Research Document 2019/049

Re-evaluation of the Placentia Bay-Grand Banks Area of the Newfoundland and Labrador Shelves Bioregion to Identify and Describe Ecologically and Biologically Significant Areas

By Wells, N., K. Tucker, K. Allard, M. Warren, S. Olson, L. Gullage, C. Pretty, V. Sutton-Pande and K. Clarke

Abstract

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) Science has developed guidance on the identification of Ecologically or Biologically Significant Areas (EBSAs) and has endorsed the scientific criteria of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) for identifying ecologically or biologically significant marine areas as defined in Annex I of Decision IX/20 of its 9^th Conference of Parties. Eleven EBSAs were identified in the Placentia Bay Grand Banks area in 2007 using a Delphic approach. Additional EBSAs were identified in the Newfoundland and Labrador Bioregion north of the PBGB area in 2013. This second set of EBSAs was identified based on a data driven approach that relied on the use of a Geographic Information System (GIS). To be consistent with the amount of geospatial information available for EBSAs identified in both areas within the Bioregion, Science was asked to re-evaluate the PBGB area and use a data-driven process similar to that of the 2013 EBSA identification process. A steering committee used the EBSA criteria of aggregation, fitness consequences and uniqueness, as well as previous Centre for Science Advice Secretariat (CSAS) guidance documents, to identify, compile, process and analyze data. Many meetings were held with scientific experts and 244 layers of biological data were created to define significant areas. All information was compiled in a GIS and a hierarchical approach was used to review individual data layers and groupings of data layers. Fourteen EBSAs were identified in two different categories: seven based on coastal data and seven based on offshore data. In comparing the new EBSAs to those identified in 2007, nine of them overlap spatially and are based on similar features; however, there were some variations in the boundaries. Two of the EBSAs that were identified in 2007 were no longer considered EBSAs in 2017, but portions of both of these areas were captured in part by other EBSAs. Five new EBSAs were identified in areas not previously considered.

Complete document (PDF, 16,153 KB)

Accessibility Notice

This document is available in PDF format. If the document is not accessible to you, please contact the Secretariat to obtain another appropriate format, such as regular print, large print, Braille or audio version.