The Atlantic Ports Baseline Biodiversity Initiative is an innovative project aimed at enhancing biodiversity monitoring across four Atlantic Canadian ports: Halifax, Saint John, Summerside, and Corner Brook. The project is designed to evaluate the efficacy of environmental DNA (eDNA) in routine biomonitoring, providing the four ports with comprehensive biodiversity data to support environmental programs and inform expanded monitoring efforts. By using the eDNA monitoring technology in a real port context, we aim to show that our approach is readily adaptable to other ports around the world, contributing to global best practices and highlighting Atlantic Canadian leadership.
Port activity can negatively impact aquatic ecosystems by introducing pollutants, damaging habitats, and bringing invasive species via vessels. Biodiversity monitoring methods are often labor-intensive and limited in scope, relying on traditional catch-and-look approaches. In contrast, the eDNA method offers a non-invasive and nearly comprehensive picture of biodiversity.
The multi-disciplinary team includes the four ports working in collaboration with non-for-profit organizations Genome Atlantic, IGNITE Atlantic, and the PEI Marine Science Organization (PEIMSO), as well as two eDNA companies in Atlantic Canada: Dartmouth Ocean Technologies (DOT) and eDNAtec. Sampling is conducted at three to five locations within each port using traditional Niskin bottle samplers. At the ports of Halifax and Saint John, two samples will also be collected using DOT’s novel automated eDNA sampler. The project includes regular sampling events in 2024 and 2025, to ensure comprehensive and temporal coverage.
Positive local outcomes of the project will be the generation of robust biodiversity data across our ports and developing our capacity for eDNA sample collection as well as data interpretation. More broadly, the project aspires to lay the groundwork for a long-term international vision for eDNA collection as a standard and effective tool in global port authorities’ routine monitoring to ensure compliance with environmental regulations while contributing to global understanding of marine biodiversity.
All project outcomes will be summarized in detailed reports, including comparative analyses of biodiversity patterns across different sampling sites and ports, with data made available through interactive visualization tools. This initiative represents a significant step forward in sustainable port management and environmental stewardship.