Science Advisory Report  2014/002

Assessment of stressors, impacts and Pathways of Effects for the Darnley Bay Anuniaqvia Niqiqyuam Area of Interest for Marine Protected Area designation

Summary

• Valued ecosystem components (VECs) for the Anuniaqvia Niqiqyuam Area of Interest (ANAOI) include Beluga Whale, Arctic Char, Ringed Seal, Bearded Seal, and their habitats, identified through traditional ecological knowledge, and ecosystem integrity and trophic links identified through scientific knowledge. VECs were considered to include the species’ habitat (including prey).
• Activities or drivers associated with the immediate area (i.e., specific drivers) with the potential to impact the VECs in the ANAOI include commercial fishing, dredging, infrastructure development, mining, port construction and operation, recreational fishing, scientific research activities, seismic surveys, shipping, subsistence hunting and fishing, and tourism.
• Pathways of effects (PoE) models were developed for each of the eleven specific drivers and resulting stressors to illustrate the cause/effect relationship. The risk (likelihood and impact) of each pathway was not assessed.
• In addition to the 11 specific drivers noted above, four drivers (pervasive drivers) were identified which include climate variability and change, contaminant transport, Arctic Ocean acidification and invasive/colonizing/vagrant species. These may also impact the ANAOI although specific PoE models were not developed for these.
• Main stressor categories included effects of artificial lighting, ballast water inputs, biota removal, contaminants, gear loss, habitat alteration and destruction, invasive species introductions, noise, sampling, ship strikes, and species’ disturbance. Where possible mechanisms and effects were identified.
• The PoE models developed provide simplistic representations of the potential relationship between the activity, stressors and effects on VECs in the ANAOI. They do not illustrate synergistic or cumulative effects.

This Science Advisory Report is from the February 6-7, 2013 Darnley Bay Area of Interest for Marine Protected Area designation: assessment of stressors, impacts and Pathways of Effects. Additional publications from this meeting will be posted on the DFO Science Advisory Schedule as they become available.

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