Cruise report - Integrated Studies and Ecosystem Characterization of the Labrador Sea Deep Ocean (ISECOLD)

Introduction and objectives
The Government of Canada has committed to protecting 10% of Canada’s marine and coastal areas by 2020 as part of its commitment to achieve international (the Convention on Biological Diversity 2011 20 Strategic Plan for Biodiversity’s Aichi Targets) and domestic (2020 Biodiversity Goals and Targets for Canada) biodiversity conservation goals. In 2017, a three year study was initiated for a deep offshore portion of the northern Labrador Sea that was under consideration for a large offshore MPA. From an oceanographic perspective, the area is well studied and of global significance as it is one of the few areas of the world where deep-water convection occurs. However, at depths beyond 750 m, virtually no data was available regarding the biota. Consequently, the Integrated Studies and Ecosystem Characterization of the Labrador Sea Deep Ocean (ISECOLD) was initiated. A CSAS meeting in 2017 (Cote et al. 2018) highlighted the need for characterization efforts related to benthic and pelagic communities, demersal fish communities, seabed mapping and habitat characterization and seabird and marine mammal observations. The Amundsen 2019, Leg 1B Expedition extends collections conducted in 2018 (Amundsen Leg 2C) and addresses these target areas with the exception of demersal fish; a program component for which an alternative vessel and sampling techniques are required. In addition to the scientific objectives of DFO, Leg 1B addresses the scientific objectives of several key academic, government, Indigenous and international collaborators.