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12. Marine Fish And Habitat

"As a result of the interviews, it has become clear that Voisey's Bay itself is a remarkably and comparatively rich ecosystem related to other areas on the Labrador coast...To a somewhat lesser extent one could include that richness to the Anaktalak and Anaktalik areas. Certainly those three bays were so rich in Artic charr that they were under heavy pressure in the 1970's and '80's to the point where the local fisheries committee in fact had to temporarily stop commercial fishing in these areas to allow the species to recover." (Tony Williamson, Panel Scoping Meeting in Nain, April 17, 1997)

The discussion of marine fish and habitat focuses on physical and biological parameters of the marine environment. This chapter addresses the potential environmental effects of the Project on physical, chemical and biological characteristics and on the marine ecosystem as a whole. Physical and chemical parameters include salinity, temperature, and chemical composition of marine waters and sediment. Biological parameters include phytoplankton, zooplankton, benthic invertebrates, and fish and shellfish species. Marine mammals are discussed in Chapter 13.


12.1 Existing Environment


Physical Description

The waters in the many bays and inlets in the Landscape Region are strongly influenced by the Labrador Current, which carries cold Arctic waters southward. Mixing and exchange is frequent between the inshore waters of the bays and the Labrador Current due to tides, winds, and storms.

The coastline of the Landscape Region is a complex series of embayments, inlets and islands scattered along the shore. The coast is characterized by bedrock and shorelines with rocky slopes, estuaries and boulder barricades (piles of boulders found at the low tide mark of an intertidal flat). Many of the bays and inlets are characterized by beaches with unconsolidated sediments (flats) with some bedrock outcrops. A prominent feature of the coastline in the vicinity of the VBNC Claim Block are deltas, which are found at the mouths of Reid Brook and Kogaluk River in Voisey's Bay and Anaktalik Brook and Little Reid Brook in Anaktalak Bay. Sedimentary shores have no marked break-in-slope and boulders are scattered randomly on the tidal flats.

The physico-chemical conditions of subtidal environments in the sheltered inlets of Labrador tend to be more uniform than in intertidal areas. Permanently cold water overlies all areas deeper than approximately 20 m. During spring ice break-up and through the summer, freshwater runoff from the land decreases the salinity of the upper layers of inshore waters. Inshore waters warm up to create a warm layer that overlies the cold deeper waters.

Sea ice plays an important role in the ecology of the nearshore environment by providing habitat for a number of algae and zooplankton species. These species are important for the winter diets of Arctic cod (Lowry and Frost 1981), gulls, murres and guillemots (Grainger and Hsiao 1982). In turn, Arctic cod are prey for a number of birds and seals. During the spring, the fast ice breaks away from the shoreline, allowing shallow subtidal areas to be flooded by freshwater from melting ice and snow. Ice break-up results in algal and planktonic species sinking to the bottom. This provides food for fish and benthic invertebrates, before the first plankton bloom occurs in response to increased sunlight and warmer waters.

Biological Characteristics

The marine habitat of Labrador is classified as subarctic. Phytoplankton and algae form the basis of the coastal Labrador marine food chain. They provide food for copepods, krill, shrimp, and benthic invertebrates, which are food for many fish, seals, and whales. If phytoplankton productivity is low, it can cause reduced food availability for the entire food chain. Animals are then forced to find an alternative food source or move to another area to feed.

Algal vegetation within the intertidal and shallow subtidal zones of this coast is not abundant nor diverse, mainly because of abrasion by ice scour. Therefore, the lifetime and productivity of many benthic invertebrates is short and low, respectively. However, rooted benthic algae species (kelp and Fucus) are present and play a vital role in the marine food chain. Benthic algal communities are not subject to as much annual variation as plankton communities and, therefore, provide a more stable, year-round source of food for invertebrates and fish. In the autumn and early winter, much of the shallow water vegetation dies and the resulting decomposing matter becomes food for many herbivores (e.g., sea urchins) and filter feeders (e.g., blue mussels). Benthic vegetation is an important food source for the benthic community during times when coastal phytoplankton productivity is low.

Participant in LIA study: "Voisey's Bay is not a Salmon Bay. There's a little place called Jack's Cove, you could shovel them [capelin] up there as they come ashore." (Williamson 1997:38)

Benthic invertebrate species, including toad crabs, clams, amphipods and shrimp, support fish species in the area. Although sculpins, Atlantic cod, flounder, sand lance, pouts and shannys all feed heavily on benthic invertebrates, pelagic fish (such as capelin) and zooplankton also make up an important part of their diet. Species such as capelin, Arctic cod, Atlantic salmon, and Arctic charr feed primarily on zooplankton and other fish. A simplified schematic of the food web in Arctic and subartic marine waters is illustrated in Figure 12.1.

The abundance and diversity of marine species is considerably lower in the winter than in the summer. By winter, most plankton species have completed their life cycle, the intertidal and shallow subtidal vegetation has been scoured by ice, and many benthic invertebrates are in a state of dormancy. Some fish move offshore to warmer, deeper water and many marine mammal species migrate south. Even though the marine ecosystem is much less dynamic in the winter, it is still a vibrant system. For example, ringed seals are usually found near the edge of the fast ice in winter feeding on Arctic cod, which feed on zooplankton living on the underside of the ice.

Human Use

The marine and coastal environment is important for people living along the north central coast of Labrador. A number of species are harvested from the marine environment throughout the year. Species commonly harvested for subsistence and commercial purposes include Arctic charr, Atlantic salmon, capelin, blue mussels, soft-shelled clams, and a number of seal and bird species. There has not been an Atlantic cod commercial fishery in the area since the mid 1960s (Williamson, 1997).

Figure 12.1 The Biological Cycle and Food Web in Arctic and Subarctic Marine Waters

Every summer there is an Arctic charr fishery in the Voisey's Bay area, although this activity has been reduced considerably since 1994. Gillnets are set near the shore after ice break-up and some fishing continues until August or September, when the charr return to the rivers. Atlantic salmon has also been fished in the bays in and around the Landscape Region, although to a far lesser degree. However, in recent years most salmon fishers from the Nain area travel north in the summer to Black Island, the Kiglapaits, and Cutthroat (Dempson and Shears 1995).


12.1.1 Environmental Assessment Boundaries


Capitalized terms used (such as Landscape Region and VBNC Claim Block) may be defined in other chapters. Some terms and phrases used may have different definitions in other chapters, depending on the context in which they are used; for example, Assessment Areas

Project activities will take place in eight of the watersheds that drain into the five bays of the marine receiving environment: Anaktalak Bay, Kangeklukuluk Bay, Kangeklualuk Bay, Throat Bay and Voisey's Bay. The Marine Fish and Habitat Assessment Area includes these bays and the shipping route (Figure 12.2). The environmental assessment boundary for marine fish and habitat is defined by the spatial and temporal extent of:

Environmental assessment boundaries are established to represent the most confined spatial limit (the spatial boundary) for any one species. For example, the blue mussel and shorthorn sculpin are assessed for environmental effects as representative of a population-based marine fish species in the Marine Fish and Habitat Assessment Area. These marine species rely on the overall health of their marine environment (food source, water, sediment) for their viability and are therefore important components of the assessment process. The environmental effects on anadromous Arctic charr are assessed in Chapter 11.

