Research Document - 2012/094

Assessment of the potential impacts of northern shrimp (Pandalus borealis) trawl fishing on benthic habitats in the Estuary and northern Gulf of St. Lawrence

By M. Lévesque, L. Savard, C. Moritz, and P. Archambault

Abstract

This document outlines the information that can be used to identify sites where sustained northern shrimp trawl fishing could have amajor impact on benthic habitats in general and on vulnerable marine ecosystems in particular. Northern shrimp are found mainly in channels at depths of 200 to 300 m where sediment is fine and consolidated and where natural disturbances have minimal impact on habitat and biological organisms. The majority of fishing sites subjected to regular and intensive trawling are located at depths of 200 to 300 m in the Esquiman and Anticosti channels and along the two slopes of the Laurentian Channel between the eastern end of Anticosti Island and the estuary. These areas are less suitable for the establishment of highly diverse benthic epifauna. The cumulative impact of shrimp trawling has likely been minimal on sea pen fields since the depths targeted by fishing are not optimal depths for the establishment of sea pen. Significant concentrations of sponges are distributed throughout the area and regular fishing activities appear to have affected sponge distributions.

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