Public Registry Strategic Environmental Assessments

Please note that the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board became the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Energy Regulator on January 31, 2025.  Strategic Environmental Assessments completed prior to this date will reference the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board.

To view the map of the Middle and Eastern Scotian Slope and Sable Island Bank Areas, click the link below: 

Location:

The SEA study area extends from the Gully Marine Protected Area (MPA) in the east to the deep slope waters of the Middle and Eastern Scotian Slope in the southwest.
Special Areas within the study area include Sable Island National Park Reserve, the Gully MPA, and the Western/Emerald Banks Conservation Area Marine Refuge. Sable Island is also protected as a Migratory Bird Sanctuary and an Important Bird Area (IBA).

Ecosystem:

There are fish, marine mammals, sea turtles, and bird species with special conservation status known to occur in the study area (e.g. the Northern bottlenose whale, blue whale, white shark, leatherback sea turtle and roseate tern, as well as other listed species). The SEA area includes critical habitat for the endangered Northern bottlenose whale. The SEA area also includes habitat forming benthic species, such as deep sea corals.

Commercial and Recreational Uses:

Other ocean uses in and around the study area include commercial fishing, shipping, tourism, scientific research, and military activity.

The main fish species currently targeted by commercial fisheries include, but is not limited to, commercially important invertebrate species such as shrimp, clam, snow crab, sea scallop, red crab and rock crab, as well as finfish such as Atlantic herring, bluefin tuna, Atlantic cod, Greenland halibut, haddock, mackerel, pollock, redfish and swordfish and other species. Lobster is currently unlikely to be targeted within the Study Area, though it may be in the future. Some harvesting of gray and harp seals may also occur in the area.

Indigenous Uses:

Indigenous fisheries in the study area may include the targeted commercial fisheries species listed above, with special emphasis on lobster, halibut and flounder. Migratory species (including fish, birds and mammals) that move through the study area could potentially be harvested by Indigenous communities in coastal areas through commercial fishing, food, social and ceremonial (FSC) fishing, commercial communal fishing or through other harvesting activities.

Please note that the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board became the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Energy Regulator on January 31, 2025.  Strategic Environmental Assessments completed prior to this date will reference the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board.

To view the map of the Western Scotian Shelf and Slope, click the link below: 

Location:

The location of the SEA project area encompasses the western portion of the Scotian Shelf and Slope and includes all, or portions of Browns Bank, Baccaro Bank, LaHave Bank, and Emerald Bank. The study area also extends into Georges Basin and the Northeast Channel in the west, Roseway Basin in the North, and LaHave Basin and Emerald Basin in the east and into the deeper waters on the Scotian Slope in the south including Corsairs and Georges Canyons.

Special Areas within the study area include the Georges Bank Prohibition Area, Roseway Basin North Atlantic Right Whale Critical Habitat, Fisheries Act closure areas (e.g. Corsairs and Georges Canyons Conservation Area for corals and sponges), the Fundian Channel and Browns Bank Area of Interest and Ecologically and Biologically Significant Areas.

Ecosystem:

There are fish, marine mammal, sea turtle and bird species with special conservation status known to occur in the study area, including Northern wolffish, Atlantic salmon, white shark, blue whale, fin whale, North Atlantic right whale, Northern bottlenose whale, leatherback sea turtle and loggerhead sea turtle.

Commercial and Recreational Uses:

The study area encompasses portions of Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization Divisions 4W, 4X, and 5Ze, and is heavily fished for shellfish (e.g. lobster, scallop, crab) and ground fish especially on the banks. Some examples of groundfish found in the area include haddock, pollock, cod, skate, and flatfish. Indigenous communal commercial fisheries and Food, Social and Ceremonial fisheries may take place in the study area.

Longline fisheries, including tuna, swordfish and shark fisheries, are primarily concentrated along the shelf break and in deeper waters on the Scotian Slope.

Other ocean uses in and around the study area include commercial shipping, scientific research, and military activity.

Please note that the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board became the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Energy Regulator on January 31, 2025.  Strategic Environmental Assessments completed prior to this date will reference the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board.

To view the map of the Middle Scotian Shelf and Slope, click the link below: 

Location:

While mostly on the banks of the central Scotian Shelf (e.g., Middle, Sable, Western, Emerald and LaHave Banks), the study area also extends into Banquereau Bank and into the deeper waters on the Scotian Slope, including Verrill and Dawson Canyons.

Special Areas within the study area include Fisheries Act closure areas, Sable Island National Park Reserve and the Eastern Shore Islands Area of Interest and Ecologically and Biologically Significant Areas.

Ecosystem:

There are fish, marine mammal, sea turtle and bird species with special conservation status known to be found in the study area, including the endangered blue whale, North Atlantic right whale, Northern bottlenose whale, leatherback turtle, loggerhead turtle and roseate tern.

Commercial and Recreational Uses:

The study area encompasses portions of Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization Divisions 4W, 4X and 4Vs, and is heavily fished for shellfish and ground fish especially on the banks. Some examples of groundfish found in the area include haddock, pollock, cod, skates, and flatfishes. Indigenous communal commercial fisheries and Food, Social and Ceremonial fisheries may take place in the study area.

Tuna, swordfish and shark fisheries are primarily concentrated along the shelf break and in adjacent deeper waters on the Scotian Slope.

Other ocean uses in and around the study area include commercial shipping, scientific research, military activity and offshore petroleum exploration activity.
 