The five bays adjacent to the Project (Figure 12.2) have a similar marine sediment composition. The exception to this are the estuarine/delta areas within each bay which have slightly different characteristics from the rest of the bay area.

Water characteristics are similar among Anaktalak Bay, Kangeklukuluk Bay, Kangeklualuk Bay, Throat Bay and Voisey's Bay. Slightly different characteristics are found in Voisey's Bay due to the larger contribution of freshwater from rivers.

Phytoplankton and zooplankton live within the water column. Their spatial boundaries are set by water circulation patterns which generally confine them to any specific water body. There is a temporal boundary for phytoplankton, which is defined by seasonal blooms under the sea ice (prior to break-up in June-July) and in the water column (August).

Figure 12.2 Marine Fish and Habitat Assessment Area

Benthic infaunal organisms generally have limited mobility as adults. However, many species have planktonic larval forms that facilitate distribution throughout the bay complex. Fish species in the bay complex may be very localized (e.g., sculpins) or quite broadly distributed (e.g., Arctic charr) in their range of movement. Nevertheless, most fish are expected to have a spatial boundary defined by the five bay complex at some phase in their life cycle. Migratory fish species, such as Arctic charr and brook trout, are generally present in marine waters during the summer months.

Marine biota within this bay complex have widespread distributions along coastal Labrador. A small portion of the Labrador population of each species is present in the bay complex for at least part of its life cycle. Although the bay complex is not expected to harbour distinct sub-populations of species, physical characteristics of each bay in the complex may form a partial barrier to movement of individuals.


12.1.1.1 Administrative Boundaries

Under the Fisheries Act, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) regulates all activities that may affect fish habitat in the marine environment. Any destruction of fish or unregulated discharge of deleterious substances is covered by the Fisheries Act. DFO determines whether there will be "Harmful Alteration, Disruption or Destruction" of fish habitat due to the Project activities and if a Navigable Waters Protection Act (NWPA) permit is required.

"end-of-pipe parameters" refers to the measurements of key water quality characteristics at the point where the effluent enters the environment.

Registered discharges at the site must be monitored to ensure they meet maximum monthly arithmetic mean concentrations at end-of-pipe for parameters specified under the 1997 federal Metal Mining Liquid Effluent Regulations (MMLER) (see Chapter 10). This is adopted as a Code of Practice for mines in Canada.

DFO sets commercial fishery regulations and quotas and grants Experimental Licences for research. The baseline studies conducted in the Assessment Area were carried out under an Experimental Licence. Fish Health Protection Regulations (Canada) regulates the transfer of fish between watersheds and may be relevant for stream diversions. Should shellfish be unsafe for human consumption, DFO will institute a shellfish closure area to prohibit harvesting of shellfish. For example, mercury levels exceeding Canadian Health Guidelines (0.5 ppm per kilogram of body weight) in the edible portions of harvested fish would require a public advisory on recreational angling for consumption.

The Newfoundland Environmental Control (Water and Sewage) Regulations 1980 apply to the discharge of sewage and other materials into a body of water. Sampling periods and methods are prescribed under permits issued for sampling and reporting of effluent quality.


12.1.1.2 Technical Boundaries

Water circulation patterns, incremental metal accumulations, oil and concentrate spill dispersion have been mathematically modelled for use in the assessment. Assumptions, as well as baseline data, are used to make these model predictions. All model predictions are the best possible estimates, considering these assumptions and baseline data.


12.1.2 Methods

Comprehensive baseline studies were conducted in 1995 and 1996 to characterize the existing marine fish and habitat in bays and estuaries adjacent to the VBNC Claim Block. These studies collected baseline data on the following:


Seawater chemistry was measured in samples collected during the 1995, 1996 and 1997 baseline surveys from the five bays in the Assessment Area (Figure 12.3). The parameters measured were metals, nutrients, pH, salinity and total suspended solids (TSS). Complete results of the chemical oceanography survey, including those for additional parameters, are provided in JWEL 1997a.

Figure 12.3 Seawater, Sediment and Biological Oceanography Sampling Sites for 1995, 1996, and 1997 Baseline Studies


Phytoplankton (chlorophyll-a) and zooplankton abundance were measured in each of the five bays in 1996 (JWEL 1997b).

Marine sediment chemistry and physical characteristics, toxicity and benthic infaunal community composition were analyzed in samples from all five bays. Full details on sediment quality are provided in the JWEL 1997c. The locations of sampling sites are shown on Figure 12.3. In 1995 and 1997, samples were taken from strictly marine sites. The 1996 samples were taken from both marine and estuarine sites, with deep-water marine sites focusing on depositional zones containing fine grained sediments.

Pore water is water trapped in between particles of sediment.

Three sediment toxicity tests of surface sediments were performed on marine and estuarine sediment samples collected in 1995 and 1996: amphipod survival, bacterial photoluminescence and sea urchin fertilization. The bacteria and sea urchin tests measured sublethal effects and the amphipod test measured lethal effects. The sea urchin test used the pore water extracted from the sediment. Standardized Environment Canada test procedures were used for all tests (Environment Canada 1992a; 1992b; 1992c).

The results of the toxicity tests were evaluated as either toxic or non-toxic according to interpretation guidelines developed by Environment Canada (Doe, K. pers. comm.). The guidelines are based on comparison with results from the control, an uncontaminated sample of sediment for the amphipod and bacterial tests and an uncontaminated sample of seawater for the sea urchin test. Full details on the collection of sediment samples for toxicity testing are provided in JWEL 1997c.

The 1996 intertidal/subtidal survey characterized the physical and biological components of the three representative habitats in each of the bays (Figure 12.4). The different habitat zones (estuary, boulder barricade, and bedrock) associated with a typical coast are depicted in Figure 12.4. Full details of the intertidal/subtidal survey are in JWEL 1997d.


Figure 12.4 Intertidal/Subtidal Survey Areas for 1996 and 1997 Baseline Studies

In 1995, a marine fish reconnaissance survey was conducted in the Assessment Area. In 1996, a comprehensive marine fish survey used a variety of fish collection techniques and equipment. The objective of the survey was to determine the relative abundance of marine fish in the Assessment Area and to identify patterns of habitat use. The locations and collection methods are shown on. Figure 12.5. Full details of the marine fauna survey are in JWEL 1997e.

Fish and shellfish were also collected throughout the Assessment Area and tested for trace metals and hydrocarbon levels in their tissues. Muscle and liver tissue from shorthorn sculpins and whole bodies of blue mussels were analyzed for trace metals in 1995 and 1996. In addition, in 1996 all sculpins caught during the survey were examined for external parasites. Tissues collected from shorthorn sculpins and blue mussels in Anaktalak Bay, Kangeklualuk Bay and Voisey's Bay in 1996 were tested for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Full details on the survey findings are provided in JWEL 1997f.

Figure 12.5 Fish Sampling and Body Burden Sampling Sites for 1995 and 1996 Baseline Studies

In 1997, marine water sediment intertidal and bathymetry surveys were conducted at the head of Throat Bay. The location of these surveys are located on Figures 12.3 and 12.4.

A shore unit is an area of intertidal shoreline with specific lengths and seaward descriptions of the supratidal, upper intertidal, and lower intertidal zones.

