| Summary: | Halifax Harbour is one of the world’s deepest harbours (AMEC Earth & Environmental, 2011). It is sheltered, spacious, and has minimal currents and tides (Robinson, Hui, Soo, & Hellou, 2009). The ice free port leaves the harbour accessible year round, and it is the closest port of call for ships operating the North Atlantic, Round-the-World and Suez routes (AMEC Earth & Environmental, 2011). These advantageous natural conditions have made Halifax Harbour one of the largest commercial ports in Canada and home of Canada’s east coast Navy. In addition to being a major shipping port, industrial centre, naval centre and research centre, Halifax Harbour is surrounded by one of the fastest growing urban regions in Atlantic Canada (Chairpefkon, Thirumurthi, Parker, & Griffiths, 1993). Increasingly, the Harbour’s ecosystems have been placed under stress as a re-sult of intensive human activities along its shorelines. Since the colonization of the area 250 years ago, Halifax Harbour has been a receptacle for raw sewage and industrial wastes (Federico & Henderson, 2001). Environmental assessments show that acute chemical components in the water and sediments still have great potential hazards to the health of human and biota (AMEC Earth & Environmental, 2011). Harbour sediments have historically tended to be hotspots of contamination due to direct and indirect cause related to anthropogenic activities developed in the area such as shipping-related activities, industries, presence of highly populated areas, rivers and other discharges. Dredging and disposal processes can release pollutants bound to contaminated sediments and make them available to the biota. The purpose of this research is to contribute to the efforts focused on minimizing the level and exposure to contaminants in Halifax Harbour by both humans and marine organisms linked to the harbour environment. This will be done by understanding the importance of sediment quality for a costal ecosystem, analyzing how it is affecting environmental and human health, identifying the potential contributing sources of these contaminants, and the current monitoring and evaluation strategies and governance frameworks aimed at controlling contaminant levels in Halifax Harbour. This research findings are relevant in assisting with recovery plans for threatened and endangered species frequenting the harbour. It will also provide needed information to assist identified sources of the contaminants to mitigate against the continued pollution of these contaminants into the harbour. Similarly, regulators will be provided with recommendations aimed at improving management of priority contaminants through the use of best practices.
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