An evaluation of benthic monitoring baseline assessments completed as part of the regulatory requirements for aquaculture finfish site applications on the south coast of Newfoundland / by D. Hamoutene... : Fs97-6/3222E-PDF

"In aquaculture impact studies, it is necessary to acquire knowledge of benthic communities prior to the initiation of the activity to determine potential effects on ecosystems. We used baseline environmental survey reports of data collected from 2003 to 2011 by underwater video to document the composition of the seafloor in bays on the South Coast of Newfoundland where aquaculture activities occur. Organisms were identified at high taxonomic levels and were generally sparse and patchily distributed. We observed low natural taxa richness with the presence of barren stations. The dominant groups reported were: anemones, coralline algae, brittle stars, and other algae. Targeted sites and bays have a high level of substrate patchiness and were sometimes located over some sensitive habitats. Groups such as coralline algae score high in their uniqueness and vulnerability despite being classified as low productivity areas. Other habitats such as kelps (mostly present in Little Bay) and sponges (in Little Passage) were also observed. Despite a depth effect, there was a lack of obvious vertical zonation in taxa presence, suggesting that vertical distribution might be also governed by substrates and reflect the patchiness of the area. Recommendations for future baseline surveys are detailed in this document. In particular, baseline surveys have to be designed with explicit consideration of the legislative construct"--Abstract, p. iv.

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