Approximately 780 km of shoreline in Anaktalak Bay, Kangeklukuluk Bay, Voisey's Bay and Kangeklualuk Bay, including Kikkertavik Island and the islands in the centre portion of the shipping route, were videotaped in a study commissioned by VBNC and are presented in JWEL 1997g. Shoreline geomorphology was mapped from the videotapes using methods developed by the British Columbia Ministry of Environment and Environment Canada's National Sensitivity Mapping Program. The shoreline was mapped as 1274 shore units, each having unique characteristics. Each seaward across-shore component was described in terms of physical characteristics, biological features or human use. Coastal geomorphology categories used were the same as the three categories used for the intertidal/subtidal survey (estuary, boulder barricade (which includes all sediment beaches and flats), and bedrock), as shown in Figure 12.6.

Figure 12.6 Coastal Geomorphology Survey Locations



12.1.3 Existing Conditions

The five marine bays in the Assessment Area receive freshwater from eight watersheds that will be potentially affected by Project activities (Section 10.1.1). Reid Brook and Southern Watersheds contribute freshwater to Voisey's Bay. The Throat Bay watershed contributes freshwater to Throat Bay. Pond 65 and North Tailings Basin contribute freshwater to Kangeklualuk Bay and Pond 67 and Option 5 contribute to Kangeklukuluk Bay. The Little Reid Brook watershed contributes freshwater to Edward's Cove. Water characteristics are similar among Anaktalak Bay, Kangeklukuluk Bay, and Kangeklualuk Bay. Slightly different characteristics are found in Voisey's Bay due to the larger contribution of freshwater from rivers. There is evidence of tidal mixing in the channels connecting Kangeklualuk Bay to Voisey's Bay and Anaktalak Bay (Rescan 1997).

Much of Anaktalak Bay forms a large basin 100-120 m in depth (Figure 12.7). Depths rise to 85 m to form a sill at the outer part of the bay. Fine-grained sediments, deposited mostly as a result of weathering of the associated watershed, have accumulated in the large basin.

Kangeklukuluk Bay is a broad, deep (30 m) bay with an island at the mouth of the bay. Fine grained sediments are deposited as a result of the riverine transport that enters at the head of the bay.

Kangeklualuk Bay is long and narrow and made up of a series of five basins (45-60 m deep) which are separated by narrow sills (10-20 m deep). Fine-grained sediments have accumulated in these basins as a result of the same depositional processes observed in Anaktalak Bay.

Throat Bay is long and narrow and made up of two basins (20 and 30 m deep) which are separated by sills (5-10 m deep).

Voisey's Bay has three large primary basins (65-100 m deep) interspersed with numerous shallow areas and ledges. The sill at the outer end of the bay is about 50 m deep. Fine-grained sediments are deposited in the deep basins as a result of riverine transport from the watersheds to the west and south of the bay.

Current, temperature and salinity monitoring data show a strong stratification in the water column forming at ice break-up in June, continuing through the freshwater freshet in July and progressively weakening through October, with non-stratified conditions present in November (Rescan 1997). Currents in the Assessment Area are weak, generally less than 10 cm/s, except in the passage between Anaktalak Bay and Voisey's Bay, where tidal currents probably exceed 100 cm/s locally. These energetic currents cause the waters to become vertically well mixed by August. Tides are strongly semi-diurnal with spring ranges up to 2.5 m.


Figure 12.7 Bathymetric Contours of Anaktalak Bay, Kangeklualuk Bay and Voisey's Bay

Marine sediments are chemically and physically very similar between the bays, except in their estuarine areas, where slightly different (higher sand content) characteristics are found.

Participant in LIA study: "First time in the bay [Voisey's Bay] the charrs were huge...at beginning, with just one straight net we come home with 1200 lb each of charr...two of us... that's overnight...that's a lot of fish...we couldn't handle tow [nets]." (Williamson 1997:47)

Most marine species found within the bays of the Landscape Region have widespread distributions along coastal Labrador. Each summer, several species of salmonids migrate into the marine waters. Arctic charr migrate into the ocean from nearby rivers. However, salmon do not spawn in local rivers but migrate inshore from distant spawning rivers. Atlantic salmon arrive in the area in August and may remain as late as October. Tagged fish have originated from as far as New Brunswick. Benthic infaunal organisms generally have limited mobility as adults. However, many species have planktonic larval forms which facilitate distribution throughout the bays. Plankton and plant species are numerous in these waters and each year, by August, there are clouds of plankton covering the bays of the Landscape Region. Their spatial boundaries are set by water circulation patterns which generally confine them to any water body.


12.1.3.1 Seawater Chemistry


30 ppt = 30 parts of salt to a thousand parts of water

In the bays comprising the Assessment Area, the effects of the spring freshet in July (salinity less than 26 parts per thousand (ppt), compared to ocean values of 35 ppt) are observed near the sea surface. As the summer progresses, the near-surface salinity increases, as the fresher surface water is transported out of the region through advection, wind mixing, and thermal convection. This continues until the near surface salinity is greater than 30 ppt and the water column is nearly homogeneous. The waters in Kangeklualuk Bay and Voisey's Bay are vertically well mixed, with dissolved oxygen concentrations at or near saturation level (10 mg/L) from the surface to the bottom. Concentrations of metals and nutrients were typically very low (Table 12.1) compared to concentrations reported for nearshore seawater (NRCC 1994) in the northwest Atlantic, as well as Sable Bank on the Scotian Shelf (Carter et al. 1985). Marine chemistry results are summarized in Table 12.2.

Table 12.1 Comparative Seawater Chemistry Data (u g/L)

Range for Assessment Area Baysa (range) Scotian Shelfb
(Sable Bank) (mean) 		Nearshore Seawaterc
(range)
Arsenic 0.40-9.00 2.00 1.09 + 0.07
Cadmium <0.10-1.30 0.04 0.030 + 0.005
Chromium <0.50-2.00 0.04 0.092 + 0.006
Cobalt <0.10-1.00 <0.10 0.041 + 0.009
Copper <0.10-5.90 <0.30 0.517 + 0.062
Iron <1.00-680.0 1.50 1.26 + 0.17
Lead <0.10-0.40 0.02 0.012 + 0.004
Mercury <0.05-0.12 .002 -
Nickel <0.50-1.30 0.20 0.386 + 0.062
Zinc <1.00-29.0 1.00 1.24 + 0.25
a JWEL 1997a
b Carter et al. 1985
c NRCC 1994


LOQ is a level of quantitation which is higher than the method detection level for the instruments used to test for materials. The LOQ is usually several times higher than the method detection limit.

