OTN VR2W Loan - Emera Snow Crab and American Lobster

The NSP Maritime Link Inc. (NSPML) [operating as Emera Newfoundland and Labrador (ENL)], a wholly owned subsidiary of Emera Newfoundland and Labrador Holdings Inc., is constructing a 500 megawatt (MW) [+/- 200 kilo volts (kV)] high voltage direct current (HVdc) and high voltage alternating current (HVac) transmission line, and associated infrastructure, between Granite Canal, Newfoundland and Labrador (NL), and Woodbine, Nova Scotia (NS) (the Maritime Link).

The Project includes two 170 kilometer long subsea cables spanning the Cabot Strait from Point Aconi (NS) to Cape Ray (NL). As part of the Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Project, the potential environmental effects of the installation and operation of these cables were assessed and, with the implementation of the design and mitigation measures, determined to be not significant. Consistent with commitments and conditions of the EA release NSPML initiated an Environmental Effects Monitoring Program for two resident commercially harvested marine species, snow crab (Chionoecetes opilio) and American lobster (Homarus americanus), to confirm that once operational the subsea cables will not have an adverse impact on the movement of benthic species.

The current study tracks the movements of snow crabs and American lobster in their natural habitat before and after the installation and energisation the submarine cables. This will allow for the characterization of the animals’ behaviour and the identification of any changes.