Coral & Sponge Conservation Strategy for Eastern Canada 2015

Table of Contents

• Complete Text
• Executive Summary
• Acronyms
• Introduction
• Purpose of the Strategy
• Why Protect Corals and Sponges?
• Geographic Scope
• International Context
• Canadian Context
• Status of Coral and Sponge Conservation in Eastern Canada
• Research on Corals and Sponges in Eastern Canada
• Objectives
• Targets and Actions
• Development and Implementation
• References
• Appendix A: Biology of Corals and Sponges in Eastern Canada
• Appendix B: Challenges for Coral and Sponge Conservation
• Appendix C: Management Measures
• Appendix D: Ecological Risk Assessment Framework
• Appendix E: Relevant Publications
• Contact Information

References

• Baillon, S., Hamel, J.F., Wareham, V.E., and Mercier, A. 2012. Deep cold-water corals as nurseries for fish larvae. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. doi:10.1890/120022.
• Baillon, S., Hamel, J.F., Wareham, V.E., Mercier, A. 2014 Seasonality in reproduction of the deep-water pennatulacean coral Anthoptilum grandiflorum Marine Biology 161.1:29-43.
• Baker, K.D., Haedrich, R.L., Snelgrove, P.V.R., Wareham, V.E., Edinger, E.N., and Gilkinson, K.D. 2012a. Small-scale patterns of deep-sea fish distributions and assemblages of the Grand Banks, Newfoundland continental slope. Deep-Sea Research, 65: 171-188.
• Baker, K.D., Wareham, V.E., Snelgrove, P.V.R., Haedrich, R.L., Fifield, D.A., Edinger, E.N., and Gilkinson, K.D. 2012b. Distributional patterns of deep-sea coral assemblages in three submarine canyons off Newfoundland, Canada. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 445: 235 – 249.
• Best, M., E. Kenchington, K . MacIsaac, V. E. Wareham, S. D. Fuller, and Thompson A. B. 2010. NAFO Scientific Council Studies, 2010, Number 43. doi: 10.2960/S.v43.m1.
• Campbell, J.S. and Simms, J.M. 2009. Status report on coral and sponge conservation in Canada. Fisheries and Oceans Canada. vii + 87.
• Colpron, E., E. Edinger, and Neis B. 2010. Mapping the distribution of deep-sea corals in the Northern Gulf o St. Lawrence using both scientific and local ecological knowledge. Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat Research Document 2010/047.
• DFO. 2002. Canada’s Ocean Strategy.
• DFO. 2005. Canada’s Oceans Action Plan.
• DFO. 2006a. Coral Conservation Plan: Maritimes Region (2006-2010). Oceans and Coastal Management Report 2006-01.
• DFO. 2006b. Impacts of trawl gears and scallop dredges on benthic habitats, populations and communities. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2006/025.
• DFO. 2007. Ecosystem Science Framework in Support of Integrated Management. (Accessed by: http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/science/publications/ecosystem/index-eng.htm)
• DFO. 2009a. Policy for Managing the Impacts of Fishing on Sensitive Benthic Areas. (Accessed at: http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/reports-rapports/regs/sff-cpd/benthi-back-fiche-eng.htm)
• DFO. 2009b. Sustainable Fisheries Framework. (Accessed at: http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/reports-rapports/regs/sff-cpd/overview-cadre-eng.htm)
• DFO. 2009c. Development of a Framework and Principles for the Biogeographic Classification of Canadian Marine Areas. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2009/056.
• DFO. 2010a. Pacific Region Cold-Water Coral and Sponge Conservation Strategy 2010-2015.
• DFO. 2010b. Occurrence, sensitivity to fishing, and ecological function of corals, sponges, and hydrothermal vents in Canadian waters (CSAS SAR - 2010/041). DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2010/041.
• DFO. 2010c. Potential impacts of fishing gears (excluding mobile bottom-contacting gear(s) on marine habitats and communities (CSAS SAR - 2010/003) . DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2010/003.