Table 12.2 Range and Median of Water Quality Parameters (1995 and 1996) (u g/L)

Parameter LOQ Anaktalak Bay Kangeklualuk Kangeklukuluk Bay Voisey's Bay
    Range Median Range Median Range Median Range Median
Reactive Silica
(as SiO2) 		0.5 < LOQ - 0.70 < LOQ < LOQ - 0.70 < LOQ < LOQ < LOQ < LOQ - 0.50 < LOQ
Ortho Phosphorus (as P) 0.01 < LOQ - 0.10 0.02 < LOQ - 0.47 0.02 < LOQ - 0.04 0.02 < LOQ - 0.04 <LOQ
Nitrite 0.01 < LOQ - 0.02 < LOQ < LOQ - 0.32 < LOQ < LOQ - 0.01 < LOQ <LOQ < LOQ
Nitrate + Nitrite (as N) 0.05 < LOQ - 1.05 < LOQ < LOQ - 0.17 < LOQ < LOQ < LOQ < LOQ - 0.09 < LOQ
Nitrate as N 0.05 < LOQ - 1.05 < LOQ < LOQ - 0.48 < LOQ < LOQ < LOQ < LOQ - 0.09 < LOQ
Arsenic 0.1 0.5 - 1.6 0.8 0.4 - 9.0 0.9 0.5 - 1.3 0.9 0.10 - 1.70 0.9
Cadmium 0.1 < LOQ - 0.23 < LOQ < LOQ - 0.20 < LOQ < LOQ < LOQ < LOQ - 1.30 < LOQ
Chromium 0.5 < LOQ - 2.0 < LOQ < LOQ - 1.0 < LOQ < LOQ < LOQ < LOQ - 0.6 < LOQ
Cobalt 0.1 < LOQ - 0.25 < LOQ < LOQ < LOQ < LOQ < LOQ < LOQ - 1.0 < LOQ
Copper 0.1 < LOQ - 5.9 0.3 0.1 - 3.9 0.4 0.1 - 1.2 0.35 <LOQ - 2.8 0.3
Iron 1 4.0 - 120.0 14.0 < LOQ - 680.0 8.0 2.0 - 100.0 17.0 6.0 - 110.0 17.0
Lead 0.1 < LOQ - 0.4 < LOQ < LOQ - 0.33 < LOQ < LOQ < LOQ < LOQ - 0.15 < LOQ
Manganese 1 < LOQ - 2.6 < LOQ < LOQ - 1.2 < LOQ < LOQ - 1.0 < LOQ < LOQ - 2.5 < LOQ
Nickel 0.5 < LOQ - 1.3 < LOQ < LOQ - 1.2 < LOQ < LOQ - 0.5 < LOQ < LOQ - 0.8 < LOQ
Zinc 1 < LOQ - 29.0 < LOQ < LOQ - 7.0 < LOQ < LOQ - 1.1 < LOQ < LOQ - 8.0 < LOQ
Mercury 0.05 < LOQ - 0.08 < LOQ < LOQ - 0.08 < LOQ < LOQ < LOQ < LOQ - 0.12 < LOQ
Silver 1 < LOQ < LOQ < LOQ < LOQ     < LOQ < LOQ
pH (units) 0.1 7.9 - 8.2 8.0 7.9 - 8.1 8.0 7.9 - 8.1 8.0 7.6 - 8.1 8.0
Total Suspended Solids (mg/L) 0.5 < LOQ - 15.5 2.8 0.60. - 10.2 2.85 < LOQ - 11.0 3.0 <LOQ - 20.7 3.4


Concentrations of several trace metals in the bays in the Assessment Area, including arsenic, cadmium and cobalt, are higher than the ranges in seawater reported from the northwest Atlantic. Salinity concentrations were in the 31-33 ppt range, as compared to eastern Canadian near-coastal waters or embayments, where salinity concentrations are typically in the 25-30 ppt range.

TSS is a measurement of the total amount of suspended solids in a volume of water, whereas SPM is a measurement of the rate at which solids settle out of the water.

Concentrations of total suspended solids (TSS) were relatively low, 5 mg/L or less (Table 12.2), but measurements as high as 15 mg/L in Anaktalak Bay and 20 mg/L in Voisey's Bay were observed in the August 1996 sampling period. These higher values are probably caused by planktonic communities during the brief summer algal bloom. This hypothesis is supported by the simultaneous decrease in nutrient concentrations in Anaktalak Bay and Voisey's Bay. Plankton consume the nutrients during an algal bloom. Concentrations of TSS in the waters of Kangeklukuluk Bay and Kangeklualuk Bay were very low, with little variability.

Shallow, mid-depth and deep sediment samples refer to the relative locations from the water surface at which the sediment traps are suspended in the water.

Suspended particulate matter (SPM) data from the sediment traps showed differences (by bay and by depth) in total amount of particulate matter deposited. Shallow sedimentation samples ranged from 1.32-4.44 g/m2/day and deep samples ranged from 2.78-14.8 g/m2/day. Among bays, the sedimentation rate increased from Voisey's Bay to Kangeklualuk Bay and Anaktalak Bay. Edward's Cove, in comparison with other Anaktalak Bay sites, had a higher sedimentation rate at the shallow and mid-depth sediment trap. However, Edward's Cove had a lower rate at the deep sediment trap. Organic-rich activity in the upper water column (likely attributable to biological activity) is suggested by an increase in zinc and arsenic.

Deep sediment samples were dominated by clays and iron/manganese materials, which are very similar to the bottom sediments, suggesting that this SPM is re-suspended bottom sediment, in many cases.


12.1.3.2 Biological Oceanography - Phytoplankton and Zooplankton


Phytoplankton (chlorophyll-a) was measured over a three-month period from July to September. The highest concentrations of chlorophyll-a were observed in August at 3.75 mg/L. Throughout the summer, the five bays showed similar temporal patterns of increasing, then decreasing chlorophyll-a concentrations (JWEL 1997b).

The most common phytoplankton species observed in the phytoplankton surveys are shown in Table 12.3.

Table 12.3 List of Most Abundant Phytoplankton Species

Common Name Class Order Genus
Centric Diatoms Bacillanophyca Centrales Thalassiosira
      Chaetosceros
Penate Diatoms   Pennales Naviluca
      Fragillaris
Tecate Dinoflagellates Dinophycae   Schripsiela
      Dinophysis
      Heterocapsa
      Prorocentrum
      Pavillardia
      Protoperidinium
      Alexandrium
Naked Dinoflagellates Dinophycae   Gymnodinium
      Gyrodinium
Ciliates     Tibtinopsis


"Mixed-layer" refers to the portion of water column that has uniform physical and chemical characteristics throughout its depth.

"Thermocline" is a layer in the water column where temperature undergoes a rapid change. Passive organisms usually cannot cross thermoclines.

Zooplankton abundance sampling was conducted over a three-month period, from July to September. Arthropoda was the predominant phylum at all depths and generally contributed greater than 95 percent to total zooplankton abundance. The remaining zooplankton included chaetognaths (arrow worms), chordates, cnidarians (jelly fish, sea anemones), molluscs, and annelids (worms). The most common species identified in the samples were the copepods Pseudocalanus sp., Oithona similis, and Temora longicornis. These accounted for 26 percent, 23 percent, and 10 percent of all arthropods, respectively. Pseudocalanus sp. was the most abundant below the mixed-layer (365 individuals/m3), whereas O. similis (313 individual/m3) and T. longicornis (123 individuals/m3) were equally abundant above and below the thermocline.

Differences in zooplankton abundance were observed in the sampling surveys. The chordate, Oikopleura sp., was more abundant in July samples (35 individuals/m3) than in August (4 individuals/m3) or September (0 individuals/m3) samples. In the July sampling survey, the copepod Acartia longiremis was found primarily in the mixed-layer, and in later sampling its distribution extended to near the bottom.

Zoeae stages (early larval stages) of the predominant crab species (Hyas araneus) were found in the water column and were mainly distributed above the thermocline during the July sampling survey. Estimates suggest abundances of up to 40 individuals/m3. Abundances in August and September were generally an order of magnitude lower; during the September sampling survey, juvenile crab were present in low numbers below the thermocline and in the near bottom stratum. These observations are typical of crab development in North Atlantic coastal waters, and they suggest that egg release by H. araneus occurred before or during the July sampling survey.

