2017-2018

News Release

REF NO.: 87

SUBJECT: Marine Institute and Conservation Corps to restore critical fish habitat in Placentia Bay

DATE: August 20, 2018

The Marine Institute’s Centre for Fisheries Ecosystem Research (CFER) and the Conservation Corps N.L.’s Green Team will restore eelgrass habitat at targeted sites in Placentia Bay this week.

Media are invited to observe some of the eelgrass restoration activities on Wednesday, Aug. 22, from 12-2 p.m. at the Northeast Arm site in Placentia Bay. Detailed directions to the site location are available to interested media outlets by contacting the Marine Institute (MI).

Found along coastlines, underwater eelgrass beds provide critical habitat during early life stages of lobster, scallop, cod, salmonids and other ecologically and commercially important marine species. In recent years, eelgrass habitat has been in decline.

Taking part in the activities will be Dr. Arnault Le Bris, research scientist, CFER, and Rachel Artuso, lead, Green Team, along with CFER technicians, graduate students and work-term students; the Department of Ocean Sciences’ scientific dive team; other Green Team members; and staff from ACAP Humber Arm. 

Rehabilitation of this critical habitat is part of a $4.7-million, five-year project led by MI's Centre for Fisheries Ecosystem Research to restore eelgrass and create new fish habitat in Placentia Bay. The project is supported by the federal government’s Coastal Restoration Fund, which is part of the Oceans Protection Plan launched in 2016.  

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