Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture Issues Scan of Coastal and Ocean Areas of ...

144 Pages·2008·3.82 MB·English

DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES AND
AQUACULTURE
Issues Scan of Selected Coastal and Ocean

Areas of Newfoundland and Labrador

Final Report

Final Report –
Issues Scan of Selected Coastal and
Ocean Areas of Newfoundland and Labrador
Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture
Department of Environment and Conservation

Prepared for:
Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture
Department of Environment and Conservation

Prepared by:
BAE-Newplan Group Limited
1133 Topsail Road
Mount Pearl, NF A1N 5G2

Date
October 31, 2007

Coastal and Oceans Issues Scan October 2007
Disclaimer Project No. 722785

DISCLAIMER

Information in this report is provided by the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Although every effort was made to ensure that the information in this report is accurate and
complete, its complete integrity cannot be guaranteed. The issues raised in this report do not
necessarily represent opinions or professional advice of the Department of Fisheries and
Aquaculture, the Department of Environment and Conservation, or Fisheries and Oceans
Canada unless clearly referenced.
Information in this report is provided by the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture and the
Department of Environment and Conservation solely for the user's information and it is provided
without warranty, guarantee, or responsibility of any kind. The Government of Newfoundland
and Labrador and its employees will not be liable for any loss or damages of any nature, direct
or indirect, arising from use of the information provided in this report. Readers of this report
should verify the information provided in this report prior to acting on it.
Final Report
BAE-Newplan Group Limited Page i

Coastal and Oceans Issues Scan October 2007
Acknowledgements Project No. 722785

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Acknowledgment for assistance in the development of this report is given to the Provincial
Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, as well as the department of Environment and
Conservation. Fisheries and Oceans Canada also played a significant role by contributing
advice and relevant past reports completed by the department.
Most importantly, considerable thanks are given to the many residents of the coastal
management areas that took the time to meet and discuss what they consider to be the coastal
and ocean issues in their particular region. Efforts such as theirs play a significant role in
attaining the goal of community-driven coastal and ocean management in this province.
Final Report
BAE-Newplan Group Limited Page ii

Coastal and Oceans Issues Scan October 2007
Executive Summary Project No. 722785

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The province of Newfoundland and Labrador has recently initiated the development of a
province-wide coastal and ocean policy framework and strategic plan to support an integrated
approach to coastal and ocean management. This report represents the first phase of this
initiative: an issues scan of specific coastal and ocean areas of the province. These efforts
support the goals of Canada’s Ocean Action Plan (OAP).
Several areas of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador have taken the initiative at a
community-level to develop integrated management committees to address coastal and ocean
management in their particular region. At this point in time, five specific regions have
approached the province to bring attention to the coastal and ocean issues in their region: the
Great Northern Peninsula, the Bay of Islands, the Coast of Bays, Placentia Bay, as well as Bay
St. George/Port-au-Port Peninsula1. These five regions represent coastal management areas
(CMAs), geographic areas that support collaboration among multi-sector oceans users;
respond to environmental threats; and support economic opportunity.
Large Ocean Management Areas (LOMAs) are geographical areas designated by Fisheries
and Oceans Canada as having high priority for ocean management. Ecological reserves,
provincial parks, and natural areas nested within two Federal LOMAs, the Gulf of St. Lawrence
LOMA and the Placentia Bay-Grand Banks LOMA, are also included in this report.
Prior to the future development of a policy framework and strategic plan for coastal and ocean
management in this province, it was deemed necessary to complete a review of coastal and
ocean issues in these priority coastal areas. Following a review of current literature and
meeting with representatives of a variety of stakeholder groups from across the province, the
coastal and ocean issues of these areas began to emerge. These various issues have been
placed into twelve over-arching ‘Aspects of Coastal and Ocean Management’ categories:
Aquaculture, Commercial Fisheries and Fish Processing, Marine Infrastructure, Land-Based
Infrastructure, Land-use Planning, Climate Change, Tourism, Integrated Management,
Community Sustainability, Culture and Heritage, Natural Areas, and Marine Environmental
Quality. Results of the literature search are provided in two Appendices, one for documents
used in this report, and a second for future use in policy development.
Due to differing circumstances and activities in each of these regions, the scope and priority of
issues differed for each coastal management area. Considering the current issues raised and
apparent trends in current and future activities, a set of recommendations has been given.
These recommendations are provided to assist with effective development and implementation
of a policy framework and strategic plan for coastal and ocean management in this province.

1 Please note that the Bay St. George CMA was established after initial discussions for this project began,
and is therefore not included in this scope of work.
Final Report
BAE-Newplan Group Limited Page iii