THE COASTAL COALITION OF NOVA SCOTIA Jennifer Graham

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THE COASTAL COALITION OF NOVA SCOTIAJennifer
Graham

• Represent 30 member organizations
• Multidisciplinary perspective and research
• Community, economic development, tourism,
  resource and environmental groups, individuals
  and research organizations
• We are a resource

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Nova Scotia Coastal Themes

• Coasts are shared responsibility
• Coastal habitats fall between land and sea
  (salt marshes, coastal wetlands, estuaries
  barachois ponds, eelgrass beds, mudflats)
• Multiple government departments involved and
  all levels of government
• Land-based impacts on coastal waters are
  significant
• Intensifying pressure on coastal systems,
  accelerated pace of coastal development and
  emerging new activities
• Wide variety of ENGO and public engagement
  Stewardship, watershed management, stream
  enhancement, We are watchdogs and free research.
  We want to be part of developing management plans
  and coastal policies.

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Mini case studies to illustrate 5 challenges

• 1. Definition fish habitat in coastal areas
• 2. No consideration of cumulative impacts
• 3. Citizens and citizens groups stuck in watchdog
  role
• 4. Regulatory maze means coastal habitats keep
  falling between the cracks
• 5. Building compliance and effective restoration
  into the process

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Challenge 1 Defining Fish Habitat Where Minas
Basin, NS What Museum Built on banks of tidal
creek (salt mash) 10 years ago. Now the building
subsiding because of bank erosion Proposal to
shore up bank and divert tidal stream Municipal,
Provincial and Federal govt take no
responsibility for original permitting approval
(or lack thereof) Currently, uncertainly over
what approval required for further alteration DFO
says not fish habitat
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Challenge 2 Failure to consider cumulative
impactsTidal Barriers Bay of Fundy
Bridge
Culvert
Causeway
Dyke/ aboiteau
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Bay of Fundy Tidal Barriers Audit

• Led by community groups (EAC, CCNB)
• Input from universities in developing indicators
  and methodology. Original methodology modified
  from New England
• DFO Science Horizon Internships allowed for
  summer students, lent equipment
• Over 50 of tidal rivers in BOF have partial or
  full tidal restriction.
• Not enough (recognized) science on importance of
  salt marsh habitat for fish habitat for
  restoration to be a priority
• How do Science, Habitat Protection and Species at
  Risk (IBOF salmon) reinforce each other in
  reversing damage?
• How do we assess cumulative habitat loss or
  damage because of tidal barriers on small and
  medium sized rivers?

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Watching the grass grow and the tide come in
Birds Mosquitoes Hydrology Sediment Mapping
Fish
Soil Salinity
Vegetation
School Programs
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Challenge 3 Community watchdogs. Friends of
Port Mouton Bay, SW NS

• Aquaculture expansion in Port Mouton Bay, SW Nova
  Scotia
• Concern with fish habitat (lobster nursery area)
  as well as negative impact from existing site
• Citizen led science about circulation patterns
  and bottom sediment
• DFO narrow scoping impact limited to site itself
• Community groups pushed for full EA and are doing
  all the research
• Why cant we develop and implement management
  plans?

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Challenge 4 Regulatory maze leads to needless
habitat lossRose Bay Salt Marsh, SW Nova Scotia
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Infilling at Rose Bay Salt Marsh

• Province does not recognize area where fill is
  being dumped as wetland no permit required
• Municipality has weak coastal zoning
• DFO not involved before the damage. Wont lay
  charges when province does not recognize as salt
  marsh
• Regulatory maze leads to habitat loss!

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Challenge 5 Compliance, monitoring and ensuring
effective restoration?

• Barachois ponds fall between cracks not fresh,
  not marine, not wetland. Permitting unclear
• Infilling of barachois for cottage development,
  Baddeck, Bras DOr Lake, Cape Breton
• Bras DOr Lakes Stewardship Society pushed for
  fine
• DFO laid charges. Eventually fine laid (3000)
  plus restoration (removal of fill. Money went to
  support Societys barachois pond study.
• Where is the follow up? BDSS needed constant
  pressure to ensure compliance
• Still concerns with oversight and quality of
  restoration work

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Solutions

• Only Sign MOUs if province has plan for coastal
  habitat protection
• Expedite development of marine, coastal and
  watershed management plans. Need to (anticipate
  rather than react)
• Partner with all levels of government and
  community for coastal mapping initiatives and
  baseline studies
• Work with and fund universities and community
  groups for data collection, watershed planning,
  and monitoring and improving our restoration
  techniques
• Put costs of monitoring g and follow up on
  proponent (post restoration monitoring at
  Cheverie a good example)