• DFO. 2011. Identification of Ecologically and Biologically Significant Areas (EBSA) in the Canadian Arctic (CSAS SAR - 2011/055). DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2011/055.
• DFO. 2013. Ecological Risk Assessment Framework (ERAF) for Coldwater Corals and Sponge Dominated Communities. Accessed at http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/reports-rapports/regs/sff-cpd/risk-ecolo-risque-eng.htm
• DOJ. 1985. Fisheries Act (R.S.C., 1985, c. F-14). (Accessed at: http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/F-14/page-10.html#s-35 .)
• DOJ. 1996. Oceans Act (S.C. 1996, c. 31). (Accessed at: http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/O-2.4/page-1.html)
• DOJ. 2002a. Species at Risk Act (S.C. 2002, c. 29). (Accessed at: http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/S-15.3/page-2.html#docCont)
• DOJ. 2002b. Canada National Marine Conservation Areas Act (Accessed at: http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/C-7.3/).
• DOJ. 2012. Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012 (S.C. 2012, c. 19, s. 52) (Accessed at: https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/fra/lois/C-15.21/)
• Edinger, E.N., Sherwood, O.A., Piper, D.J.W., Wareham, V.E., Baker, K.D., Gilkinson, K.D., and Scott, D.B. 2011. Geological features supporting deep-sea coral habitat in Atlantic Canada. Continental Shelf Research 31: 69-84.
• FAO. 2009. International Guidelines for the Management of Deep-sea Fisheries in the High Seas. Rome/Roma, 73p.
• Freiwald, A., Fosså, J., Grehan, A., Koslow, T., and Roberts, J. 2004. Cold-water coral reefs, out of sight – no longer out of mind. United Nations Environment Programme (UNEOP-WCMC). Cambridge, UK. 88p.
• Gass, S.E. and Willison, J.H.M. 2005. An assessment of the distribution of deep-sea corals in Atlantic Canada by using both scientific and local forms of knowledge. In Cold-water corals and ecosystems. Edited by A. Freiwald and J.M. Roberts. Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg. 223-245.
• Gilkinson, K. and Edinger, E. (eds.). 2009. The ecology of deep-sea corals of Newfoundland and Labrador waters: biogeography, life history, biogeochemistry, and relation to fishes. Can. Tech. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 2830: vi + 136.
• GOC 2011 National Framework for Canada’s Network of Marine Protected Areas (Accessed at http://dfo-mpo.gc.ca/oceans/publications/mpanf-cnzpm/page01-eng.html ).
• Hogg, M.M., Tendal, O.S., Conway, K.W., Pomponi, S.A., Van Soest, R.W.M., Gutt, J., Krautter, M. and Roberts, J.M., 2010 Deep-sea Sponge Grounds: Reservoirs of Biodiversity. UNEP-WCMC Biodiversity Series No. 32. UNEP-WCMC, Cambridge, UK.
• Kenchington, E., Best, M., Cogswell, A., MacIsaac, K., Murillo-Perez, F.J., MacDonald, B., Wareham, V., Fuller, S. D., Jørgensbye, H. I. Ø., Sklya, V., and Thompson, A. B. 2009. Coral Identification Guide NAFO Area. Sci. Coun. Studies, 42: 1-35. doi 10.2960/S.v42ml
• Kenchington, E., Cogswell, A., Lirette, E., and Rice, J. 2010. A Geographic Information System(GIS) Simulation Model for Estimating Commercial Sponge By-catch and Evaluating the Impact of Management Decisions. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2010/040.vi + 40 p.
• Knudby A, Kenchington E, Cogswell A.T., Lirette CG, Murillo F.J. Distribution modeling for sponges and sponge grounds in the northwest atlantic ocean. DFO, Dartmouth, NS (Canada); 2013a. 79 p.
• Knudby A., Kenchington E, Murillo F.J. Modeling the distribution of geodia sponges and sponge grounds in the northwest atlantic. PLoS One 2013b 12;8(12).
