Proceedings 2009/018

Proceedings of a Maritimes Science Advisory Process to Develop a Framework for Monitoring of Contaminants in the Gully Marine Protected Area: Part 1 - Data Inputs; 11 December 2007

Chairperson: T. Worcester

Summary

Representatives from the Maritimes Region’s Science Branch and Oceans and Coastal Management Division of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), Environment Canada, the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board, the Fishermen and Scientists Research Society, ExxonMobil, Dalhousie University, and Gadus Associates met at the Bedford Institute of Oceanography (BIO) in December 2007 to discuss past, present, and future contaminant monitoring in the Gully Marine Protected Area (MPA). This review of “data inputs” was the first in a series of 2 meetings that were intended to develop the scientific basis for a contaminant monitoring strategy for the Gully MPA. Presentations were made on the oceans management context for this work, followed by the history of contaminant studies in and around the Gully conducted by DFO Science, Dalhousie University, the Sable Offshore Energy Project, and others. A literature review of other relevant studies that might be informative in the development of a contaminant monitoring strategy was presented, as was an update of the oceanographic studies that had been conducted in the area to date. Finally, the components required for an effective contaminant monitoring strategy were discussed, including its scope, objectives, stressors, pathways of effects, indicators of impact, targets and reference points, monitoring approaches, evaluation and reporting, data management, and necessary resources. Additional sources of information of relevance for this discussion were identified, and planning for a second meeting (to be held in July 2008), which was intended to review the results of contaminant studies to date in more detail and to develop recommendations for next steps, was initiated. 

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