PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS Project: NEPTUNE - North-East Pacific Time-Series Undersea Networked Experiment Client: University of Victoria Services: MarineHabitat Assessment, Fisheries and Oceans Canada Regulatory Support, EnvironmentImpact Assessment and Mitigation, First Nations Consultation Goal: To support NEPTUNE’sproject developmentbyrecommending mitigation strategies for project environmental effects and providing input on project design regarding Fisheries Act Authorization Our Work: Hemmera was selected to complete the environmental assessment (EA) for the North-East Pacific Time-Series Undersea Networked Experiment (NEPTUNE), which is the world’s largest cable-linked seafloor observatory. The EA encompassed the undersea laboratory project over the Juan de Fuca Plate, several locations for instrument “plug-ins”, and assessment of general habitat and ecological value over sections of the 800 km length of cable and nearshore. From mid-2005 to mid-2006, Hemmera completeddive surveys at the landing site to support the assessment focused on key environmental components including the installation of the cable at the shorelines, installation and operation of equipment at the Endeavour hydrothermal vents and Barkley Canyon’s gas hydrates. Data collected was used to create a habitat map to align the cable to avoid eel grass, thereby not requiring an Authorization under the Fisheries Act. Mitigation for project installation and operation was developed with University of Victoria, including adaptive management in the event of measured changes in unique biota at the Endeavour Hydrothermal Vents Marine Protected Area.Effects frominstrument sound on marine mammal communication to archaeological sites were considered.Hemmera also led consultation with several First Nations groups for thisproject.  Results: The client is very pleased that the NEPTUNE project is successfully under construction with strong support from communities, First Nations and environmental regulatory agencies.

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