Saint John Oil Spill Exercise
Synthesis prepared by the MSP and PIER Science Teams
25 June, 2020
Potential Exposure Zones (PEZs) polygon
Site: SaintJohn
This report was prepared by the MSP and PIER teams for the Point Tupper Maeine Services Corporation (PTMSC) oil spill exercise, and to evaluate its potential use for spill incidents. A polygon surrounding the spill areas (Predicted Exposure Zone: PEZ) was used to search regional databases (2002 - 2018) and summarize species that have been recorded. Species lists generated in this synthesis is subsequently circulated to emergency responders in Maritimes Science to verify and compliment the information provided (e.g. spatial and temporal presence/absence of species in the area).
Map below shows the PEZ polygon (blue) used to search regional databases and summarize recorded species.
Regional Databases
Ecosystem Research Vessel (RV) Survey
Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) has conducted Research Vessel (RV) surveys in the Maritimes Region using a standardized protocol. For more information see https://waves-vagues.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/Library/4062092x.pdf. The search of the Ecosystem RV Survey database resulted in the Table below that summarizes records by species or species group.
| Total_number_records_RV |
|---|
| 1340 |
| Species | Records |
|---|---|
| AMERICAN LOBSTER | 51 |
| HERRING(ATLANTIC) | 51 |
| ALEWIFE | 50 |
| WINTER FLOUNDER | 50 |
| SEA RAVEN | 46 |
| LONGHORN SCULPIN | 45 |
| SILVER HAKE | 45 |
| ATLANTIC ROCK CRAB | 41 |
| HADDOCK | 41 |
| WHITE HAKE | 41 |
| PANDALUS MONTAGUI | 40 |
| WITCH FLOUNDER | 33 |
| SQUIRREL OR RED HAKE | 31 |
| LITTLE SKATE | 29 |
| COD(ATLANTIC) | 28 |
| OCEAN POUT | 28 |
| SEA SCALLOP | 27 |
| JONAH CRAB | 26 |
| SPINY DOGFISH | 24 |
| THORNY SKATE | 23 |
| SMOOTH SKATE | 21 |
| SPONGES | 21 |
| SHAD AMERICAN | 20 |
| OCTOPUS | 19 |
| SPINY SUNSTAR | 19 |
| CRANGON SEPTEMSPINOSA | 18 |
| WINTER SKATE | 18 |
| ASTEROIDEA S.C. | 16 |
| ASTERIAS RUBENS | 15 |
| FOURBEARD ROCKLING | 15 |
| BRITTLE STAR | 14 |
| HYAS COARCTATUS | 13 |
| LUMPFISH | 13 |
| BLOOD STAR (GENUS) | 12 |
| RADIATED SHANNY | 12 |
| AMERICAN PLAICE | 11 |
| NORTHERN HAGFISH | 11 |
| SEA ANEMONE | 11 |
| ALLIGATORFISH | 10 |
| Skate;LITTLE OR WINTER; Unspecified | 10 |
| TOAD CRAB | 10 |
| LEMONWEED | 9 |
| POLLOCK | 9 |
| SHORT-FIN SQUID | 9 |
| BRILL/WINDOWPANE | 8 |
| MACKEREL(ATLANTIC) | 8 |
| BLUEBACK HERRING | 7 |
| REDFISH UNSEPARATED | 7 |
| SNAKE BLENNY | 7 |
| LEBBEUS POLARIS | 6 |
| RAINBOW SMELT | 6 |
| SEA MOUSE | 6 |
| APHRODITA SP. | 5 |
| BUTTERFISH | 5 |
| DAISY | 5 |
