Research Document - 2011/072

Application of Ecologically and Biologically Significant Areas (EBSA) criteria in Canadian Waters – Lessons Learned

By D.G. Cobb

Abstract

Since 2005, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) has undertaken the identification of Ecologically and Biologically Significant Areas (EBSAs) within Canadian waters primarily within the Department’s Large Ocean Management Areas (LOMAs). Efforts are now expanding to identify EBSAs outside the boundaries of these established LOMAs, and it is timely to reflect on the lessons learned from these previous exercises. This paper provides a comparison of the approaches and methodologies used to identify EBSAs within each LOMA. Lessons learned were summarized based on the experiences of individuals who encountered challenges and issues in the application of the DFO EBSA criteria. In preparation for the identification of EBSAs in areas outside of a LOMA and areas with limited information, a number of key lessons and recommendations resulted from this review. It was agreed that EBSA criteria have been successfully applied, reflecting the scale of dominant physical/oceanographic features and processes that occur at LOMA scales. There may be a need for further science guidance on approaches to resolve issues of data management, data confidence, variable quantity and quality of data sets, the incorporation of Traditional and Local Ecological Knowledge (which was agreed to be a key component of the EBSA process), assessment and analysis of candidate EBSAs (ranging from Delphic to more analytical methods), and the issue of defining scale.

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