In addition to collecting zooplankton, a number of juvenile fish species were collected during plankton tows (Table 12.4). The dominant fish species were Ammodytes sp. and Eumesogrammus praecisus. Fish abundance was always below 0.2 individuals/m3. The zooplankton nets were towed at a low speed to ensure zooplankton specimens were not damaged. However, this likely resulted in net avoidance by highly motile juvenile fish. Nonetheless, the species list is based on more than 100 samples and is therefore considered representative of the juvenile fish present in the water column during the three surveys.

Table 12.4 List of Most-Abundant Zooplankton and Planktonic Fish Species

Phylum: Arthropoda Sub Order: Cyclopoida Phylum: Vertebrata
Fish Species
Order: Copepoda Oithona similis Agonus decagonus
SubOrder : Calanoida Oncaea borealis Ammodytes dubius
Acartia longiremis   Ammodytes sp.
Acartia sp. Sub Order: Harpactacoida Aspidophoroides monopterygius
Calanus finmarchicus Unidentifiable species Aspidophoroides olriki
Calanus hyperboreus   Boreogadus saida
Calanus sp. Order: Amphipoda Eumesogrammus praecisus
Calanus spp. glacialis Hyperiidae species Gadus morhua
Centropages hamatus Themisto libellula Gymnocanthus tricuspis
Centropages sp.   Icelus sp.
Eutemora hermani Order: Decapoda Liparis gibbus
Metridia longa Hyas araneus Lumpenus fabricii
Metridia sp.   Lumpenus maculatus
Microcalanus sp. Order: Mysidacea Lumpenus medius
Paracalanus parvus Mysis oculata Myxocephalus scorpius
Paracalanus sp.   Triglops murrayi
Pseudocalanus spp. Phylum: Chaetognatha Triglops sp.
Pseudolibrotus glacialis Sagitta elegans  
Temora longicornis Sagitta sp.  
Temora sp.    
Phylum: Chordata    
Fritallaria borealis    
Oikopleura sp.    
Oikopleura vanhoefeni    
Phylum: Polychaeta    
Syllidae    
Phylum: Mollusca    
Clione limacina    
Phylum: Cnidaria    
Aglantha digitale    
Anthomedusae    
Euphysa sp.    
Obelia sp.    



12.1.3.3 Sediment Quality


Chemicals sometimes occur in marine waters at small concentrations but they can accumulate in sediments to elevated concentrations. Sediments act as both a sink and a source of chemicals for the water column, and sediment chemical concentrations change relatively slowly, whereas water column concentrations tend to be much more variable. Chemical and physical characteristics of sediment contaminants, in addition to water column characteristics, affect benthic and other sediment-associated organisms. Sediments are also an integral part of the marine environment, providing habitat, feeding and rearing areas for many organisms.

Chemical concentrations in sediment were measured for total metal and weak acid leachable metals, as well as total organic carbon (TOC) and total inorganic carbon (TIC). Weak acid leachable metals are indicative of the bioavailable fraction of metals within the sediments. Selected chemical and physical characteristics of marine sediment samples are summarized in Table 12.5. Sediment sampling in the marine and estuarine environment was conducted for surface sediments (first 7.5 cm of sediment) and subsurface sediments (sediment from the strata 22 to 30 cm below the sea floor surface.) The characteristics of these are found in JWEL 1997c.

Table 12.5 Surface Sediment Chemistry Parameter Means from the Project Area (1995, 1996) and Guidelines (Total Concentration in mg/kg)

  Edward's Cove Anaktalak Bay Kangeklualuk Bay and Kangeklukuluk Bay Voisey's Bay Kangeklukuluk Bay Estuary Kogaluk Brook
Estuary 		Voisey's Bay Estuary Environment Canada Proposed Interim Guidelines
                Threshold Effects
Levela,b 		Potential Effects Levelc
Element                  
Arsenic 5.9 9.6 8.7 7.3 <2.0 0.0 0.0 7.24 8.2
Cadmium 0.0 0.0 0.0 <0.3 0.0 0.0 <0.5 0.676 4.21
Chromium 44.6 53.4 54.3 44.1 21.3 10.2 21.8 -- --
Cobalt 10.3 12.3 11.1 10.9 5.9 4.0 6.0 -- --
Copper 12.8 40.3 15.8 12.9 3.7 5 16.5 18.7 10.8
Lead 20.2 21.9 19.3 19.2 14.2 16.1 14.9 30.2 112
Nickel 18.8 43.9 24.2 18.4 9.1 5.8 19.2 15.9 42.8
Zinc 82.7 91.3 85.9 74.3 39.5 27.4 41.0 124 271
Mercury 0.0 0.0 0.1 <0.01 <0.01 0.0 0.0 0.13 0.15
a MacDonald et al. (1992)
b Smith et al. (1996)
c Long et al. (1995)



The threshold effects level (TEL) (MacDonald et al. 1992; Smith et al. 1996) for a given sediment parameter is the concentration below which adverse biological effects are expected to occur only rarely and is generally recommended as the proposed interim Canadian Sediment Quality Guideline.

Sediment chemistry results indicate that although some samples contained metal concentrations which exceeded the TEL and effects range (Table 12.5), the mean concentrations were very close to or below the TEL and effects range. Weak acid leachable concentrations (JWEL 1997a), considered to represent the bioavailable fraction of metals, were well below the TEL and effects range. This indicates that, generally speaking, the existing concentrations of metals in these sediments are so naturally sufficiently low that they are not expected to cause deleterious biological environmental effects (Table 12.5).

Estuarine samples in Voisey's Bay and Kangeklualuk Bay generally had lower mean concentrations of arsenic, chromium, cobalt, copper, nickel and zinc than marine samples from those bays. This is likely related to larger particle sizes in these estuarine areas where sand is dominant (as compared to typically silty deep water sediments of the bays), and erosion is higher due to wave and tide energy.

Generally, sediments in all bays have low organic content, resulting in very little oxygen depletion or formation of toxic sulphide compounds in the sediment. Total metal concentrations are generally within ranges found in other areas except for copper and nickel, which are expected to be above the normal range in this area (Table 12.6). Weak acid leachable metal concentrations are also low, representing a very small fraction of the total metal, and are much lower than levels observed in sediments of the outer Scotian Shelf and Gulf of St. Lawrence. This indicates that most of the total metal concentration is bound to sediment and relatively little is present in a dissolved form.

