Science Response 2018/025

Potential effects of the construction of marine terminals in the Saguenay fjord on St.Lawrence beluga and its habitat

Context

The construction of two new marine terminals is planned in the upstream section of the Saguenay Fjord. There are plans to build a terminal on the north shore, in the Sainte-Rose-du-Nord area (Saguenay Port Authority project), and a second, near the Grande-Anse marine terminal in the Saguenay borough of La Baie (Énergie Saguenay project). Once in operation, these two terminals would increase the volume of marine traffic on the Saguenay by 300 vessels, from 225 vessels per year (in 2016) to 525 per year. By 2030, traffic at the Grande-Anse and Bagotville wharves is expected to increase by 110 vessels. The total of 635 vessels, or 1,270 transits per year, will produce a 2.8-fold increase in the number of vessels navigating the Saguenay.

The two new terminals are to be constructed at the northern edge of the St. Lawrence Estuary beluga’s range in the Saguenay. To reach the new terminals, vessels will have to cross very important beluga habitat, including critical habitat as defined in the recovery strategy.

This Science Response Report results from the Science Response Process from the Regional Ecosystems Management Branch (REMB) to the Regional Science Branch (RSB) to assess the potential effects of marine terminal construction projects in the Saguenay Fjord on the St. Lawrence Estuary beluga and its habitat. The REMB’s spe

cific questions are:

1. Harm belugas (individuals)
2. Where applicable, jeopardize the survival or recovery of the beluga population
3. If applicable, specify: Which function of the life cycle will be affected; how it will be affected; and during which period of the year. Please indicate whether any areas are at greater risk.

Question 2. No mitigation measures that might be implemented by the proponent were presented in the impact study, apart from participation in the Working Group on Marine Traffic and Protection of Marine Mammals in the Gulf of St. Lawrence committee (G2T3M) of the St. Lawrence Action Plan’s Navigation Coordination Committee. Please indicate, where applicable, the mitigation measures that would avoid:

1. Jeopardizing the survival or recovery of the beluga population
2. Harming belugas (individuals).
3. Please indicate the extent to which these mitigation measures would reduce the level of risk in (a) and (b) (define the risk level as “none," "low," or "high”).

Question 3. Are other marine mammal species in the Saguenay Fjord and the St. Lawrence Estuary (SLE) likely to be affected by the increase in marine traffic caused by the project(s)?

1. If so, which species?
2. Do the Beluga Whale risk assessments and mitigation measures apply to those species? If not, what would the effects and appropriate mitigation measures be?

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