Research Document - 2001/114
Oil and gas exploration off Cape Breton: Information concerning the biology and fishery of the Atlantic mackerel (Scomber scombrus) present in this area
By F. Grégoire
Abstract
The southern Gulf of St. Lawrence is the main spawning area for Atlantic mackerel (Scomber scombrus L.) in Canadian waters. Since 1983, a plankton-sampling survey has been conducted in this area for the primary purpose of estimating mackerel abundance by their eggs production. In the Maritimes and Quebec, mackerel are fished commercially from May to November. The largest landings are also made in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence and around Cape Breton Island. Each year, mackerel landings are sampled in each of the main landing ports. These data, like those from the abundance surveys and the commercial landings, have been used to describe the distribution of mackerel in the vicinity of Cape Breton Island. This area could soon become a target for oil exploration. If it does, then the information in the present report could potentially be used in studies to measure the possible impacts of oil exploration and even possible future oil and gas extraction in this area.
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.
- Date modified: