1 Background

As part of the St. Lawrence Action Plan (SLAP), the Government of Canada and the Government of Quebec have been working closely since 2018 to develop a common framework for assessing the cumulative effects of marine vessel activities in the St. Lawrence and Saguenay rivers together with First Nations, various marine stakeholders and coastal communities.

As project co-lead, Transport Canada has commissioned a team from Université Laval to recommend and test a methodological approach for assessing the cumulative effects of marine vessel activities in the St. Lawrence River (fluvial section and estuary) and the Saguenay River (deep water section), using an initial series of data. In the context of this collaborative pilot project, the marine vessel activities considered include those of commercial vessels, cruise ships, ferries, fishing boats and pleasure craft. The location, intensity and/or movement of these various activities can be environmental stressors. The analysis made it possible to characterize and map selected valued components targeted by the study, assess the vulnerability of these components to multiple stressors arising from marine vessel activities, and then assess the cumulative effects based on the mapping produced.

This study was based on currently available data on marine vessel activities in the study area as well as environmental, cultural and traditional data collected from the various participants. In addition, this study involves the pooling of expertise, discussions on methodology and its application to the St. Lawrence/Saguenay, and the dissemination of results.

This project will make it possible to develop new knowledge and a common understanding of the potential cumulative effects of marine vessel activities. It will promote consistency in the development and implementation of strategies to mitigate the cumulative effects of shipping, and provide more food for thought for decision making.