Table 12.6 Comparative Marine Sediment Chemistry Ranges and Means (Total Concentration in mg/kg dry weight)

  Edward's Cove,
Anaktalak Bay,
Kangeklukuluk Bay,
Kangeklualuk Bay,
Voisey's Bay
(Range) 		Gulf of St. Lawrence a
(Range) 		Bay of
Fundy b
(Range) 		Sable Bank,
Scotian Shelf c
(Range) 		Georges
Bank d
  		Makkovik,
Labrador
1984 e 		Hopedale,
Labrador
1984 e 		Nain,
Labrador
1977 e 		Cartwright Labrador 1978e
Element1                  
Arsenic <2-74 2-11 4-15 -- -- -- -- -- -
Cadmium <0.3-1.1 0.04-0.87 0.22 0.03-0.1 0.04 0.3 <0.3 <0.3 <0.1
Chromium 7-88 8-241 57 1.7-33 -- -- -- -- -
Cobalt 3.2-23 14 12 -- -- -- -- -- -
Copper 2-320 3-76 15 0.4-1.5 4.6 18.7 10.5 33 22.5
Lead 12-38 8-66 20 1.5-6.5 4.4 44.8 93.9 21.5 8.5
Nickel 5-600 36-76 15 -- -- -- -- -- -
Zinc 22-140 8-215 51 1.4-5.6 11.8 104 81 65.3 48
Mercury <0.01-0.62 0.1-12.3 0.03 0.01-0.14 -- <0.05 0.41 <0.05 0.04
-- Element not measured
a Loring 1998
b. Loring 1982
c. Carter et al. 1985
d Tay et al. 1992
e. Land and Sea. 1990



Sediment Toxicity Testing

A "lethal endpoint" refers to killing specific percentages of the species tested. A "sublethal endpoint" refers to negatively affecting the health (reproductive potential) of a percentage of species tested). A "negative control" refers to exposing animals to uncontaminated sediment.

Sediment toxicity is studied by exposing sediment-dwelling (infaunal) animals to collected sediment under controlled conditions in order to determine if the exposure has adverse effects on the animals. A range of organisms from different trophic levels and taxonomic groups is used in standardized tests. Standardized methods include both lethal and sublethal endpoints, with appropriate controls (e.g., negative control). Sediment toxicity tests with appropriate test animals are recognized and accepted as effective tools to determine the biological significance of contamination found in coastal sediments (NRC 1989; Environment Canada 1992a; 1992b; 1992c). The results of surface sediment toxicity testing are provided in Table 12.7.


Table 12.7 Summary of Marine Sediment Toxicity Test Results

Amphipod Survival Sea Urchin Fertilization Bacterial Photoluminescence
Sample Type and Bay Non-Toxic Samples Toxic Samples Non-Toxic Samples Toxic Samples Non-Toxic Samples Toxic
Samples
MARINE SAMPLES
Voisey's Bay 14 0 11 3 12 2
Kangeklualuk Bay and 13 0 9 4 10 3
Kangeklukuluk Bay
Anaktalak Bay 13 0 9 4 10 3
Edward's Cove 9 0 3 5 8 1
ESTUARINE SAMPLES
Voisey's Bay: Reid Brook Estuary 4 0 0 4 4 0
Kangeklukuluk Estuary 3 0 2 0 3 0


The sea urchin fertilization test on pore water was the most sensitive to marine and estuarine sediment quality. On average, 67 percent of the samples were non-toxic to sea urchin fertilization, compared with 100 percent for the amphipod survival test and 85 percent for the bacterial photoluminescence test. In other words, one-third of the sediment samples caused the failure of sea urchin sperm to fertilize sea urchin eggs.

Toxicity to sea urchin fertilization in marine pore water was generally confined to sites in the centre or towards the mouth of bays and main channels, with the exception of five sites in Edward's Cove. All samples from the Reid Brook estuary were toxic to sea urchin fertilization. No samples from the Kangeklukuluk estuary were toxic. Therefore, the reduced salinity of estuarine pore water was not a factor in the observed toxicity for Reid Brook samples. In all cases, toxicity to sea urchin fertilization was accompanied by elevated ammonia concentrations in the pore water. Ammonia, particularly in its unionized form, is known to be toxic to aquatic organisms (CCME 1996; EPA/DOA 1994) and may greatly affect sea urchin fertilization at concentrations in pore water of greater than 400 m g NH3/L (Carr et al. 1996) and 660 m g NH3/L (Doe, K. pers. comm.), depending on the test species. Concentrations of dissociated ammonia exceeded these concentrations in most samples that were toxic. However, ammonia is known to be correlated with other contaminants in sediments (Carr et al. 1996), so it is possible that ammonia may only partially contribute to the toxic response.

Toxicity to bacteria, expressed as a reduction in photoluminescence, occurred in 15 percent of the samples from sites located in the main channels of bays and one site in Edward's Cove. There was no toxicity to bacteria associated with the estuarine sediments. The toxicity of some of the bay sediments to bacteria may be related to generally higher metals concentrations in bay sediments relative to estuarine sediments. However, using this same test, Tay et al. (1992) encountered toxicity to reference sediment, which was unrelated to metals concentrations.

Using the same or a similar suite of toxicity tests for 15-19 reference sediments from Atlantic Canada, Environment Canada has found the sea urchin fertilization test to produce a toxic response more often than the bacterial test or the amphipod test. It is felt that the sea urchin test may be very sensitive to naturally occurring substances (Doe, K. pers. comm.).

Marine Benthic Infaunal Community Composition

Marine benthic infauna are routinely assessed in sediment quality characterization. Benthic communities respond to changes in the quality of the habitat, particularly due to anthropogenic stresses, as evidenced by changes in species composition, abundance, and diversity (Smith et al. 1988; Warwick and Clarke 1991). Infaunal samples were collected and analyzed from all marine sediment sampling sites (Figure 12.3).

Animals found in the samples are commonly found in the marine waters of eastern Canada, and they generally have a wide northwest Atlantic distribution. Overall, the benthic community of the Assessment Area is characteristic of a relatively clean sand-silt substrate. Samples from fine-grained sediments contained a greater proportion of burrowing deposit feeders. Sessile animals (e.g., tunicates) and scrapers (e.g., gastropod molluscs) were infrequent. The distribution of individuals among species indicates no one species was dominant (Table 12.8), which suggests that the sediments are relatively uncontaminated. Often, one species dominates in sediment if the marine system has received human or industrial wastes, such as sewage or dumping of dredge spoils.

Table 12.8 Results of Infaunal Species Sampling




The animals collected were generally small, soft-bodied, and able to burrow through and move freely in the fine sediments. Exceptions were found in deeper parts of the sediments (depths greater than 10-15 cm), where the proportion of clay is so high that it is impenetrable except by the most robust species, such as burrowing anemones, polychaetes, and bivalve molluscs. These few larger animals account for the high biomass observed at many stations.

The most abundant taxa collected include representatives of Class Polychaeta (Phylum Annelida), which is not unusual for fine-grained sediments. General studies of marine benthos have demonstrated polychaetes are most abundant in fine-grained sediments, as measured by both numbers of species and individuals (Fauchald 1977). Polychaetes account for more than 70 percent of all the animals collected at over half of the sites. The phylum Annelida accounts for over 70 percent of the animals in all bays.

Molluscs, the second most abundant taxon, typically accounted for less than 20 percent of the animals collected at any one site. The molluscs were mainly bivalves known to burrow in fine sediments.

Crustaceans were dominant at only two sites, one in Voisey's Bay and the other in Anaktalak Bay, and they comprised 20 percent of the animals at nine of the 69 sites.

Anaktalak Bay

Three polychaete worm species accounted for almost 50 percent of the animals collected. A pattern of species composition and abundance is discernible from the inner to the outer parts of the bay. For example, dominant species found in the inner bay were similar to dominant species found in the outer bay, but the proportions changed slightly. The most striking difference between the specimens was the number and relative proportions of secondary groups of species such as tunicates, acorn worms, molluscs, and anemones. These groups accounted for a greater proportion of the total number of animals collected in the outer bay than in the inner bay.

