Proceedings 2013/023

Proceedings from the National Science Advisory Process on Guidance on the Formulation of Conservation Objectives, and identification of Indicators, Monitoring Protocols and Strategies for Bioregional Marine Protected Area Networks

Co-Chairpersons: Jake Rice and Cecilia Lougheed
Editor: Sherry Walker

Summary

Canada has made various domestic and international commitments to establish a network of marine protected areas (MPAs) (e.g., World Summit on Sustainable Development, the Convention on Biological Diversity, Canadian Biodiversity Strategy). As the lead department on national MPA network planning, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) is working with federal, provincial and territorial partners to design and establish the Canadian network of MPAs in accordance to Decision IX/20 of the Convention on Biological Diversity (UNEP 2008). Development of Canada’s MPA network, to be composed of 13 bioregional MPA networks, is being guided by the 2011 National Framework for Canada’s Network of Marine Protected Areas (Government of Canada 2011).

In 2009, Science provided general guidance regarding the design of MPA networks (DFO 2010). As the planning of MPA networks progresses, the priority is to define MPA network Conservation Objectives. Conservation Objectives are important components of a bioregional MPA network and to track progress on their achievement, network-level indicators and monitoring protocols and strategies are required. The science advice produced from this national meeting, held October 3 to 5, 2012 in Montreal, is the next step in providing guidance for the planning of bioregional MPA networks.  Specifically, guidance is provided for the development of measurable conservation objectives, and identification of indicators, monitoring protocols and strategies to evaluate the effectiveness of the networks, and to ensure it is done in a consistent manner while allowing for flexibility to adapt to regional conditions. Participants included DFO Ecosystem and Oceans Science, Program Policy and Oceans, Parks Canada, Environment Canada, provincial/territorial experts and academia.  The resulting publications from this meeting include a science advisory report, a research document and these proceedings.

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