Project Overview:
With a natural habitat bank planned for Greater Victoria’s Esquimalt Harbour, Archipelago in partnership with SNC Lavalin—was contracted by the Department of National Defense (CFB Esquimalt) to facilitate the project from an environmental perspective. This involved identifying the best locations for three rocky reefs, creating a design for each of the structures, and monitoring the construction and colonization of the new reefs. To identify feasible locations for the new reefs, Archipelago incorporated underwater dive and towed–video surveys, habitat feature mapping, and wind and wave–modeling techniques (the latter of which was completed by SNC Lavalin). SNC Lavalin then produced the conceptual designs for the three rocky reefs. Archipelago monitored the marine environment during construction to identify any risks or impacts to the environment, and after construction to assess the colonization of the new rocky reefs.
The site locations within Esquimalt Harbour presented a range of challenges as the site depth, wave exposure, substrate characteristics, and valued eelgrass habitats all had to be considered, along with the risk of navigational hazards within this busy harbour. Additionally, the short timeline for completion—from initial survey to conceptual design—presented an additional constraint, demanding a timely response throughout all aspects of the project. Upon the project’s completion in 2012, Archipelago again used underwater dive surveys to assess the colonization of the new reefs. Within less than a year, the rocky reefs had become home to a diversity of algae and kelp, invertebrates, and fish, signifying that the reefs were beginning to function as intended.
Month: March 2021
Project Overview:
The Capital Regional District (CRD) of Greater Victoria recently sponsored a pilot project to investigate and determine accurate, economically efficient, and easily repeatable methodologies to update the outdated ecological inventory of the urban harbours. The objective of the ecological inventory and classification is to provide data and maps that can be used to inform land use decisions and direct protection and restoration efforts, as well as show change over time.
For the pilot, six test areas were selected in the urban harbours to investigate three remote imaging methodologies – multispectral satellite imagery; CRD orthophoto base map; and drone (UAV). Sites were chosen to represent the variety of coastal features, habitats and ‘ecological values’ classified in the previous inventory. Biological and physical features of the backshore land, intertidal and nearshore subtidal zones were included. Sites were visited on the ground during summer low tides and observations of physical and biological attributes, along with supporting photographs were mapped directly into high-resolution handheld geospatial data recorder. An additional module to trial automated supervised classification was also done. Suitability of the test classification methods were evaluated using systematic comparison.
In a multi-stakeholder user workshop, recommended methodologies were reviewed, and priority features and indicators were identified in the data. Results of the pilot and workshop helped inform the next steps in determining which methodologies are optimal to conduct an overall ecological inventory and on-line mapping product.
Project Overview:
Defense Construction Canada, on behalf of the Department of National Defense (DND), undertook dredging in Constance Cove, Esquimalt Harbour, as part of DND’s multi-year, harbour-wide sediment remediation program. One of the mitigation measures recently implemented with the Constance Cove remedial dredging is the salvage of understory kelp within the project’s dredge footprint prior to the dredging; the relocation of salvaged material to a temporary storage area, and restocking once construction is complete. This work has been conducted on an ongoing basis since 2017 by Archipelago in collaboration with SNC Lavalin and SLR Consulting. These kelp salvage measures are intended to address impacts of temporal fish habitat loss due to dredging activities in an area with an existing kelp bed, and to reduce the succession time required for a disturbed area to return to a functioning kelp habitat. Understory kelp provides important functions supporting the productivity of local Esquimalt Harbour Commercial, Recreational and Aboriginal (CRA) fish such as Pacific herring, rockfish, Pacific salmon, greenling, sea perch, among others. The understory macro algae Saccharina latissima (sugar kelp) was the primary target species for salvage in areas within the dredge footprint that had greater than 25% cover attached to salvageable rock substrate. During storage of salvaged kelp and substrate, kelp enhancement lines, employing locally developed kelp cultivation techniques, were installed to provide an additional source of spores to inoculate the salvaged substrate, as well as provide additional temporary fish habitat during construction activities.
Project Overview:
Archipelago was involved in three rigorous survey programs: an Ecosystem Health Assessment, Long Term Monitoring Program, and Biodiversity Monitoring and Assessment Program (BMAP). The Ecosystem Health Assessment was developed to use biological indicators to benchmark the health of the local marine ecosystem prior to development. The Long-Term Monitoring Program centered on the collection and analysis of synoptic water, sediment, and biota quality data in Bish Cove, Emsley Cove (as a reference site), Kitimat Arm, and two nearby creeks. BMAP was an interdisciplinary initiative between Archipelago, University of Northern British Columbia, and the Smithsonian Institute. This initiative was developed to gather information about the status and trends of habitats, ecosystems and species at the project location before, during and after construction. During this work Archipelago collaborated with Haisla First Nations on the technical field surveys.