Edward's Cove

Polychaetes accounted for 79 percent of the animals collected, which is the lowest representation among the bays. Five polychaete species comprised over 50 percent of the animals collected. The highest density of crustaceans, mostly represented by amphipods, was found in Edward's Cove (accounting for 12 percent of all animals collected). Sea cucumbers were also abundant in Edward's Cove.

Kangeklualuk Bay and Kangeklukuluk Bay

Over 75 percent of the animals collected in Kangeklualuk Bay were comprised of nine polychaete species. This was the only bay where large numbers of capitellid worms and a hesionid worm species were dominant. Both of these species have been reported to be abundant in muddy sediments in the coastal waters of eastern Canada (Pocklington, unpublished manuscript). A pattern in the distribution of species was observed between the inner and outer parts of the bay. Deposit feeding polychaetes were more abundant towards the inner bay. Most of the filter feeding tunicates were found in the middle and outer parts of the bay. Molluscs were densest in this bay and accounted for almost 6 percent of the animals recovered. The abundance of molluscs is likely linked to the silt-clay grain size.

One unusual species of sea squirt (Botrylloides leachi), which was not previously reported in eastern Canada, was collected in Kangeklualuk Bay. It is typically found in marine estuaries and enclosed harbours around the English Channel and from the southwest coasts of Norway and Sweden (Berrill 1959). It may have been transported via ship to this bay (Pocklington, P. pers. comm.).

In Kangeklukuluk Bay, polychaete worms accounted for two-thirds of animals collected. Crustaceans were relatively more abundant in this bay than in the other bays, with the exception of Edward's Cove within Anaktalak Bay. The large number of crustaceans, mainly isopods and tanaids, represented 10 percent of the animals collected.

Voisey's Bay

The most abundant group in this bay were polychaetes, representing 85 percent of all animals. Four of the almost 80 polychaete species represented over half of all animals collected. There was a pattern in the distribution of species from the inner to the outer part of the bay. Four polychaete species were dominant in the inner bay, whereas three different polychaete species were more abundant towards the outer bay. Species distributions indicated an affinity towards particular sediment grain sizes.


12.1.3.4 Intertidal/Subtidal Epibenthic Communities


Participant in LIA study "Right now, [March] mussels on the out islands is the best, they will be nice and fat, especially in the spring of the year." (Williamson 1997:37)

Intertidal flats in the Assessment Area are typically barren in the upper intertidal zone. Filamentous brown algae are sometimes present on the surface of the coarse gravel substrate. Periwinkle and sea lettuce are present in the mid-intertidal zone. Although sediment grain size decreased slightly in this zone, brown algae and periwinkles are generally found in association with boulders. Macoma clams, soft-shelled clams, northern barnacle, and the lugworm are also common. The substrate of the mid-intertidal zone are characterized by the presence of clam and mussel shells. Blue mussels are occasionally found attached to boulders in this zone. The lower intertidal zone of tidal flats has an even finer sediment. Polychaete worms, clams, barnacles, and blue mussels are most abundant in this zone. Rockweed and knotted wrack also occur where boulders are present.

Subtidal environments in the sheltered inshore waters are usually comprised of unconsolidated sediment flats. Due to an erosion of the region's uplifted intertidal sediments, there is usually a steep subtidal incline at the mean low spring tide line, extending into the deeper subtidal zone. Sediments typically become finer with depth and are dominated by silt and clay in deep subtidal areas. Over time, there is a net movement of planed-off sediments (Rosen 1979; Aitken et al. 1988) and pebble-cobble (Gilbert 1984) from the intertidal to the subtidal.

Seaward of the intertidal flat, a slope of variable grade is covered by a layer of silt. Filamentous algae are common along the slope and sea urchins and blue mussels occur in patches. A range of grain sizes is normally found throughout the substrate at the bottom of the slope. A surface layer of silty sediment covers a layer of cobble and boulders or bedrock.

Species present in shallow subtidal areas are considerably more diverse than in the intertidal flats. Generally, all the species of the lower intertidal zone are more abundant in the subtidal zone. Seaweeds, which may occur in shallow areas, become more common with depth. Deeper subtidal areas typically contain a dense cover of common kelp species, with patches of red fern and coralline algae. Sea urchins and toad crabs are abundant at all sample depths in all bays. Blue mussels are also common on all substrates. Soft-shelled clams are common in fine-grained sediment. As expected, benthic communities were characterized by suspension feeders in current-rich areas and deposit-feeders in sheltered, current-poor areas (Thomson 1982).

Surveys within Edward's Cove found boulder barricade beaches sloping down into a well-sorted sandy upper intertidal band up to 5 m wide (JWEL 1997d). No epibiota were found in this region. Thereafter, a coarser substrate sloped into a low level (less than 2° ) intertidal zone with silt/clay patches bordered on both sides by boulders and cobbles. Epibiota consisted of occasional blue mussels attached to the base of scattered cobbles and boulders, with rings of rockweed and knotted wrack attached. Baltic macomas, a clam species, were found in the sediments. A tightly-packed, contiguous barricade of large boulders occurred at the mean low water level. Epibiota were comprised of mixed rockweed and knotted wrack on boulder bases, with encrusting brown algae on rock surfaces. Associated molluscs, included littorinid snails, northern rock barnacle and some blue mussels. The subtidal level was characterized by large boulders near shore, progressing seaward with a cobble-boulder mixture with some gravel beyond 15 m from shore; the substrate was mainly fine silt and clay, with occasional boulders. Rockweed was common on boulders near shore, in association with littorinid snails. Filamentous brown algae occurred on finer substrates. Sea colander occurred regularly at depths greater than 10 m. Sculpins, blue mussels and green sea urchins were also observed.


12.1.3.5 Fish Communities


The sculpin family is the most common fish family in each of the bays. Six species of sculpins are present: Arctic staghorn, grubby, longhorn, moustache, shorthorn, and twohorn. Juvenile sculpins (particularly the shorthorn and Arctic staghorn) prefer shallow silt-sand substrate. Sculpin abundance estimates are as high as 1.8/m2 at one location in Voisey's Bay (JWEL 1997e). Adult sculpins are usually not present where juveniles are abundant; adults are generally found off headlands, over bedrock slope, or in deeper water where boulders are present.

Most species collected during the 1995 and 1996 baseline studies are known to have widespread distributions along coastal Labrador. Many species also have broad northwest Atlantic, Arctic or circumpolar distributions. However, the longhorn sculpin and the winter flounder had not been previously reported to occur this far north. The northern limit of the winter flounder has been reported to be Windy Tickle, Labrador (55° 45'N) and the northern limit for the longhorn sculpin was reported as the Strait of Belle Isle (Scott and Scott 1988).

Participant in LIA study: "It [Voisey's Bay] was full of lance look over the side of the boat and that's all you would see, lance. Most thing the [charr] eat is lance. And I split plenty." (Williamson 1997:16)

Species found in all of the bays include snakeblenny, banded gunnel, grubby, American sandlance, and winter flounder. Banded gunnels are found in shallow water over exposed bedrock. Grubby, sandlance and winter flounder are found primarily in silt-sand substrates. The sandlance and winter flounder are known to be migratory, moving offshore into warmer water in the winter. There are reports of the sandlance occurring in ice cracks in the winter.


