which has moved distances of ~20 km; (2) a 70-km² mass of deformed material displaced 50 km along a nearly horizontal track flanked by 90-m-high berms. The movement of these and other sediment bodies has created a 150-m-high headwall escarpment extending 110 km along the north flank of the Notre Dame glacial trough. In addition, a 35-km² block of undeformed material has moved 5 km to the southeast, away from the headwall, creating a gap of the same dimensions, while a smaller block of material originating in this vicinity has been displaced 24 km in the opposite direction, creating a 20-m-deep groove on the seafloor. There is evidence for mass transport and headwall formation elsewhere on the Northeast Newfoundland Shelf. Analysis of seismic reflection data indicates that the transported material most likely consists of stacked Quaternary till sheets that overlie Cenozoic, Mesozoic and older sedimentary rocks. Given the very low gradients involved, glaciotectonism is the most likely process to account for transport and deformation of the large sediment masses. However, some mass transport may have resulted from submarine sliding away from the headwalls that were created by the glacial transport.     

Results from a detailed aeromagnetic survey across the northeast Newfoundland margin,Part I: Spreading anomalies and relationship between magnetic anomalies and the ocean-continent boundary

A detailed aeromagnetic survey carried out across the northeast Newfoundland margin clearly shows the presence of sea floor spreading anomalies 25 to 34. Correlation of these anomalies with synthetic profiles shows an increase in the rate of spreading soon after anomaly 27 time. Three fracture zones can be identified by dislocations in the magnetic anomalies; their positions are confirmed on the depth to basement map of this region. An eastward extension of the southernmost fracture zone at latitude 49 N matches well with the Faraday Fracture Zone across the Mid Atlantic Ridge, and with a basement ridge known as Pastouret Ridge mapped off Goban Spur. By combining the present survey data with the previously collected shipborne measurements, we have also traced the westward continuation of the Charlie-Gibbs Fracture Zone under the Newfoundland shelf.A large amplitude magnetic anomaly lies along the margin and separates two zones with different magnetic characteristics: long wavelength small amplitude anomalies on the landward side, and quasi lineated anomalies on the seaward side. Seismic data compilations show that this large anomaly coincides with the ocean-continent boundary at most places north of Flemish Cap. Modelling of the magnetic anomalies indicate that the large amplitude anomaly is caused by the juxtaposition of highly magnetized oceanic crust against weakly magnetized continental crust; this situation is similar to that observed across the Goban Spur margin, which is a conjugate of the Flemish Cap margin. The presence of highly magnetized oceanic crust landward of anomaly 34 and within the Cretaceous Magnetic Quiet Zone is attested to by the presence of similar large amplitude anomalies south of the Flemish Cap and Goban Spur regions, but these do not mark the ocean-continent transition.     

Hamilton Bank,Labrador Shelf: Postglacial sediment dynamics and paleo-oceanography

Sandy glacial sediments on Hamilton Bank have been reworked during postglacial times by the effect of storm waves and the Labrador Current. Gravel to cobble lags are found along the periphery of the bank. A layer of medium to fine sand and silt less than 1 m thick cloaks the bank surface. Toward the center, modal grain size becomes progressively finer reaching a minimum of 5 ?. Silt and clay have accumulated in peripheral basins.Faunal changes in basin sediments and partial covering of the lag deposits by sand imply that the Labrador Current which today flows southward between Hamilton Bank and the coast was, for a period after deglaciation, deflected to the east around Hamilton Bank and down the seaward edge of the Grand Banks. Thus warm water was able to penetrate northward along the continental shelves of the United States and Canada to southern Newfoundland. Warmer coastal waters south of Newfoundland appear to have substantially amplified the effect of the Holocene thermal maximum in coastal areas. Isostatic and eustatic considerations suggest that Hamilton Bank was not emergent in postglacial times and that the depth of water over the bank has been increasing, probably for the last 6,000 years. Deepening water over the inner shelf and a cooling trend in Arctic surface waters beginning 3,500 years ago are probably responsible for the present position and intensity of the Labrador Current.     

Do bigger fish arrive and spawn at the spawning grounds before smaller fish: Cod (Gadus morhua) predation on beach spawning capelin (Mallotus villosus) from coastal Newfoundland

A relationship between body size and time of spawning has often been described for both pelagic and non-pelagic fish species that migrate for the purpose of spawning. The present study investigates this relationship for capelin (Mallotus villosus), a pelagic smelt-like species that spawns on the beaches of Newfoundland. Simple linear regressions were carried out separately for three groups of capelin: ovid females, spent females and males in three successive years (1982–1984). Bigger fish arrived near the spawning grounds first, for all three groups in all three years and was most obvious for female capelin. Analyses of stomach contents of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua), an important predator of capelin in the Newfoundland area, showed a similar decrease in mean size of capelin throughout the capelin spawning season in June, July and August. Furthermore, analyses strongly suggest that early in the spawning seasons, when capelin abundance was high, cod selected for bigger capelin, whereas towards the end of the spawning seasons, when capelin abundance was low, cod did not show any size preference.     

Drift of icebergs in the grand banks

Canada's eastern continental shelf has been the focal point of an extensive search for hydrocarbons in recent years. International petroleum companies have spent millions of dollars in explorations during this time. Off the Newfoundland and Labrador coasts, 42 wildcat wells have been drilled. One of the major hostile elements to the oil drilling rig operators in this region is the threat of drifting icebergs.     