Please note that the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board became the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Energy Regulator on January 31, 2025. Strategic Environmental Assessments completed prior to this date will reference the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board.

To view the map of the Sydney Basin and Orpheus Graben Offshore Cape Breton, click the link below: 

Location:

The study area is bounded by the Laurentian Channel to the north and Cape Breton Island to the south and west. The study area consists of the Orpheus Graben to the east and the Sydney Basin to the north of Cape Breton.

A number of marine and coastal areas within and around the study area have been designated as special areas. These special areas include Cape Breton Highlands National Park, the St. Anns Bank Marine Protected Area, the Big Glace Bay Migratory Bird Sanctuary and 15 important Bird Areas. The study area is also next to the Laurentian Channel Marine Protected Area, which is located in the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador offshore area.

Ecosystem:

Within the study area, there are fish, marine mammal, sea turtle and bird species with special conservation status, including species of wolffish and the white shark, piping plover, leatherback turtle (Atlantic population), the blue whale, fin whale, Northern bottlenose whale, Sowerby’s Beaked whale, beluga whale and the North Atlantic right whale.

Commercial and Recreational Uses:

Commercial harvesting is conducted throughout the year and includes snow crab, lobster, shrimp, halibut, turbot, cod, haddock, pollock, hake, plaice, redfish, tuna, mackerel, herring, sea urchin and scallop. Shellfish (mussels and oysters) and salmon aquaculture is an emerging component of the local fishery. Recreational fisheries, Indigenous communal commercial fisheries, and Food, Social and Ceremonial fisheries take place in the study area.

Other ocean uses in the area include commercial shipping, ferry service to Newfoundland and Labrador, as well as whale and sea bird tours, research vessels, military activities and other commercial and recreational activity.

Please note that the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board became the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Energy Regulator on January 31, 2025. Strategic Environmental Assessments completed prior to this date will reference the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board.

Location:

The study area mostly covers on the Misaine and Banquereau Bank extends into the Laurentian Channel and into the deeper waters on the Scotian Slope, including portions of the Gully Marine Protected Areas, Shortland and Haldimand Canyons.

Special areas within the study area include a portion of the Gully Marine Protected Area, a portion of St. Anns Bank Marine Protected Area, a portion of the Laurentian Channel Marine Protected Area, a portion of Shortland and Haldimand Canyons, which are Northern bottlenose whale critical habitat areas and the Lophelia Coral Conservation Area. Sable Island National Park Reserve is located just west of the study area.

Ecosystem:

There are several fish, marine mammal, sea turtle and bird species with special conservation status known to occur within the study area, including the endangered blue whale, North Atlantic right whale, Northern bottlenose whale, leatherback turtle, piping plover and roseate tern.

Commercial and Recreational Uses:

The study area is heavily fished, especially on the banks, with shellfish fisheries (specifically surf clams, snow crab and shrimp) being the popular fisheries. Other types of fisheries in this study area include tuna, swordfish, shark, cod, pollock, haddock, skates and flatfishes.

Other ocean uses in and around the study area include commercial shipping, scientific research and military activity.

Please note that the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board became the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Energy Regulator on January 31, 2025. Strategic Environmental Assessments completed prior to this date will reference the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board.

Location:

The Strategic Environmental Assessment study area mostly covers the Eastern Scotian Slope and Laurentian Fan, extends into the Laurentian Channel and onto Banquereau Bank and includes several submarine canyons, including Shortland and Haldimand Canyons.

Special areas within the study area include the Gully Marine Protected Area, Shortland and Haldimand Canyons, which are Northern bottlenose whale critical habitat areas, and the Lophelia Coral Conservation area. Sable Island National Park Reserve is located just west of the study area and Laurentian Channel Marine Protected Area is located to the east of the study area.

Ecosystem:

There are several fish, marine mammal, sea turtle and bird species with special conservation status known to occur within the study area, including the endangered blue whale, North Atlantic right whale, Northern bottlenose whale, leatherback turtle, piping plover and roseate tern.

Commercial and Recreational Uses:

The study area is heavily fished, especially on Banquereau Bank, with shellfish fisheries (specifically surf clams) and the Laurentian Channel, with ground fisheries (Atlantic halibut, and redfish) being the most popular fisheries.

Other ocean uses in and around the study area include commercial shipping, scientific research and military activity.

Please note that the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board became the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Energy Regulator on January 31, 2025. Strategic Environmental Assessments completed prior to this date will reference the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board.

Location:

The study area is centered on the Middle and Sable Island Banks and extends to the Misaine, Banquereau, Canso, and Western Banks on the Scotian Shelf.

Special areas within the study area include Sable Island National Park Reserve and the Gully Marine Protected Area.

Ecosystem:

There are several fish, marine mammal, sea turtle and bird species with special conservation status known to occur within the study area, including the endangered blue whale, North Atlantic right whale, Northern bottlenose whale, leatherback turtle, piping plover and the roseate tern.

Commercial and Recreational Uses:

The study area is heavily fished, especially on the banks, with shellfish fisheries (specifically snow crab, shrimp, surf clams and sea cucumber) being the popular types of fisheries.

Other ocean uses in and around the study area include commercial shipping, scientific research, military activity and offshore petroleum activity. Activity and infrastructure associated with the Sable Offshore Energy Project and the Deep Panuke Offshore Gas Development Project currently exist (decommissioning is underway for both) in the study area, on the Sable Island Bank.