From allison.evans@acadiau.ca Tue May 16 08:04:29 1995 Return-Path: Received: from mx5.u.washington.edu by lists.u.washington.edu (5.65+UW95.02/UW-NDC Revision: 2.32 ) id AA11025; Tue, 16 May 95 08:04:29 -0700 Received: from relay.acadiau.ca by mx5.u.washington.edu (5.65+UW95.02/UW-NDC Revision: 2.31 ) id AA22089; Tue, 16 May 95 08:04:02 -0700 Received: from ace.acadiau.ca by relay.acadiau.ca with SMTP id AA28508 (5.65c/IDA-1.5 for ); Tue, 16 May 1995 12:03:42 -0300 Received: from ACE/MAILQUEUE by ace.acadiau.ca (Mercury 1.13); Tue, 16 May 95 12:03:41 AST4ADT Received: from MAILQUEUE by ACE (Mercury 1.13); Tue, 16 May 95 12:03:17 AST4ADT From: "ALISON EVANS" Organization: Acadia University To: indknow@u.washington.edu Date: Tue, 16 May 1995 12:03:15 AST X-File: estfin.txt X-Finfo: DOS,"estfin.txt",,,,Text Subject: Scoping Project- Bay of Fundy Priority: normal X-Mailer: Pegasus Mail for Windows (v2.0-WB3) Message-Id: <41F5C4148C@ace.acadiau.ca> Re: Scoping Project: Bay of Fundy Region No. of pages including cover 4 (please respond by 18 May 1995) Hello, Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS), Environmental Conservation Branch, Environment Canada Atlantic Region, Acadia Centre for Estuarine Research (ACER) and Clean Annapolis River Project (CARP) are sponsoring a 'scoping study' for the Bay of Fundy. We are in the process of compiling recent published research, technical reports, and proposals, monitoring studies and anecdotal information relating to Bay of Fundy environmental issues, with particular emphasis on the Upper Bay of Fundy. The intent is to develop a broad base of information from which a better understanding of the present state of the marine ecosystem of the region may emerge. This project arises from a perception that significant ecological changes are occurring in the Bay. The root causes of these changes are unclear. In early April,1995 several researchers met at Acadia to discuss the situation. They found that research conducted in the 1970's-1980's, largely associated with the proposed tidal power activities, offered a good baseline understanding of the Bay, but that recent changes could not be explained or understood on the basis of existing knowledge. Some examples they reported are: o CWS noted 'radically' different foraging behavior of shorebirds in the Upper Basin than had been recorded in earlier studies (1977). Preliminary observations of the site showed that the once firm intertidal substrate has become 'soupy' and that areas that once yielded ulo to 30,000 Corophium/m2 now appear to support none. o Cottage owners and researchers note that, especially within the last 10 years, mud flat areas in the Bay are being converted to salt marsh. Consequently the shoreline and the use of the area are shifting. Interestingly most of the barrages were constructed about Z0 years ago. It is possible that we are just now witnessing some of the impacts that the barrages are having on the physical and biological communities - including human use patterns. o Surprise finds included; trace amounts of radionuclides from a nuclear power plant in sediment collected in Annapolis Basin and the oil spill in New Brunswick last year that washed up on the shores of Parker's Cove, N.S. Some preliminary evidence and theory suggest subcurrent translocation across the Bay. o Recent activities to the Bay area such as baitworm, rockweed and urchin harvesting raise questions about sustainability and impacts on seabirds and other components of the marine environment. Likewise the growing interest in aquaculture raises ecological and land-use issues. o Activities such as land-use planning, recreational and ecotourism use of coastal lands are 'blossoming' in the region. Traditionally these disciplines have been addressed independently of scientific research and management. They are proving to be in some situations a formidable, yet always a necessary component to be factored into most scientific studies and the ecological equation as a whole. Maintaining ecological integrity balanced with human needs are desires are important to the success of any management plan - especially in coastal zone research and planning. The April meeting initiated the launch of this project as a scoping exercise. It is a first step in identifying the ecological shifts or changes that may be occurring in the Bay and to comprehensively understand their cause and effect relationships. The meeting participants emphasized the need to focus on indicators of ecosystem health. They recognized that each discipline, considered separately, does not on its own identify the many issues currently of concern and a more inter-disciplinary approach is essential. They concluded that many of these issues may be intricately interrelated and that present and future planning needs to be considered in terms of the Bay of