Passamaquoddy Bay Resource Inventory Field Work Concluded

Kim Reeder, Programs Manager

Passamaquoddy Bay Resource Inventory Field Work ConcludedMuch of QFF's early work culminated in 1997 with the release of a Comprehensive Environmental Management Plan (CEMP) detailing 50 immediate courses of action to address the environmental concerns for the area. This inventory addresses many of the actions listed in the CEMP such as; environmental monitoring of the St. Croix/Passamaquoddy Area, development and implementation of a prioritized research and monitoring agenda for the St. Croix/Passamaquoddy Region, and providing decision makers with up to date environmental information regarding the St. Croix/Passamaquoddy region.

The desired outcome of this project is to increase the understanding of the Quoddy Ecosystem and awareness of changes over time as well as to identify significant marine communities. The main project idea is to collect quantitative and qualitative data regarding the sub-tidal benthic environment encountered in the study area. In 1979, a comprehensive biological inventory of the New Brunswick coast of the Bay of Fundy from St. Stephen to the Petitcodiac River was completed by Marine Research Associates Ltd under contract to the province of New Brunswick. This new work will collect data from sites originally designated in the 1970's biological inventory, enabling a comparison of the findings which will foster knowledge regarding changes in the Bay since the 1970's as well as providing an up-to-date reference for what now exists.This years' field work was completed at Head Harbour Passage and area. While there may be some overlap in the areas that are sampled depending upon the information needs for a specific year, the plan is to survey 3 areas over 3 years: firstly, the West Isles area between Deer Island and Campobello, secondly the Passamaquoddy Bay area from Friar's Bay north to the mouth of the St. Croix Estuary and thirdly the outer Quoddy area including western Campobello Island the Wolves and Grand Manan North.The field sampling for 2008 was completed in November.

There were a total of 28 sites consisting intertidal and/or video surveys. The data from the survey is still being processed and will be available in March 2009.