CSAR analyzes impact of environmental and human factors on marine life

The Marine Institute's Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Resources (CSAR) is undertaking an analysis of marine life in Placentia Bay, supported by a $174,000 investment from the Provincial Government

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Improved analysis of the impact of environmental and human factors on marine life will lead to better management and utilization of the local fishery.

“A better understanding of our ocean environment and maximizing ocean industries are principles that are at the very heart of Oceans of Opportunity,” said the Honourable Shawn Skinner, Minister of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development. “Through the implementation of the industry-focused strategy, we are able to support innovative initiatives like CSAR’s analysis of the marine environment. I am confident that it will play a key role protecting Placentia Bay – a bay that has billions of dollars transported in and out of it annually while being home to a centuries old fishery.”

CSAR is part of the Marine Institute’s School of Fisheries. The centre promotes the sustainable development of aquatic resources and protection of marine and freshwater environments. Its main areas of focus are conservation, harvesting technology and fisheries development for emerging species.

“The Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture is pleased to participate in, and support, this valuable project,” said the Honourable Tom Hedderson, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture. “The overall objective of the project is to build the expertise in acoustic telemetry within the Fisheries and Marine Institute. This will allow the Marine Institute to better serve the fishing industry in terms of resource management and to the benefit of the scientific community. This technology will allow for a better understanding of the variety of influences that effect the marine environment and how we impact the biology and ecology of commercially fished marine resources in the province.”

With the Provincial Government’s investment, CSAR – in collaboration with Lotek Wireless – will attach telemetric technology to marine life in Placentia Bay and track their movements. This state-of-the-art telemetry technology – which involves attaching transmitters to animals and tracking their movements – will allow for the remote measurement and reporting of information into how the bay’s marine life, most notably snow crab, American plaice, Atlantic cod, and Atlantic lobster, interact with external influences.

“The Marine Institute is pleased to be a recipient of funding from the Provincial Government’s Oceans of Opportunity,” said Glenn Blackwood, executive director, Marine Institute. “This new initiative will greatly aid research efforts in Placentia Bay. The use of state-of-the-art telemetry technology will advance our efforts to understand the influence of the environment and human activities on the movement, behaviours and habitat use of commercially and ecologically important species of marine life.”

This initiative was funded through a $135,000 investment from the Department of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development, and a $39,000 contribution from the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture. Oceans of Opportunity is a five-year, $28 million strategy focused on stimulating growth that best positions Newfoundland and Labrador’s ocean technology sector. It is designed to improve supports to business, strengthen ties between institutions and industry, and develop a new marketing approach for select target markets.