Benthic video/photographic data collection, analysis and mapping
in St Anns Bank Area of Interest

Trade Agreement: NONE
Tendering Procedures: 
Attachment: None
Competitive Procurement Strategy: Best Overall  Proposal
Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement: No
Nature of Requirements: 
Benthic video/photographic data collection, analysis and mapping
in St Anns Bank Area of Interest for Fisheries and Oceans
Canada, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia

The St Anns Bank Area of Interest (AOI), located off the eastern
coast of Cape Breton Island, has been identified as a candidate
area for Marine Protected Area (MPA) designation under the
Oceans Act. The AOI covers approximately 5100 km2 and
encompasses part of St Anns Bank, Scatarie Bank and the
Laurentian Slope and Channel (Figure 1, black boundary). The
area includes important habitat for a variety of commercial,
non-commercial and at-risk marine species, and is part of an
important migration route for many marine mammals and fish.

As part of on-going efforts to describe the biophysical and
ecological characteristics of the St Anns Bank AOI, the Oceans
and Coastal Management Division is working towards the creation
of a benthic habitat ('benthoscape') map for the entire area. In
support of this goal, multibeam echo sounder (MBES) data have
been gathered and analyzed for certain priority areas, and
surveys are planned to collect these data for other areas within
the study area.  While some photographic and video sampling has
been conducted, more work is needed to obtain additional photo,
video, and seabed samples.  These will be used to ground truth
the MBES data analysis for the future creation of benthic
mapping products including a final benthoscape map for the area.
 A preliminary sample station plan has been drafted and will be
used to help guide image collection and seabed sampling in the
study area. 

This  project will support the benthic characterization of the
St Anns Bank AOI through the collection of ground-truthing data
(photographs, videos, and benthic grab samples) at locations
distributed across the study area.

The Financial Limitation of this Project is $79,000.00 plus HST
and the Project completion date is March 29,  2013.

This PWGSC Office provides procurement services to the public in
English.

Delivery Date: Above-mentioned

The Crown retains the right to negotiate with suppliers on any
procurement.

Documents may be submitted in either official language of Canada.