| KRILL SHRIMP | 5 |
| MONKFISH,GOOSEFISH,ANGLER | 5 |
| COMB JELLIES | 4 |
| HALIBUT(ATLANTIC) | 4 |
| HERMIT CRABS | 4 |
| HIPPASTERIA PHRYGIANA | 4 |
| MUSSELS (NS) | 4 |
| SAND DOLLARS | 4 |
| TURBOT,GREENLAND HALIBUT | 4 |
| ANTHOZOA SEA ANEMONES | 3 |
| ASTARTE SP. | 3 |
| ASTERIAS FORBESI | 3 |
| ATLANTIC SEASNAIL | 3 |
| ATLANTIC SILVERSIDE | 3 |
| BASKET STARS | 3 |
| BRISTLE WORMS | 3 |
| DICHELOPANDALUS LEPTOCERUS | 3 |
| GULF SEA SNAIL | 3 |
| HENRICA SP | 3 |
| HOOKEAR SCULPIN,ATL. | 3 |
| ICELAND SCALLOP | 3 |
| JELLYFISHES | 3 |
| KNOTTED WRACK | 3 |
| LONGFIN SQUID, LONGFIN INSHORE SQUID | 3 |
| Northern Krill | 3 |
| PANDALUS BOREALIS | 3 |
| SEA URCHIN (GREEN) | 3 |
| SEA URCHINS | 3 |
| SPIRONTOCARIS LILJEBORGII | 3 |
| THREESPINE STICKLEBACK | 3 |
| WRYMOUTH | 3 |
| ASTERIAS SP. | 2 |
| BIVALVIA C. | 2 |
| CAPELIN | 2 |
| ECHINARACHNIUS PARMA | 2 |
| FIRST UNIDENTIFIED PER SET | 2 |
| LEPIDONOTUS SQUAMATUS | 2 |
| NEW ENGLAND NEPTUNE | 2 |
| NORTHERN SAND LANCE | 2 |
| ORGANIC DEBRIS | 2 |
| POLYMASTIA F. | 2 |
| SEAWEED,(ALGAE),KELP | 2 |
| STRIPED ATLANTIC WOLFFISH | 2 |
| TOAD CRAB,UNIDENT. | 2 |
| TOMCOD(ATLANTIC) | 2 |
| WAVE WHELK,COMMON EDIBLE | 2 |
| ACTINIIDAE F. | 1 |
| ATLANTIC SEA POACHER | 1 |
| ATLANTOPANDALUS PROPINQUUS | 1 |
| AXIUS SERRATUS | 1 |
| BARNDOOR SKATE | 1 |
| BLOOD STAR | 1 |
| BLOOD WORMS | 1 |
| BOBTAIL SQUID | 1 |
| BOLOCERA SP. | 1 |
| BROWN ROCKWEED | 1 |
| BRYOZOANS P. | 1 |
| CLAMS (NS) | 1 |
| COMMON MUSSELS | 1 |
| CRANGON SP. | 1 |
| CUNNER | 1 |
| DAUBED SHANNY | 1 |
| DEAD MANS FINGERS | 1 |
| EYED SPONGE | 1 |
| FOURSPOT FLOUNDER | 1 |
| HYDROZOA C. | 1 |
| INQUILINE SEASNAIL | 1 |
| LAETMONICE FILICORNIS | 1 |
| LAMPSHELLS | 1 |
| LANTERNFISH (NS) | 1 |
| MOLLUSCA SHELLS EMPTY | 1 |
| MUD STAR | 1 |
| NEPHTYIDFAE F. | 1 |
| OCEAN QUAHAUG | 1 |
| OPHIURA SP. | 1 |
| PARALEPIS BREVIROSTRIS | 1 |
| PSOLUS PHANTAPUS | 1 |
| PURPLE SUNSTAR | 1 |
| ROCK GUNNEL(EEL) | 1 |
| SAND LANCE (NS) | 1 |
| SCLEROCRANGON BOREAS | 1 |
| SEA CUCUMBER (COMMON) | 1 |
| SEA POTATO | 1 |
| SEA SPIDER | 1 |
| SEASNAIL UNIDENTIFIED | 1 |
| SHORTHORN SCULPIN | 1 |
| SKATE UNID. EGGS | 1 |
| SNAILS AND SLUGS | 1 |
| SPINDLE SHELL | 1 |
| SPOTTED TINSELFISH | 1 |
| TEREBRATULINA SP. | 1 |
| THREEBEARD ROCKLING | 1 |
| WHELK EGGS (NS) | 1 |
| WHELKS | 1 |
| YELLOWTAIL FLOUNDER | 1 |
Map below shows the location of sets performed in the Ecosystem RV Survey database (records for all sets displayed are summarized in the table above). The yellow polygon shows the locations of the theoretical spill location. The blue polygon displays the PEZ used for this synthesis.
