Marine and coastal ecosystems

• Compiled information on the distribution of eelgrass sites in Canada, including historical observations.
• The proportion of Northern Fulmars with 0.1 grams or more of plastic in their stomachs.
• The proportion of shellfish harvest areas classified as approved or conditionally approved for harvest for human consumption.

Information on the measurement of these indicators is provided by Environment and Climate Change Canada. Each of the components of this indicator is measured separately.

Eelgrass

This component of the indicator shows compiled information on the distribution of eelgrass sites in Canada, including historical observations. It provides a snapshot of the locations where eelgrass has been studied in Canada.

Eelgrass is a common seagrass species that plays an important role in coastal and estuarine ecosystems. Eelgrass beds provide a variety of ecosystem services, including stabilizing sediments and reducing the force of waves, and they are habitats for various types of animals including fish and invertebrates. They also form a substrate for other plants, are food for various marine organisms and are an efficient carbon sink.

Eelgrass data used in this indicator were gathered and provided to Environment and Climate Change Canada by academic, government and community sources and were combined into a single inventory. 

For more information, please refer to Eelgrass in Canada from Environment and Climate Change Canada.

Plastic particles in the Northern Fulmar

This component of the indicator provides information on the mass of plastic found in the Northern Fulmars' stomach in birds collected in Canada.

The Northern Fulmar is a seabird that feeds exclusively on the surface (top 1 metre) in the open ocean.

This component of the indicator reports the proportion of birds with 0.1 gram or more of plastic in their stomachs and gives an overview of the situation at the national and the regional levels. This proportion is broken down into 3 categories, corresponding to different mass ranges:

• the mass of plastics is equal or greater than 0.1 g but equal or lower than 0.5 g
• the mass of plastics is greater than 0.5 g but equal or lower than 1.0 g
• the mass of plastics is greater than 1.0 g

The percentages are calculated by dividing the number of Northern Fulmars with a mass of plastics falling in the same mass category by the sample size (total number of birds collected and analyzed). 

Data on plastic ingestion in the Northern Fulmar were provided by Environment and Climate Change Canada's Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division in the Wildlife and Landscape Science Directorate. Plastic mass data were computed from volunteer reporting and scientific studies.

For more information, please refer to Plastic particles in the Northern Fulmar from Environment and Climate Change Canada.

Shellfish harvest area quality

This component of the indicator tracks the proportion of shellfish harvest areas that is classified as approved or conditionally approved for harvest for human consumption.

Shellfish such as mussels, oysters, clams and scallops are filter feeders that accumulate contaminants, such as bacteria or pollutants, from their surroundings. When contaminants have the potential to make shellfish unsafe to eat, harvest areas are closed to ensure food safety.

Data are available for all regions from 2010 to 2018. They represent the classified shellfish harvest areas along the Atlantic, Quebec and Pacific coasts where harvesting is active, or prohibited due to poor water quality or nearby pollution sources.

Harvest areas classified as approved are those where shellfish can be harvested. The area is not contaminated with fecal material, pathogenic microorganisms, or poisonous or deleterious substances to the extent that consumption of the shellfish might be hazardous.

Harvest areas classified as conditionally approved are those that meet the approved classification criteria for a defined period.

Sampling and classification analysis for this indicator are conducted under Environment and Climate Change Canada's Shellfish Water Classification Program.

Shellfish harvest area classification and marine water quality data can be found on the Open Government Portal.

For more information, please refer to Shellfish harvest area water quality from Environment and Climate Change Canada.

For key results on marine and coastal ecosystems, please refer to the following web pages from Environment and Climate Change Canada:

• Eelgrass in Canada
• Plastic particles in the Northern Fulmar
• Shellfish harvest area water quality

For visuals of marine and coastal ecosystems data, please refer to the following web pages from Environment and Climate Change Canada:

• Eelgrass in Canada
• Plastic particles in the Northern Fulmar
• Shellfish harvest area water quality

For key results on marine and coastal ecosystems, please refer to the following web pages from Environment and Climate Change Canada:

• Eelgrass in Canada
• Plastic particles in the Northern Fulmar
• Shellfish harvest area water quality

Why these measures are important

Eelgrass

Eelgrass is a common seagrass species in Canadian coastal waters and has been described as an ecosystem engineer, because it physically changes its environment creating habitat and resources for other species. Eelgrass health is well-correlated with the success of many commercially harvested fish species, as eelgrass beds serve as nursery areas for juveniles. Despite the environmental and economic benefits of seagrasses in general, their populations are declining globally.

Plastic particles in the Northern Fulmar

Plastic pollution is one of the largest global environmental challenges. Waste plastic pollution harms marine wildlife such as seabirds, whales, fish and turtles, which can mistake plastic waste for prey and/or suffer from lacerations, infections, reduced ability to swim, and internal injuries. It can also compromise food security, human health, and coastal tourism.

Shellfish harvest area quality

The fecal coliform levels in marine waters of shellfish harvest areas are monitored to ensure that shellfish are safe for human consumption. The indicator reflects the quality of, and the extent of bacterial contamination in, marine coastal waters where shellfish are harvested.

Ocean and coastal ecosystems: Census of Environment

Measuring ocean and coastal ecosystem extent is a foundational component of Statistics Canada's ecosystem accounts, developed as part of the new Census of Environment program.

Ecosystem extent accounts organize data on the size and location of different types of ecosystems, and their change over time. Ocean and coastal areas are classified by ecosystem type, including seagrass meadows, kelp forests, coral and sponge ecosystems, and by substrate type and ocean water layer, for each marine bioregion of Canada.

An important aspect of the accounts is to identify where there are data gaps. Much of the ocean floor is difficult to map at the level of detail required to delineate different ecosystem types. As work progresses on the accounts, the area listed as unassigned will decrease.

Further work is ongoing to develop ecosystem extent estimates and assess change on a long-term basis. Quantitative measures of ecosystem condition and valuations will be developed to provide a more complete picture of the relationship between the economy, society and the environment. This will influence how well-being and social progress is measured.

Estimates of seagrass meadows and other ocean and coastal ecosystems are available in Table 38-10-0153-01 – Ocean and coastal ecosystem extent account.

For more information see Canadian System of Environmental-Economic Accounting – Ecosystem Accounts.