12.1.3.6 Chemical Profiles of Marine Fish and Shellfish


Shorthorn sculpins and blue mussels were collected from Anaktalak Bay, Kangeklualuk Bay and Voisey's Bay to measure hydrocarbons and metals in their soft tissues. There were no obvious trends in chemical profiles of fish or shellfish from the different bays within the Assessment Area. However, blue mussel tissue generally had higher levels of heavy metals than fish tissue, which is a well documented trend in the North Atlantic (ICES 1978; 1979). In order to provide context to the chemical profile data, comparisons are made with literature values, as appropriate. Sample locations and summary results are shown in Figure 12.8 for Anaktalak Bay.

Aluminum

Aluminum concentrations were close to or below the method detection limit in fish liver and blue mussel tissues (1995 and 1996), except for samples collected from Big Island Cove, Voisey's Bay (1995). In contrast, aluminium concentrations ranged between 20-50 mg/kg wet weight, in blue mussels.


Figure 12.8 Marine Biota Body Burden Sampling Stations - Anaktalak Bay
Arsenic

Arsenic concentrations were lower in blue mussels than in fish tissue, for samples collected from all three bays. Concentrations in fish muscle and liver were variable (range 1.75-9.21 mg/kg wet weight) and generally higher in 1996 (except for samples from Edward's Cove).

Cobalt

Cobalt concentrations were below the LOQ for all fish and mussel tissues analyzed in 1995 and 1996. Cobalt concentrations in blue mussels from around Newfoundland in 1988 were 0.12-0.16 mg/kg (Kennedy and Benson 1993).

Copper

The concentration of copper in fish tissue was below or near the LOQ, except for samples collected from a site 4 km outside Kangeklualuk Bay (Figure 12.9), where concentrations were up to 2.75 mg/kg wet weight, in fillet tissues. Copper concentration in fish liver in 1996 was higher that in 1995 at all sites except Edward's Cove. The concentration of copper in blue mussels in 1996 was higher than in 1995 at all sites, except in the middle of Voisey's Bay. Relatively high copper concentrations (mean 5.90 mg/kg wet weight) were detected in the blue mussels collected at Edward's Cove (1996) and at the head of Voisey's Bay (3.90 mg/kg wet weight).

By comparison, the reported highest concentration of copper in mussels from 55 sites around Newfoundland in the summer of 1988 was 2.69 mg/kg (Kennedy and Benson 1993). The highest concentration of copper in the north Atlantic during 1978 and 1979 was 2.5 mg/kg (ICES 1978; 1979). From a baseline study in Strathcona Sound, the copper concentrations in the muscle tissue of shorthorn sculpin averaged 4.1 mg/kg dry weight. In liver tissue from the same fish, copper concentrations averaged 7.6 mg/kg dry weight.

Mercury

Mercury concentrations in fish muscle samples were similar across all years and sites in 1996. Concentrations in liver tissue were slightly higher in 1996, except for samples collected from Voisey's Bay. There was no change in mercury concentration in blue mussels from 1995 to 1996. The highest concentration of mercury (0.07 mg/kg) was detected in fish fillet samples collected from the head of Kangeklualuk Bay in 1996.

Figure 12.9 Marine Biota Body Burden Sampling Stations - Kangeklualuk Bay

Nickel

Nickel concentrations were below or slightly above the LOQ in all tissue samples except those from Edward's Cove (1996). Nickel concentrations in blue mussels collected around Newfoundland in 1988 were 0.33-0.40 mg/kg wet weight.

Lead

Lead concentrations in fish liver and muscle tissues sampled in 1995 and 1996 were below or near the LOQ. Concentrations in blue mussels were detectable and higher in 1996 samples than 1995 in Voisey's Bay (Figure 12.10) and Edward's Cove.

Figure 12.10 Marine Biota Burden Sampling Stations - Voisey's Bay

Zinc

Zinc concentrations were three to five times higher in fish liver tissue (28.5-38 mg/kg wet weight) than fish muscle tissue (6.15-10.27 mg/kg wet weight) in both years. The concentration of zinc in blue mussels collected from Edward's Cove and Kangeklualuk Bay was higher in 1996. By comparison, zinc concentrations in mussels sampled around Newfoundland in 1988 were 10.0-16.0 mg/kg (Kennedy and Benson 1993). Zinc concentrations in the muscle tissue of shorthorn sculpin from a baseline study in Strathcona Sound averaged about 43 mg/kg and, in liver, the mean zinc concentration was 10.0 mg/kg (Bohn and Fallis 1978).


Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons

Concentrations of hydrocarbons in the marine fish and shellfish collection for 1996 were all below the LOQ. Collections of shorthorn sculpin and blue mussel from Edward's Cove all exhibited concentrations below 0.01 mg/kg for the full suite of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH's).


12.1.3.7 Coastal Geomorphology


The shorelines on the bays of the Assessment Area are largely composed of unconsolidated sediments, with significant stretches of bedrock outcroppings and pockets of organic material in marshes or estuaries. As all marsh or estuary features are found in the higher intertidal zones only, the frequency of sediment beaches is approximately 80 percent of the Assessment Area. Sand and gravel cover 34-38 percent of the shoreline of the Assessment Area.

Boulder barricades fringe 61 percent of the sediment beach or flat shoreline and are generally found in the inner, more protected parts of the bays. In some cases, boulders are assembled in a well-packed wall running continuously for hundreds of metres, often creating a sheltered tidal pool. In other cases, boulders are arranged in a clear linear pattern over a short distance. Associated with the occurrence of boulders is the high frequency of some level of Fucus colonization in 87 percent of all 1274 shore units. These boulder barricades add complexity to the beach because the presence of boulders in the intertidal zone creates a hazard to vessels manoeuvring near shore or trying to land on a beach; the barricade acts as a breakwater to the beach behind; and accumulations of boulders in the intertidal provide physical habitat for intertidal biota.

A "fetch" is an unimpeded distance over which winds blow from the ocean.

Throughout the Assessment Area, 56 percent of all shore units are considered protected as determined by mapping the measured modified effective fetch. The protected classification is defined as areas having a maximum wave fetch of less than 10 km, but it does not consider wind characteristics such as frequency, duration and strength. The outer islands region is the most exposed, with 286 of 499 shore units having a fetch over 10 km. Kikkertavik Channel is the most protected, having only 19 of 289 shore units with measured fetch greater than 10 km. Because of its size, Voisey's Bay is quite exposed, with 48 percent of the shore units having a measured fetch between 10 and 50 km.


12.1.4 Likely Future Conditions


Participant in LIA study: "When the capelin left, the ducks left. Every spring up in our bay , you'd walk along the landwash when the capelin, little bay capelin, they used to call them, they was only about that long, you had thigh rubbers on, you'd be right up to the tops of them with dead capelin. Now they're none, so I guess that's what killed it all together. The game started leaving." (Williamson 1997:16)

The expected condition of marine fish and fish habitat within the Assessment Area, within the expected lifespan of the Project and in the absence of the Project, is subject to natural population and environmental fluctuations. Natural fluctuations may be more exaggerated in the future given the extreme weather events predicted in Chapter 8. Extreme storms may result in increased mortality of many marine organisms including plankton, benthic invertebrates and fish. Mortality due to ice scour, or wave action in nearshore waters, rapidly decreases in salinity, due to runoff or ice melt and fluctuation in food availability may all be anticipated.

Marine fish and habitat would be subject to alteration from ongoing human activity (such as hunting and fishing) and natural processes (such as erosion, habitat evolution, and cycles in component species).

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