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W.A Montevecchi, C.M Burke, G.K. Davoren 2 , and F.K. Wiese 3 Coasts Stress Project

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

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W.A Montevecchi, C.M Burke, G.K. Davoren 2 , and F.K. Wiese 3 Coasts Stress Project

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  1. TYPE II ERROR ON THE GRAND BANKS INADEQUATE MONITORINGOF MARINE BIRDS AND MAMMALS AT HIBERNIA AND TERRA NOVA W.A Montevecchi, C.M Burke, G.K. Davoren2, and F.K. Wiese3 Coasts Stress Project Biopsychology Programme, Memorial University of Newfoundland 2Zoology Dept., University of Manitoba; 3School of Aquatic and Fisheries Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, USA

  2. 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

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

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

  5. Objectives • to present data from independent surveys that document • 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 • to use this information to mitigate & minimize mortality & disturbance

  6. The Characters - Seabird Diversity

  7. Auks – most vulnerable to oil pollution

  8. Offshore Oil and Gas Activity

  9. Tanker and Shipping Traffic

  10. Unique Oceanographic Regime • lowest penetration of Arctic water in the Atlantic

  11. Regional Seabird Populations 52 N 51 Leach’s Storm-Petrel 50 Funk Island 49 Newfoundland Northern Gannet 48 47 Cape St. Mary’s 46 -58 -56 -54 -52 -50 Longitude Common Murre Latitude Baccalieu Island Atlantic Puffin Witless Bay Black-legged Kittiwake Manx Shearwater

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

  13. Offshore Support Vessel Surveys Maersk Bonavista

  14. Survey Design & Methodology 52 N 50 Funk Island 3000 m Newfoundland Newfoundland Baccalieu Latitude 200 m 48 Hibernia Witless Bay Cape St. Mary's 46 Terra Nova -58 -56 -54 -52 -50 -48 Longitude

  15. Results 10 8 6 birds/km 4 2 0 Feb Apr May Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Seasonal Abundance of Marine Birds

  16. Auks Kittiwakes Gulls Petrels Shearwaters Fulmar 100 75 50 25 0 Winter Spring Summer Fall Seasonal Species Diversity percent

  17. 52 Mean birds/ 5km N 1 to 1.9 2 to 9.9 50 Funk Island 10 to 60 Newfoundland 3000 m 200 m 48 Baccalieu Witless Bay Hibernia Cape St. Mary's 46 FPSO -58 -56 -54 -52 -50 -48 Marine Bird Distribution Newfoundland Latitude Longitude

  18. mean mammals/per 5 km 1 to 1.9 2 to 4.9 5 to 10 Marine Mammal Distribution and Abundance N 54 52 50 Funk Island Newfoundland Newfoundland Baccalieu Latitude 48 Hibernia Terra Nova 46 Cape St. Mary's Humpback whale 44 -58 -56 -54 -52 -50 -48 Longitude

  19. Observations at Offshore Platforms

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

  21. Mortality from Platform Flaresand Lights

  22. Mortality Associated with Oil Pollution Hibernia Ice Wall

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

  24. CONCLUSIONS 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?

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

  26. Industry self reporting will not ensure environmental protection

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