Research offers deep dive into health of Saint John Harbour ecosystem
New public data is offering new depths of understanding about ecosystems beneath and along Saint John Harbour.
Information from the last five years is now online for projects completed within the Coastal Environmental Baseline Program.
“This program isn’t really about measuring good versus bad, but rather measuring how the harbour is right now at this time,” says Bethany Reinhart, a biologist with Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
“The partners we’re working with represent Indigenous organizations, the marine fishing industry, environmental non-profits, academics, and the government. And these are all collecting data on everything from water quality, to fish species, invasive species, seabirds, wetlands, contaminants, and micro plastics.”
The Fundy North Fishermen’s Association is collecting data on Bay of Fundy surface currents to create a model predicting where any oil spill might travel.
“Management decisions and conservation are the goal here,” says Reinhart.
The Atlantic Coastal Action Program – or ACAP Saint John – is tracking seal populations and movements at six different sites on a bi-weekly basis during low tide.
The organization is collecting new data and comparing it to the most recent information collected by Dr. Jack Terhune at the University of New Brunswick in the 1990s.
“We were able to actually study the seals all year round, whereas in the 1990s, the seals actually migrated in the winter,” says Shauna Sands, the conservation coordinator for ACAP Saint John. “So, we’re still seeing seals 12 months out of the year compared to Dr. Terhune’s study where he noted the seals left in December and came back in May.”
'PERFECT LOCATION'
Several locations across the region were considered for the program.
“There would be several great sites in the Maritimes for this work,” says Reinhart. “But the Saint John Harbour is sort of a perfect location for this.”
Reinhart says diverse industrial activity in the harbour, along with the area’s unique tidal patterns, made Saint John a smart site for study.
“It’s also understudied,” says Reinhart. “There were a lot of gaps in the data.”
“There are good and bad things about the Saint John Harbour and it really depends on what you’re looking at, and what you’re measuring and where you’re looking. If you’re measuring contaminants in Marsh Creek versus Bay Shore Beach, you’re going to have really different results. It’s a really complex and dynamic system in Saint John Harbour.
The program’s other Canadian locations include Port of Vancouver and Port of Prince Rupert in British Columbia, Iqaluit in Nunavut, the St. Lawrence Estuary in Quebec, and Placenta Bay in Newfoundland and Labrador.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Fluid in eye cells can 'boil' if you watch the eclipse without protection: expert
Millions of people in parts of Eastern and Atlantic Canada will be able to see the rare solar eclipse happening on April 8. But they should only look up if they have proper eye protection, experts say.
He didn't trust police but sought their help anyway. Two days later, he was dead
Jameek Lowery was among more than 330 Black people who died after police stopped them with tactics that aren’t supposed to be deadly, like physical restraint and use of stun guns, The Associated Press found.
CRA no longer requiring 'bare trust' reporting in 2023 tax return
The Canada Revenue Agency announced Thursday it will not require 'bare trust' reporting from Canadians that it introduced for the 2024 tax season, just four days before the April 2 deadline.
Being harassed at work? What to consider when deciding what to do next
If you've been the victim of workplace harassment, it can be difficult to feel you're not alone - and even more difficult to know where to go with a complaint.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
Grandparent scam: London, Ont., senior beats fraudsters not once, but twice
It was a typical Tuesday for Mabel Beharrell, 84, until she got the call that would turn her world upside down. Her teenaged grandson was in trouble and needed her help.
Half of Canadians support TikTok ban, with U.S. concerns 'trickling' north: poll
A new poll indicates 51 per cent of Canadians support banning the social media app TikTok, after a U.S. bill aiming to do just that passed in the House of Representatives.
Where is the worst place for allergy sufferers in Canada?
The spring allergy season has started early in many parts of Canada, with high levels of pollen in some cities already. Experts weigh in on which areas have it worse so far this season.
More unauthorized products for skin, sexual enhancement, recalled: Here are the recalls of this week
Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency recalled various items this week, including torches, beef biltong and unauthorized products related to skin care and sexual enhancement.