Proceedings 2012/025

Proceedings of the National Peer Review of the Risk Assessment for Ship–Mediated Introductions of Aquatic Nonindigenous Species to the Atlantic and Pacific Regions of Canada; March 6-7, 2012

Chairperson: N.E. Mandrak
Editors: J. Bronnenhuber and S. Bailey

Summary

Draft research documents were developed to evaluate the biological risk associated with ship-mediated introductions of aquatic nonindigenous species to the Atlantic and Pacific regions of Canada.  A meeting was held to peer review these draft documents according to the Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat (CSAS) peer review process. The meeting was held March 6-7, 2012, in Burlington, Ontario. There were a total of 26 participants including the Centre of Expertise for Aquatic Risk Assessment (CEARA) Directorate, the ship-mediated risk assessment team leader and team members, and other individuals (from within and outside DFO Science) with relevant expertise in ship-mediated aquatic nonindigenous species, marine invasive species or the shipping industry in these regions. This document summarizes the   discussions that took place during the workshop.

The peer review process resulted in changes to the risk assessment documents by adding a ‘Recommendations’ section which clearly relates results back to management objectives, and by removing information on secondary spread from top ports to an Appendix. It was also recommended that the ‘relative’ nature of the risk assessments needed to be emphasized and frequently acknowledged throughout the documents. The methods for assigning uncertainty were clarified, and some changes were made to uncertainty values. Additional changes were raised for consideration in the development of the national level risk assessment which is scheduled to be completed in 2013.

Complete document (PDF, 192 KB)

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