Industry Survey Database (ISDB)
ISDB is a DFO database that contains at-sea fish catch observations from commercial fishing vessels operating in the North West Atlantic.
The search of ISDB resulted in the Table below that summarizes records by species or species group. Records were cropped to match PEZ.
| Total_number_records_ISDB |
|---|
| 1328 |
| Species | Records |
|---|---|
| WINTER FLOUNDER | 89 |
| AMERICAN LOBSTER | 86 |
| SEA SCALLOP | 73 |
| FOREIGN ARTICLES,GARBAGE | 70 |
| SEA RAVEN | 70 |
| STONES AND ROCKS | 69 |
| HADDOCK | 65 |
| COD(ATLANTIC) | 63 |
| LONGHORN SCULPIN | 47 |
| WHITE HAKE | 46 |
| THORNY SKATE | 37 |
| WITCH FLOUNDER | 37 |
| SPINY DOGFISH | 36 |
| JONAH CRAB | 33 |
| MONKFISH,GOOSEFISH,ANGLER | 33 |
| SCALLOP SHELLS | 30 |
| POLLOCK | 28 |
| WINTER SKATE | 28 |
| ALEWIFE | 27 |
| LITTLE SKATE | 23 |
| SMOOTH SKATE | 22 |
| SILVER HAKE | 21 |
| HERRING(ATLANTIC) | 20 |
| ASTEROIDEA S.C. | 18 |
| SQUIRREL OR RED HAKE | 16 |
| REDFISH UNSEPARATED | 15 |
| ATLANTIC ROCK CRAB | 14 |
| OCEAN POUT(COMMON) | 14 |
| LUMPFISH | 13 |
| SKATES (NS) | 13 |
| HALIBUT(ATLANTIC) | 12 |
| LEMONWEED | 12 |
| AMERICAN PLAICE | 10 |
| PANDALUS BOREALIS | 10 |
| SHAD AMERICAN | 10 |
| SEAWEED,(ALGAE),KELP | 9 |
| BROWN SEAWEEDS | 8 |
| RAINBOW SMELT | 6 |
| SHORT-FIN SQUID | 6 |
| STRIPED ATLANTIC WOLFFISH | 6 |
| FOURBEARD ROCKLING | 5 |
| HERMIT CRABS | 5 |
| SEA URCHINS | 5 |
| SPONGES | 5 |
| PORBEAGLE,MACKEREL SHARK | 4 |
| SHRIMPS | 4 |
| SQUID (NS) | 4 |
| SUMMER FLOUNDER | 4 |
| ACANTHOCEPHALA P. | 3 |
| BRILL/WINDOWPANE | 3 |
| OCTOPUS | 3 |
| AMERICAN EEL | 2 |
| BARNDOOR SKATE | 2 |
| BLUEFISH | 2 |
| CUNNER | 2 |
| CUSK | 2 |
| EELPOUTS(NS) | 2 |
| SCULPIN (NS) | 2 |
| SCULPINS | 2 |
| TURBOT,GREENLAND HALIBUT | 2 |
| YELLOWTAIL FLOUNDER | 2 |
| CEPHALOPODA C. | 1 |
| GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL | 1 |
| HAKE (NS) | 1 |
| LONGFIN MAKO | 1 |
| MACKEREL(ATLANTIC) | 1 |
| OFF-SHORE HAKE | 1 |
| PAGURUS SP. | 1 |
| PONTASTER SP. | 1 |
| PURPLE STARFISH | 1 |
| ROCK GUNNEL(EEL) | 1 |
| ROUND SKATE | 1 |
| SAND DOLLARS | 1 |
| SCULPIN | 1 |
| SEA CUCUMBERS | 1 |
| SNAKE BLENNY | 1 |
| TOMCOD(ATLANTIC) | 1 |
The Maritime Fishery Information System (MARFIS)
MARFIS is a DFO database, managed by the Policy and Economics Branch, that houses information on the fisheries of the Maritimes Region. This fishery monitoring information represents a complete census of almost all commercial fishing activities.
