Science Advisory Report  2011/067

Science advice from the risk assessment for ship-mediated introductions of aquatic nonindigenous species to the Canadian Arctic

Summary

• Canadian Arctic ports are utilized by international and domestic ships, resulting in potential for species transfers between connected ports via hull fouling and ballast water discharge vectors.
• Introduction of non-indigenous species (NIS) can potentially cause great ecological, social and economic harm to an area.
• This study ranks relative risk posed by ship-mediated introduction of NIS to Arctic ports based on 2005-2008 shipping data and recent environmental data.
• In order of importance, Churchill, MB; Iqaluit, NU and Erebus Bay/Beechey Island, NU are identified as Arctic ports with the highest relative risk of environmental consequences due to introduction of NIS via hull fouling.
• Churchill, MB is the Arctic port with the highest relative risk of environmental consequences due to introduction of NIS via ballast water discharge.
• Biological sampling of ship vectors should be conducted to further quantify/calibrate invasion risk with consideration of species-specific and site-specific characteristics.
• Future research and/or monitoring activities at Arctic ports should be prioritized at locations identified as higher risk by this assessment.
• As a number of ports are now being planned or developed in the Arctic, shipping patterns may change significantly. If shipping traffic or global climate conditions change, a re-assessment may be required.

This Science Advisory Report is from the Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat, national advisory meeting of March 1-2, 2011 on the Risk Assessment for ship-mediated introductions of aquatic nonindigenous species to the Great Lakes and the Canadian Arctic. Additional publications from this process will be posted as they become available on the DFO Science Advisory Schedule.

Complete document (PDF, 212 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.