Executive Council
Fisheries and Aquaculture
February 8, 2011
Celtic Explorer Fisheries Science Research Vessel Arrives in Province
The Honourable Kathy Dunderdale, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador today welcomed to St. John’s the Celtic Explorer the first fisheries science and oceanographic research vessel ever to be funded by the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. The Celtic Explorer has been chartered by the Fisheries and Marine Institute of Memorial University (MI) from the Marine Institute of Ireland.
In celebrating the arrival of the Celtic Explorer, Premier Dunderdale was joined by the Honourable Clyde Jackman, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture; Dr. Gary Kachanoski, President of Memorial University; Glenn Blackwood, Executive Director of the Fisheries and Marine Institute; Jackie Sheppard, Chair of the Research & Development Corporation’s (RDC) board of directors; and, Dr. Peter Heffernan, Executive Director of the Marine Institute of Ireland.
The Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture is investing $10.25 million in the new Centre for Fisheries Ecosystems Research (CFER) and the charter of the Celtic Explorer. The RDC is investing another $1.5 million. The new centre and charter vessel are key components of the suite of fisheries science research programs that were announced on July 2 of last year.
“This is yet another milestone for Newfoundland and Labrador as we chart our own course in fisheries science research for the first time in the history of the province,” said Premier Dunderdale. “With the arrival of the Celtic Explorer, we will be taking our internationally-known reputation for oceanographic and marine research to a whole new level. Our investment will also provide many new immediate opportunities for young Newfoundlanders and Labradorians in conducting fisheries science research, as we work towards a more vibrant fishing industry for the future.”
The vessel will conduct cod winter acoustic surveys during the month of February under the guidance of Dr. George Rose through the new Centre for Fisheries Ecosystems Research at MI. The Celtic Explorer may conduct research on other species in the future.
“The Centre for Fisheries Ecosystems Research and the Celtic Explorer will provide our province with a unique opportunity to have a fishing industry that is based on better science,” said Minister Jackman. “The centre will use this new charter vessel to contribute to the body of knowledge that will build our expertise in managing the fishing industry. Our government also looks forward to incorporating our research into the federal stock assessment process.”
“The establishment of the Centre for Fisheries Ecosystems Research and the chartering of the Celtic Explorer mark an important step forward to better understand the fisheries resources off our shores which continue to sustain a fundamental industry within the provincial economy,” said Glenn Janes, Chief Executive Officer of RDC. “Of particular interest for RDC is the use of leading edge technologies and the international partnerships that will help to grow the province’s research capabilities.”
The Celtic Explorer is a 65-metre state-of-the-art fisheries and oceanographic research vessel, capable of conducting offshore fisheries surveys and other oceanographic work in the waters off Newfoundland and Labrador. It will be the most sophisticated purpose-built vessel ever used for fisheries science research in the province.
“Chartering the Celtic Explorer is a tremendous opportunity for Memorial to take a more active role in the stewardship of the fishing industry, through the creation of knowledge that is timely and relevant to the unique needs of the North Atlantic fishery,” said Dr. Kachanoski. “Moreover, it is an opportunity for researchers from Memorial, MI and the Irish Marine Institute to collaborate on research of interest to Canada and Ireland.”
“For almost 50 years, the Fisheries and Marine Institute of Memorial University has been rooted in building the knowledge, capacity and opportunities of those who work in the fishing industry,” said Mr. Blackwood. “The arrival of the Celtic Explorer and the research it will conduct under Dr. George Rose and our new Centre for Fisheries Ecosystems Research will be the first of its many contributions to increasing our capacity in fisheries science and research. The researchers, technical personnel and students that we will attract to the centre will bring a strong focus to our fisheries research and increase our understanding of the commercial species and the ecosystem.”
A ministerial declaration for the charter of the vessel was signed in Dublin in October of last year. At that time, the charter agreement was signed by both institutions and the Provincial Government for this winter, with an option for extension into the following two years. It also provides for further cooperation between the Fisheries and Marine Institute and the Irish Marine Institute.
“Ireland and Newfoundland and Labrador both believe that science holds the key to the sustainable development of our natural resources,” said Dr. Heffernan. “We are delighted that our flagship research vessel is retracing the historical voyage of past generations of Irish fishermen to the waters of this province. We look forward to partnering with Newfoundland and Labrador in undertaking joint scientific endeavours that will benefit our people on both sides of the great Atlantic Ocean that unites us.”
The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and MI, through CFER, are conducting an assessment of a purpose-built offshore fisheries and oceanographic research vessel similar to the Celtic Explorer, for long-term application after the charter arrangements of the next three years.- 30 -
Figure
#1: Tentative Survey Track
Figure
#2: Southern Great Circle Route
Photo #1: The Celtic Explorer
docked in St. John’s Harbour
Photo #2: The helm of the
Celtic Explorer
Photo #3: Fisheries and
Aquaculture Minister Clyde Jackman, Master of Ceremonies for the welcome of
the Celtic Explorer to St. John’s.
