The Marine Environmental Quality (MEQ) program of DFO’s Marine Planning and Conservation division, role is to develop mitigation and management measures to address aquatic ecosystem anthropogenic stressors. In the NL Region, marine debris and microplastics is a common ecosystem stressor and marine debris has been identified by interest group as a problem in the Coast of Bays area. Based upon this, a pilot project to collect marine debris baseline information in the Coast of Bays to document marine debris collector beaches and problem areas will be undertaken. Do to the remote nature of the area the surveys will be conducted using a standardized vessel-based approach. The data collected will help inform community based targeted and effective action to address marine debris issues in the area.
These vessel-based surveys will provide valuable data to:
a. Identify types and potential sources of marine debris
b. Locate debris distribution and quantity
c. Assess potential impacts on local ecosystem health
d. Inform cleanup and mitigation strategies through evidence-based research
e. Foster regional collaboration, community-led action and raise public awareness
