http://worldcat.org/entity/work/id/10349823

Spatial analysis of 18 demersal species in relation to petroleum licence areas on the Grand Bank (1980-2000)

Through the Oceans Act, the Government of Canada has expressed the necessity for an integrated approach in managing ocean activities. One of the legislated initiatives identified by the Act is the Marine Protected Areas (MPA) program. This program was designed to conserve and protect marine areas that require special protection for reasons specified under the Act. As listed in Section 35 (d), the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) is responsible for protecting commercial and non-commercial fishery resources including their habitats. One method of identifying such areas is to analyse species distribution. This study focuses on 18 commercial or common demersal species found throughout the Grand Bank area off Newfoundland and Labrador. They are Yellowtail flounder (Limanda ferruginea), Redfish (Sebastes spp), Haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus), Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus), Lumpfish (Cyclopterus lumpus), Monkfish (Lophius americanus), Pollock (Pollachius virens), Roughhead grenadier (Macrourus berglax), Roundnose grenadier (Coryphaenoides rupestris), Thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata), Greenland halibut (Reinhardtius hippoglossoides), White hake (Urophycis tenuis), Witch flounder (Glyptocephalus cynoglossus), American plaice (Hippoglossoides platessoides), Atlantic cod, Cusk (Brosme brosme), Spotted wolffish (Anarhichas minor) and Striped wolfish (A. lupus). The purpose of this study is to analyse the distribution of these 18 demersal fish species from 1980-2000 in relation to petroleum licence areas. The time series was extended back to 1980 because many of the species have undergone significant distributional changes.

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