3. Potential Effects of Industry Activity

Assessing the potential effects of hydrocarbon exploration activity in the nearshore Beaufort Sea on ringed and bearded seals, 2003-2006

Introduction

Ringed seals (Phoca hispida), and bearded seals (Erignathus barbatus), reside throughout the year in the Beaufort Sea. Both species occupy the sea ice habitat, using the ice platform during the pupping and mating season. Late spring aerial surveys have shown that significant numbers of both species can be found basking on the ice in the area presently subject to offshore gas exploration activity. Here we report on a study, which is the first attempt the evaluation of the sea ice breeding habitat used by seals during the winter and early spring period in this area.

Summary of work to date: 2003 - 2006

Study Areas
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Where: The southeastern Beaufort Sea, specifically the western and eastern Devon lease areas and the vicinity of Paktoa drilling site

When: Spring of 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006

Objectives:

The study is designed to determine the distribution, densities, baseline behavioural patterns, body and reproductive condition of ringed and bearded seals in the near shore land-fast ice of the Beaufort Sea, before and during exploratory drilling. This will increase the knowledge base on the impact of the winter exploration activities on local seal population, and serve to:

Provide advice on appropriate mitigating measures, which could be employed to avoid or reduce the impact of hydrocarbon exploration and development activities conducted during the ice covered period on local seal populations;
Provide advice on suitable monitoring programs, which could be implemented to assess the longer term implications of hydrocarbon exploration and development activities on the local seal populations;
Evaluate the methods and techniques used during the course of the study; and
Incorporate the traditional knowledge of the Inuvialuit in the planning and implementation of the research.

Summary of findings to date:

The distribution and abundance of ringed seal structures varied among years of the study. Density of seal structures, proportion of breeding animals, natural abandonment rates and predation rates have been estimated for the 2003-2005 baseline work. Data from the spring 2006 work (our exposure to industry year), are presently being compiled.

In total 20 ringed seals were live captured, tagged, released and tracked using satellite-linked technology. Data are being analysed. Half of these tags were deployed during the 2003-2005 pre-industry phase (see maps of two examples from 2005), and the other half were deployed in 2006 and are still being tracked at the time of writing. Six of the seals tagged in 2006 were also outfitted with year-round flipper tags.

Marine Mammal Sightings
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A total of 68 ringed seals were collected by Tuk hunters in 2004, 2005, and 2006 to assess the body condition and health of animals in the study area. Samples were also taken for disease, contaminants and fatty acid profiling from the specimens. Analyses are underway.

Systematic aerial surveys were flown in each of June 2003, 2004, 2005 (see maps) and May 2006 to estimate the abundance and distribution of ringed seals during haul out, in the Devon lease areas and beyond to the edge of the landfast ice and including the flaw lead.


Ice survey results 2003 view details	Ice survey results 2004 view details


Ice survey results 2005 view details	Movements of seal tagged in 2005 view details


Seal hole with trap deployed	Seal captured and waiting for glue to dry

Acknowledgements

This study is being funded by Environmental Studies Research Fund (ESRF), Panel on Energy and Development (PERD), Polar Continental Shelf Project (PCSP), Fisheries Joint Management Committee (FJMC), Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development (DIAND), and the Department. of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO). We are grateful for the ongoing support of these agencies, and guidance and support provided by Ruth McKechnie (DIAND) Scientific Authority and Terry Baker (DIAND). We gratefully acknowledge Pete Millman and Bill Livingstone of Devon Canada, and Don Cobb and Marty Bergmann of DFO, for ongoing support and interest in the work.

Inuvialuit technician and survey dog

Our field technicians from the communities Roger Memorana (photo right), Ray Ettagiak, the late Eric Ettagiak, Douglas Panaktalok, Dustin Felix, Frank Umo, Clarence Mangelana, Charlie Ruben, Joseph Felix Jr., Jerry Rogers and Joe Illasiak worked long days in extreme cold to make the project a success. David Nasogaluak, Ray Ettagiak, Joe Nasogaluak, Joseph Felix Jr., Peter Anikina, Sam Pingo and Eric Cockney conducted the seal collections in various years of the study. Ray Ettagiak and Joseph Felix Jr. captured and tagged the seal on their own in April 2004. We are grateful to Brendan Kelly and John Moran of the University of Alaska for essential assistance with the field work and loaning equipment to the project. We also acknowledge our survey dogs Taps and Ulu (Fig 15).

We also thank the Tuktoyaktuk HTC for various administrative tasks and meetings, and a number of people for logistic support during the project: Angus Alunik for expediting from Inuvik, Don Connelly and Marshall Borden, Randy Cofield and Sean McDermott and other staff on the SDC, Jerry Bulman, Don McDowell and others from Chevron Canada Resources for the use of the ice roads and staging areas, Ken Dalton from Aklak Air and pilot Keith Mennie for safe and productive survey flights.

For helicopter flights, we thank Highland Helicopters and Canadian Helicopters, Inuvik. Kelly Cott (DFO), Magaly Chambellant (University of Manitoba), and Forest Day (Inuvik HTC) for their perseverance in conducting the aerial survey. We thank Dr. Ian Stirling and Wendy Calvert of the Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS) for provision of the aerial survey data for the 1970's; Alan Udell of Victory Point FX, Yellowknife, for GIS analysis and production of graphics; Diane Codère of EMC for project management; Kym Hopper-Smith of ESRF and Alex Demeule of DFO for contract administration; and DFO personnel Aaron Schweitzer, Ron Allen, Mark Simms, Stephen Charlie, Fred Taptuna, Marlene Bailey and Dr. Becky Sjare for supporting and assisting the project in various ways.

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