Research Document - 2016/046
Equivalency metrics for the determination of offset requirements for the Fisheries Protection Program
By M.J. Bradford, K.E. Smokorowski, K.D. Clarke, B.E. Keatley, M.C. Wong
Abstract
In November 2013, the Fisheries Protection Provisions (FPP) of the Fisheries Act came into force. The provisions and related policies specify that development projects that cause unavoidable serious harm to fish must provide offsets, such that the benefits from offsetting measures should balance project effects. Equivalency metrics are common currencies used to describe both offset benefits and project effects and are used in equivalency analysis to determine the amount of offsetting required to counterbalance the serious harm.
This paper describes equivalency metrics appropriate for offset determinations under the FPP. The simplest are based on habitat area and can be used when the offset is similar in nature and location to the serious harm. More complex metrics estimate that are often surrogates for fisheries productivity may be needed when offset benefits are different in nature to the serious harm. Metrics range in complexity and in their assumptions and uncertainties. The choice of metric will depend on the extent and nature of the serious harm and the proposed offsetting measures.
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