Science Advisory Report 2018/006
Design Strategies for a Network of Marine Protected Areas in the Scotian Shelf Bioregion
Summary
- The primary focus of this meeting was to review the proposed approaches to developing Design Strategies for coastal and offshore components of a network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in the Scotian Shelf Bioregion.
- Different approaches to developing Design Strategies were used for the coastal and offshore waters given the different sources and resolutions of information available for these areas. It is recognized, however, that offshore and coastal areas are connected through ecological processes, and approaches are being explored to consider this connectivity in the overall MPA network design.
- According to current Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) guidance, Design Strategies are meant to specify, for each Conservation Priority: (1) the types of areas or features to be conserved, and; (2) the relative targets for each area type. Design Strategies may also specify elements of connectivity, size, and spacing, if such information exists.
- There is no single ideal method for setting conservation targets. Targets are intended to be ecologically meaningful and reflect current understanding of what is required to protect the Conservation Priority. