Research Document - 2016/015

Characterization and Analysis of Fisheries Related Risks to Significant Species, Habitats and Ecosystem/Community Properties within the Proposed Scott Islands marine National Wildlife Area

By Boutillier, J.

Abstract

This paper was solicited to provide a discussion of the issues and information requirements for the development of an integrated ecosystem management plan for DOE’s proposed Scott Islands marine National Wildlife Area (SImNWA). The focus of the paper was to characterize and evaluate the nature and extent of potential impacts posed by commercial fishing activities on examples of Significant Ecosystem Components (SECs) within the SImNWA which included: seabird species; marine habitats of key prey species of seabirds; and  ecosystem functioning and community properties. The intended output was to identified high priority information gaps and research needs required to address to fisheries/seabird species, habitat and ecosystem/community property interactions within the SImNWA geographic area, and contribute more broadly to an Integrated Management framework for the Northern Shelf Bioregion Marine Protected Area (MPA) Network in Canada’s Pacific marine waters.

The Ecological Risk Assessment Framework (ERAF) used by DFO Pacific was used to scope out the interactions in terms of issues associated with understanding the nature and extent of the interactions and the risks posed to the selected SECs. The key findings of this exercise were: that the pathways of effects of the fishery/SEC interactions are not consistently recognized and addressed in the management of the all fisheries; collection of information on the extent of the interactions is inadequate to be of any use for the management of the interactions; collection of research data in some cases needs to be modified to insure it is adequate to address more complex population, habitat and ecosystem/community property interactions. In most cases there are easily implemented, proven solutions to bring the data up to standard, while in other instances it will require that new research programs be implemented.

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