Project Overview:
Archipelago was contracted by the Fraser River Pile and Dredge on behalf of Public Services and Procurement Canada to provide environmental monitoring services during the South Jetty Reconstruction project at the Esquimalt Graving Dock in the Greater Victoria area. Archipelago monitored the marine environment during in-water construction to identify possible risks or impacts to the environment, and to ensure the work was being carried out in accordance with regulatory and contractual obligations. To meet these criteria, Archipelago staff monitored and documented: water quality; acoustic levels; marine fish and wildlife presence; environmental incidents and mitigation; best management practices; and site cleanliness. Daily and weekly reports were prepared throughout the duration of the project for in-water construction activities. Archipelago employed and reported on data collected using multiple survey methods during environmental monitoring. In-situ water quality measurements were recorded and assessed using a CTD instrument. Water samples were collected and submitted for lab analysis using niskin bottles. Construction sound levels were measured and assessed using a hydrophone. Marine fish and wildlife within the work area were documented from the research vessel. Upon the project’s completion in 2020, Archipelago prepared a final report summarizing monitoring data collected, construction activities, environmental management mitigation measures, additive measures, and recommendations.
Project Overview:
Archipelago has been contracted by DFO and fishing industry groups to provide observer staff, custom data processing and reporting services for many different research survey programs. Archipelago currently participates in the following fisheries research surveys conducted in Canada’s Pacific region: Sablefish Research and Stock Assessment Survey; Queen Charlotte Sound Multi-Species Synoptic Bottom Trawl Survey; West Coast Haida Gwaii Multi-Species Synoptic Bottom Trawl Survey; PHMA Depth Stratified, Random Design Longline Survey and the Scientific Data Collection Program for SK-Bowie Seamount.
Project Overview:
In 1998, the DFO implemented a commercial salmon catch reporting program for all South Coast commercial salmon fisheries. This program required commercial salmon fishers to record their retained catch, at sea releases, and time and location information in a DFO Salmon Logbook for all fishing activities. There was also a requirement for fishers to report their catch and release information by telephone immediately following each opening. In 1999 and 2000 DFO contracted Archipelago to print and distribute the South Coast Salmon logbooks and set up and manage a telephone service to collect in-season catch reports. Phone-in information was recorded into a central DFO database via web based (intranet) input screens. This provided catch data on a timely basis so that it could be used for in-season management of the fisheries. In 2001, the program was expanded coast wide, since that time Archipelago has provided catch reporting services to the commercial salmon fleet in BC.
Project Overview:
Archipelago provides at-sea observer services to Pacific Region domestic and joint venture fisheries. These services were contracted to DFO between 1987 and 2013 and are currently contracted to industry associations. The programs involve a variety of tasks including the collection of catch and effort information, biological samples and compliance monitoring data, providing observers to collect data on different commercial (groundfish trawl, shrimp trawl and groundfish hook and line/trap) and experimental fisheries (e.g. tanner crab, hagfish, squid fishing, seamount fishing). Archipelago is responsible for observer recruitment, training, and certification, as well as the management of observer deployments, data audit and reporting, observer debriefing and trip report preparation.
Project Overview:
In 1989 the geoduck fishery on the west coast transitioned to an ITQ fishery whereby the total quota was distributed equally among the 55 geoduck license holders. The geoduck fishers, represented by the Underwater Harvesters’ Association, contracted Archipelago to set up and conduct a dockside monitoring system for the 4-6 million pounds of geoduck landed at a variety of ports in BC. The company has been continually contracted since 1989 to provide DMP services for the geoduck fishery. Archipelago is responsible for collecting landing information, fishing information and Geoduck fishery data management, which provides up-to-date landing information for each license and fishery management area. As well, Archipelago coordinates on-grounds monitors, quota block transfers, mapping diver harvest data the paralytic shellfish poisoning sampling to coordinate fishery openings.
Project Overview:
Archipelago is contracted by the BCCIGS to provide the services of dockside monitoring and electronic monitoring for the Ground fish Hook and Line Catch Monitoring Program (GHLCMP). This service involves the electronic monitoring (EM) of all fishing trips, and the monitoring of all offloads of ground fish landed by vessels participating in the program and verifying landed weights and numbers of pieces by species. An audit and data consolidation component of the program involves analysis of EM data, and integration of these data with DMP, hail and fishing logbook data to provide a consolidated data summary for fisheries management. Since its inception in 2006, the EM program within this fishery has clearly demonstrated how EM can effectively address a variety of monitoring issues, including retained and discarded catch identification, enumeration, and size determination, as well as time and area restrictions. This program is often used as a benchmark EM program example worldwide.