• Knudby A, Lirette C, Kenchington E, Murillo F.J. 2013c. Species Distribution Models of Black Corals, Large Gorgonian Corals and Sea Pens in the NAFO Regulatory Area. N6276. NAFO SCR Doc 13/78, 17pp.
• Lacharité M, Metaxas A. 2013. Early life history of deep-water gorgonian corals may limit their abundance. Public Library of Science One 8(6): e65394.
• Mercier, A., and J-F. Hamel. 2011. Contrasting reproductive strategies in three deep-sea octocorals from eastern Canada: Primnoa resedaeformis, Keratoisis ornata, and Anthomastus grandiflorus. Coral Reefs 30(1): DOI: 10.1007/s00 (338) 011-0724-8.
• Mercier, A., Z. Sun, and Hamel J-F. 2011. Reproductive periodicity, spawning and development of the deep-sea scleractinian coral Flabellum angulare. Mar. Biol. 158:371-380.
• Mortensen, P.B. and Buhl-Mortensen L. 2004. Distribution of deep-water gorgonian corals in relation to benthic habitat features of the Northeast Channel (Atlantic Canada). Marine Biology 144: 1223-1238.
• MSC. 2010. Principles and Criteria for Sustainable Fishing.
• NAFO. 2011a. NAFO Conservation and Enforcement Measures 2011. NAFO FC Doc. 11/1 Serial No. N5867. (Accessed at https://www.nafo.int/Portals/0/PDFs/fc/2011/fcdoc11-01.pdf)
• NAFO. 2011b. NAFO performing well. Annual Meeting Press Release. 23, September 2011. (Accessed at https://www.nafo.int/Portals/0/PDFs/press/press-2011.pdf?ver=2016-08-18-151836-477).
• NAFO, 2013. Recommendations from the WGFMS-VME to the Fisheries Commission. NAFO FC Doc. 13/7. Serial No. N6238
• NOAA. 2010. NOAA Strategic Plan for Deep-Sea Coral and Sponge Ecosystems: Research, Management, and International Cooperation. Silver Spring, MD: NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program. NOAA Technical Memorandum CRCP 11. 67 pp.
• Roberts, J.M., Wheeler, A.J., Freiwald, A. and Cairns, S. 2009. Cold-Water Corals; The Biology and Geology of Deep-Sea Coral Habitats. Cambridge University Press. New York.
• Sherwood, O.A., Jamieson, R.E., Edinger, E.N., and Wareham, V.E. 2008. Stable C and N isotopic composition of coldwater corals from the Newfoundland and Labrador continental slope: examination of tropic, depth, and spatial effects. Deep Sea Research I: Oceanographic Research Papers 55, 1392 1402.
• Sherwood, O.A. and Edinger, E.N. 2009. Ages and growth rates of some deep-sea gorgonian and antipatharian corals of Newfoundland and Labrador. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 66: 142-152.
• Sun, Z., J-F. Hamel, E. Edinger, and A. Mercier. 2010. Reproductive biology of the deep-sea octocoral Drifa glomerata in the Northwest Atlantic. Mar. Biol.157:863-873.
• UN. 1992. United Nations Treaty Collection.
• UN. 2006. Resolution 61/105. Resolution adopted by the General Assembly, Sustainable fisheries, including through the 1995 Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks, and related instruments
• Wareham, V.E. and Edinger, E.N. 2007. Distributions of deep sea corals in Newfoundland and Labrador waters. Bull. Mar. Sci. 81: 289 311.
• Wareham, V. 2010. Identification, distribution, & conservation of deep-sea corals in Canada’s Northwest Atlantic. MSc. Thesis, Memorial University, St. John’s, NL, Canada.
• Wareham, V.E., Ollerhead, N.E. and Gilkinson, K.D. 2010. Spatial Analysis of Coral and Sponge Densities with Associated Fishing Effort in Proximity to Hatton Basin (NAFO Divisions 2G-0B). DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2010/058, 46 pp.
• WSSD. 2002. World Summit on Sustainable Development.