Fundy as a whole, dynamic system. The ultimate aim of this scoping exercise is twofold; 1) this synthesis will serve as a draft discussion paper that can be used at a workshop tentatively scheduled for this September (1995) at the Old Orchard Inn, Greenwich, N.S. and 2) to identify research priorities and to stimulate research in order to assess and understand the Fundy ecosystem and its processes. We are asking you to provide us with recent (since 1980) bibliographies, reports or published work (or their titles, abstracts and source of publications) that you have been involved with, or know of, that directly or indirectly involve the Bay of Fundy, again with an emphasis on the Upper Bay region. Information such as ongoing research, future proposals, areas of concern and anecdotal observations of ecosystem change is also being requested. Your response by May 18, 1995 would be appreciated. The information and opinions you have are important. If you are not able to meet this deadline please call me or forward the information as soon as you can to the Acadia Centre for Estuarine Research. If you are interested in attending, or contributing to the workshop in September, please indicate so on the attached checklist. For more information or if you have further questions, please call me at ACER (9O2) 542-2201 ext. 1311. The checklist and other information (bibliographies, reports, abstracts, etc.) may be sent to us on computer disk or by: fax: (902) 542-3466 attention A. Evans e-mail: aevans@ace.acadiau.ca post: Acadia Centre for Estuarine Research Acadia University, Wolfville Nova Scotia BOP 1 XO courier: Acadia Centre for Estuarine Research 23 Westwood Ave., Wolfville Nova Scotia BOP 1 XO Thank you for your time and interest. I look forward to hearing from you! CHECKLIST OF RESEARCH AND STUDY IN THE BAY OF FUNDY REGION Please pass on copies of these pages to colleagues who are working on or are interested in the Bay of Fundy. Indicate your areas of research or interest. Your specific monitoring and research studies, past, present and proposed, should be listed on a separate sheet or put on a computer disk. An appended list of other titles, abstracts, bibliographic appendices and papers associated with your work or the Bay area would be valuable to us. Your concerns, comments and an indication as to the major issues are also welcomed. Thank you for your time and energy. ======================================================================= Name: Agency: Area of interest or research: {Please mark an x beside those areas of research or interest which apply to you and include a corresponding study location} TOPIC RESEARCH INTEREST LOCATION -------- --------------- -------------- -------------- Overview of the Bay and its ecosystem: 1. Geography/geology 2. Physical oceanography 3. Chemical oceanography 4. Biological oceanography a) pelagic communities b) benthic communities i) intertidal communities ii) subtidal communities 5. Wildlife a)birds i) shorebirds ii) seabirds iii) other b) marine mammals i) seals ii) whales iii) other TOPIC RESEARCH INTEREST LOCATION -------- --------------- -------------- -------------- 6. Finfish/fisheries a) pelagic b) demersal c) anadromous 7. Shellfish/fisheries a) crustaceans b) mollusks 8. Salt marshes 9. Other (specify) Indicators of ecosystem health: -please specify type of indicator(s) Issues: environmental stresses: anticipated impacts 1. Global warming: UV radiation 2. Salt marsh degradation and reclamation 3. Dykes: barrages: causeways 4. Erosion: sedimentation 5. Hydro: tidal power developments 6. Aquaculture development TOPIC RESEARCH INTEREST LOCATION -------- --------------- -------------- -------------- 7. Fisheries harvesting pressures a) finfish b) shellfish i) crustaceans ii) mollusks c) rockweed d) wrackweed e) urchins f) baitworm 8. Introduced species 9. Ecotourism: recreational use: shoreline access 10. Land-use planning: shoreline development 11. Other habitat disturbances (seabed gravel, extraction, shorebird roosting site disturbances, etc) 12. Pollution and contaminants a) Agriculture i) pesticides/herbicides ii) nutrients TOPIC RESEARCH INTEREST LOCATION -------- --------------- -------------- -------------- b) Industrial and shipping i) pulp mill wastes ii) oil/hydrocarbon spills iii) nuclear power plant discharges/ radioisotopes iv) acid rain/air borne contaminants v) heavy metals vi) organochlorides and other organics vii) ocean dumping viii) marine transportation infrastructure c) Municipal i) sewage ii) storm drainage iii) leachates from terrestrial dumpsites d) Other (please specify) 13. Natural toxins (PSP, Domoic acid, etc.) Your comments, concerns and major issues: (use additional paper/space if needed) Are you interested in participating in a fall workshop? YES NO Published papers, technical reports, etc. appended? YES NO .