Science Advisory Report 2021/028

Coral and Sponge Mitigations in Relation to Exploratory Drilling Programs in the Newfoundland and Labrador Region

Summary

• An avoidance and mitigation framework was developed for exploratory drilling to eliminate or minimize impacts on corals and sponges.
• It is recommended that exploratory drilling activities (including the zone of influence) do not overlap significant benthic areas (SiBAs) and vulnerable marine ecosystem (VME) habitats.
• Outside of SiBAs and VME habitats, the zone of influence from exploratory drilling activities should be at least 2 km away from significant densities of corals and sponges identified during pre-drill surveys. Drilling discharge dispersion models/zone of influence (1.5 mm probable no-effects threshold (PNET) predictions should be used to determine if a larger buffer is necessary.
• Provisional significant density thresholds appropriate for the coral and sponge fauna of the offshore NL Region have been developed. These mitigation thresholds should be reviewed and updated considering new information as it becomes available.
• Best practices are recommended for dispersion models, pre-drill (acoustic and visual) surveys, and follow-up monitoring to assist in avoiding and mitigating the effects of exploratory drilling activities on coral and sponge habitats.
• A precautionary approach was applied to the development of the framework and coral and sponge density thresholds, recognizing that there are knowledge gaps concerning corals and sponges and the impacts of exploratory drilling on them.
• The recommended best practices and mitigation measures for exploratory drilling in relation to coral and sponge areas only consider routine operations and exclude accidental events (e.g., spills) and cumulative effects. With increasing exploratory activity in the region, it will be important to consider cumulative effects on corals and sponges from anthropogenic activities.
• Data (e.g., raw data and data products, as well as metadata) collected on corals and sponges by industry during seafloor surveys (e.g., bathymetric, visual) relating to exploratory drilling activities in the NL bioregion should be made available to DFO NL Science.

This Science Advisory Report is from the January 28-30, 2020 Regional Peer Review Process on Coral and Sponge Mitigations in Relation to Exploratory Drilling Programs in the Newfoundland and Labrador Region. Additional publications from this meeting will be posted on the Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) Science Advisory Schedule as they become available.

Science Advisory Report 2021/028 (PDF, 737 KB)

Accessibility Notice

This document is available in PDF format. If the document is not accessible to you, please contact the Secretariat to obtain another appropriate format, such as regular print, large print, Braille or audio version.