Photo #4: Mr. Glenn Blackwood, Executive Director of the Fisheries and Marine Institute of
Memorial University; Dr. Peter Heffernan, Executive Director of the Marine
Institute of Ireland; Dr. Gary Kachanoski, President of Memorial University;
Jackie Sheppard, Chair of the Research & Development Corporation; and the
Honourable Kathy Dunderdale, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Photo #5: Richard O’Regan of
Ireland, Second Officer on the Celtic Explorer
Media contacts:
|
Glenda Power |
Andrea Nolan |
|
Lori Lee Oates Director of Communications Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture 709-729-3733, 690-8403 oatesll@gov.nl.ca |
Kim Thornhill Educational Marketing Coordinator Fisheries and Marine Institute 709-778-0544, 691-9221 kim.thornhill@mi.mun.ca |
|
Jeff Green Communications Specialist Research & Development Corporation 709-758-0973, 691-8892 jeffsgreen@researchnl.com |
Ivan Muzychka Associate Director (Communications) Division of Marketing and Communications Memorial University of Newfoundland 709-737-8665, 687-9433 ivanm@mun.ca |
BACKGROUNDERS
Celtic Explorer
The Fisheries and Marine Institute of Memorial University of Newfoundland is chartering the Celtic Explorer from the Marine Institute in Ireland (MII) for the first research project of the Centre for Fisheries Ecosystems Research (CFER). MII has a significant oceanographic and fisheries acoustic program and operates the Celtic Explorer, which is a state-of-the-art 65-metre fisheries research vessel, capable of conducting offshore acoustic surveys and other oceanographic work in the waters off Newfoundland and Labrador.
The Celtic Explorer incorporates the necessary and unique combination of features required for a winter acoustic survey. This includes a low acoustic signature, acceptable ice classification, fishing capabilities, acoustic surveying capability, laboratory facilities, and accommodations for up to 18 scientists, technicians and students. The vessel is of the size necessary to operate effectively in the harsh winter environment on the Grand Banks of Newfoundland and Labrador.
The Celtic Explorer also has a drop keel, which provides for the opportunity to increase the accuracy of acoustic data by reducing the detrimental effects of rough seas on acoustic transducers. It also has a diesel electric propulsion system, making it very quiet for acoustic surveys and economical in terms of fuel consumption. However, it does not restrict speed capability as the standard survey speed of eight knots is easily achieved.
The vessel is acoustically silent which minimizes fish avoidance and provides an ideal environment for the collection of high quality acoustic data with minimal interference from vessel noise. It has multi-beam sonar capability for ocean mapping, remote operated vehicle capability, and a wet and dry laboratory.
The Celtic Explorer will be used to carry out an offshore survey during the winter of 2011 off Newfoundland and Labrador. This will be a focused cod acoustic survey, which is different than the multi-species bottom trawl survey that is annually carried out by the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans. As well, this new research will apply different technologies and research techniques that are not currently being used. Additional work utilizing this vessel is anticipated to be conducted on other species in the future.
Survey Work
The Celtic Explorer will arrive in Newfoundland on February 8 and conduct winter acoustic surveys and other oceanographic work in the water off Newfoundland and Labrador. Specifically the surveys will include the waters off southern Labrador, the north east coast, the Grand Banks and south coast of the island. Approximately 3,000 nautical miles of acoustic lines known as transects will be run along the tentative survey track (Figure 1). There will be a focus on the traditional winter grounds in an attempt to locate offshore concentrations of cod. Once located, the acoustic technology available on the vessel will be utilized to quantify the size and number of fish in each concentration.
The research commenced shortly after the vessel departed Cork, Ireland, on January 29, 2011, for its trans-Atlantic crossing, following the southern great circle route (Figure 2). This route took the vessel over the Charlie Gibbs fracture zone of the North Atlantic. This is an area known to be a hotspot for marine life. Along the transect, various measures were made of the marine ecosystems, to obtain information on plankton, seabirds, whales and oceanographic conditions. These activities will be repeated on the west to east transect at the end of the main survey.
Upon arrival there will be a calibration of the vessel in Bull Arm, Trinity Bay, followed by a 12-hour survey of Smith Sound. The vessel will then move north to the Hamilton Bank-Hawke Channel region where a north to south survey grid will be run to encompass most of the cod overwintering waters (300-550 metres) along the continental shelf edge.
The primary research to be conducted aboard the Celtic Explorer will be a sonar-based acoustic survey of the biomass and age-size structure of cod within the Canadian zone of Newfoundland and Labrador waters. Research on the overwintering cod will include collaborative studies of reproduction and condition, feeding and stock structure, with samples collected from stomach tissues for genetic study, and otoliths (ear bones) for aging and studies of fish birthplace movement. Oceanographic data will be recorded and the survey will listen for cod previously tagged with active transmitters by the federal Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
The vessel is scheduled to leave St. John’s on March 5 upon conclusion of the survey. The research trip will not only provide a great deal of information in relation to cod but will also provide excellent experience and training for the graduate students involved in the areas of fisheries acoustics and surveys, cod and marine ecology, oceanography, and methods of fisheries scientific research.2011 02 08 3:30 p.m.