The search of MARFIS resulted in the Table below that summarizes records by species or species group. Records were cropped to match PEZ.
| Total_number_records_MARFIS |
|---|
| 89558 |
| Species | Records |
|---|---|
| HADDOCK | 19355 |
| COD | 13199 |
| WINTER FLOUNDER | 10471 |
| SCALLOP, SEA | 9287 |
| WHITE HAKE | 6673 |
| POLLOCK | 6629 |
| SCULPIN | 5210 |
| GREYSOLE/WITCH | 3844 |
| HALIBUT | 3374 |
| REDFISH | 3008 |
| MONKFISH | 3005 |
| FLOUNDER, UNSPECIFIED | 1757 |
| CATFISH | 1388 |
| AMERICAN PLAICE | 630 |
| WOLFFISH, STRIPED | 437 |
| DOGFISH | 224 |
| SEA URCHINS | 219 |
| CUSK | 169 |
| SHARK, MAKO | 122 |
| YELLOWTAIL | 78 |
| SKATE | 76 |
| SHARK, PORBEAGLE/MACKEREL | 69 |
| SHAD | 61 |
| GROUNDFISH, UNSPECIFIED | 56 |
| HERRING | 33 |
| SQUID, UNSPECIFIED | 33 |
| GREENLAND HALIBUT/TURBOT | 31 |
| SEA CUCUMBER | 21 |
| SHARK, UNSPECIFIED | 21 |
| SILVER HAKE | 20 |
| RED HAKE | 19 |
| WOLFFISH, UNSPECIFIED | 14 |
| CRAB, ROCK | 10 |
| SHARK, BLUE | 5 |
| LOBSTER | 4 |
| MACKEREL | 3 |
| SHRIMP, PANDALUS BOREALIS | 2 |
| TUNA, BLUEFIN | 1 |
Map below shows the location of samples recorded in the MARFIS and ISDB databases (records are summarized in the tables/sections above). The yellow polygon shows the locations of the theoretical oil spill site. The blue polygon displays the PEZ used for this synthesis. Records were cropped to match PEZ.
Whale Sightings Database
Most sightings are collected on an opportunistic basis and observations may come from individuals with a variety of expertise in marine mammal identification experiences. Most data have been gathered from platforms of opportunity that were vessel-based. For more information please contact Pamela.Emery@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
Map below shows location of marine mammals sightings recorded in the Fisheries and Oceans whale sightings database. Map includes SARA and COSEWIC species within the region of interest. The yellow polygon shows the locations of the theoretical oil spill site. The blue polygon displays the PEZ used for this synthesis.
Resources
Sources of Uncertainty
Coastal areas are generally not adequately sampled on spatial and temporal scales of most relevance to oil spill incidents, i.e. tens to hundreds of meters and hours to months, and hence information on these space and time scales is generally not contained within the various data sources available to DFO, including the surveys referred to in this document. Therefore, there is uncertainty as to the exact distribution of species in the area of the theoretical oil spill.
MARFIS and ISDB do not fully sample the region spatially or temporally and, therefore, additional information on presence and habitat use (i.e. spawning, migration, feeding) must be drawn from larger-scale studies.
The marine mammal sightings database has inherent problems with negative or positive reactions by cetaceans to the approach of such vessels that have not yet been factored into the data. Sighting effort has not been quantified (i.e., the numbers cannot be used to estimate true species density or abundance for an area). Lack of sightings do not represent lack of species present in a particular area. Numbers sighted have not been verified (especially in light of the significant differences in detectability among species). For completeness, the data represent an amalgamation of sightings from a variety of years and seasons.
This document
This synthesis is created using Rmarkdown and therefore this document can be reproduced and reused using the code available in https://github.com/AtlanticR/MSP/tree/master/SearchPEZ. The full document can be updated rapidly as more or different information becomes available.
This document was prepared by the Science MSP Team: Catalina.Gomez@dfo-mpo.gc.ca, Gordana.Lazin@dfo-mpo.gc.ca, Brian.Bower@dfo-mpo.gc.ca, Phil.Greyson@dfo-mpo.gc.ca, and Tana.Worcester@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
and PIER team: Adrian.Hamer@dfo-mpo.gc.ca, Cara.Harvey@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
Acknowledgements
Mike.McMahon@dfo-mpo.gc.ca! for providing code and advice in the use of Mar.datawrangling: A suite of tools for extracting, filtering and aggregating data from the Maritimes fisheries science databases https://github.com/Maritimes/Mar.datawrangling
The Atlantic R Learning & Development Initiative https://github.com/AtlanticR.