Research Document 2018/027

Information in Support of the Identification of Ecologically Significant Species, Functional Groups and Community Properties (ESSCP) in the Western Arctic Biogeographic Region

By Cobb, D.G., MacPhee, S., Paulic, J., Martin, K., Roy, V., Reist, J., Michel, C., Niemi, A., Richardson, E., and Black, A.

Abstract

Under Canada’s Oceans Act, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) is authorized to provide enhanced management to areas, species and community properties of the oceans. To accomplish this, DFO has adopted a scientifically defensible ecosystem-based approach to management (EBM). This approach assists to more effectively coordinate policies and key programs within DFO across all levels of Government and with collaborating stakeholders. The approach considers environmental and human components as a function of their effective relationships within the broader ecosystem.

To support the establishment of a Marine Protected Area Network (MPAN) DFO Science sector has been asked to provide advice on the identification of marine Ecologically Significant Species and Community Properties (ESSCP). The identification of ESSCP will add another scientifically defensible management dimension, particularly where spatially-based conservation tools are challenging to apply. The combination of ESSCPs and Ecologically and Biologically Significant Areas (EBSA) will inform the setting of conservation objectives for marine ecosystem-based management (such as MPAs and other effective area-based conservation measures) and the identification of conservation priorities for the MPAN development.

The purpose of this report is to review current ecological information for species, species groups or community properties for the Western Arctic bioregion, attempt to apply the ESSCP criteria, and provide an initial list of candidate ESSCP. Participants attending a Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat (CSAS) meeting will: review the criteria and the list of candidate ESSCP; decide upon a means to rank the ESSCP with respect to ecological significance; and provide a final ranked list of ESSCP. This working paper provide the background information to support the CSAS meeting.

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