Seasonal patterns in zooplankton community structure on the Newfoundland and Labrador Shelf

We report on the patterns in zooplankton community structure on the Newfoundland and Labrador Shelf from seasonal collections along oceanographic sections during 2000–2007. We use a combination of constrained and unconstrained multivariate methods to assess latitudinal and cross shelf patterns in community structure. Both physical and biological features of the region are dominated by the cross-shelf gradient in water mass characteristics although there is evidence of a latitudinal gradient that may be a reflection of the influence of freshwater outflow from the Arctic. All analyses reveal a strong and consistent pattern in species composition among water masses that extends across spring, summer and autumn, although there are some variations that occur among seasons that reflect differences in development state of certain taxa. The strong association between community structure and water mass characteristics in the region may be the result of the Newfoundland and Labrador Shelf being at the intersection of several major oceanographic domains, bounded by strong Labrador and Gulf Stream currents, that allows the formation and persistence of well defined zooplankton communities. Our findings have implications for the region’s potential as a monitoring location for long term changes in ocean state.     

A review of three transform margins off eastern Canada

 The southwest Newfoundland transform margin has been studied by deep seismic reflection and refraction. Lower crustal reflectivity strengthens towards the margin, where there is a shear zone of thinned continental crust overplated with oceanic material. The reflectivity may be due to shear fabrics in the crust. Crustal thinning probably took place by flow in the lower crust. The Ungava transform margin has been less studied but has been explored and drilled. It appears more volcanic in character. The north Baffin region has undergone a complex tectonic history and provides an example of the transition from continent–ocean to continent–continent transform motion. Received: 9 March 1995 / Revision received: 25 July 1995     

From unjust uneconomic growth to sustainable fisheries in Newfoundland: The true costs of closing the inshore fishery for groundfish

Neoliberal economic and social policies during the last 65 years have placed a premium on continuous economic growth. Concern among ecological economists and other critics that economic growth results in loss of natural capital and ecosystem services led to introduction of the concept of “uneconomic growth,” defined as “growth of the macro economy that costs us more than it is worth” (Daly and Farley, Ecological economics principles and applications. Washington: Island Press; 2004). This paper proposes the concept of “unjust uneconomic growth” to pinpoint the additional costs of policies that promote uneconomic growth to the neglect of other considerations and uses the case of Newfoundland and Labrador fisheries policies since 1992 to document it. Newfoundland and Labrador fisheries experienced uneconomic growth in the 1980s leading to the collapse of ground fish stocks. The policies enacted since 1993 based on economic growth goals have failed to solve the ecological-social crisis and entailed additional costs to small-scale fisheries.     

Physical Modeling of Structure Formation at the Early Stages of the Iberia–Newfoundland Separation

Oceanology - The features of structure formation on the adjacent margins of Iberia and Newfoundland are considered based on an analysis of geological and geophysical data and physical modeling....     

High Arctic sea ice conditions influence marine birds wintering in Low Arctic regions

Ocean climate change is having profound biological effects in polar regions. Such change can also have far-reaching downstream effects in sub-polar regions. This study documents an environmental relationship between High Arctic sea ice changes and mortality events of marine birds in Low Arctic coastal regions. During April 2007 and March 2009, hundreds of beached seabird carcasses and moribund seabirds were found along the east and northeast coasts of Newfoundland, Canada. These seabird “wrecks” (i.e. dead birds on beaches) coincided with a period of strong, persistent onshore winds and heavily-accumulated sea ice that blocked bays and trapped seabirds near beaches. Ninety-two percent of wreck seabirds were Thick-billed Murres (Uria lomvia). Body condition and demographic patterns of wreck murres were compared to Thick-billed Murres shot in the Newfoundland murre hunt. Average body and pectoral masses of wreck carcasses were 34% and 40% lighter (respectively) than shot murres, indicating that wreck birds had starved. The acute nature of each wreck suggested that starvation and associated hypothermia occurred within 2–3 days. In 2007, first-winter murres (77%) dominated the wreck. In 2009, there were more adults (78%), mostly females (66%). These results suggest that spatial and temporal segregation in ages and sexes can play a role in differential survival when stochastic weather conditions affect discrete areas where these groups aggregate. In wreck years, southward movement of Arctic sea ice to Low Arctic latitudes was later and blocked bays longer than in most other years. These inshore conditions corresponded with recent climate-driven changes in High Arctic ice break-up and ice extent; coupled with local weather conditions, these ice conditions appeared to be the key environmental features that precipitated the ice-associated seabird wrecks in the Low Arctic region.     

FAO's statistic data and sustainability of fisheries and aquaculture: Comments on Pauly and Zeller (2017)

In a recent commentary, Pauly and Zeller disagreed with the Food and Agriculture Organization's interpretation of its global capture fishery production records, arguing that trends were distorted by unreliable statistics in some countries. They criticized FAO for not having used their “catch reconstructions” in the 2016 State of the World Fisheries and Aquaculture (SOFIA) report and questioned the interpretation and significance of FAO's aquaculture production statistics. In this paper, we refute their claims and demonstrate that their critique is based on fundamental misunderstandings caused by mixing up statistical metrics and using simple normative explanations to interpret highly complex datasets. We explain how FAO maintains, curates and updates the only validated source of global fisheries landings, describe our capacity building projects and activities underpinning the annual updates for the over 231 different sources of fisheries data, and clarify such updates include dialogues with member countries to improve and revise present and historical records. FAO will continue to work closely with member states, IGOs, NGOs, academia and civil society, to further improve fishery and aquaculture databases, while calling on states to make renewed efforts to improve data quality. It also welcomes research efforts that contribute to the improvement of statistical data which are critical to the sustainable management of fisheries and aquaculture.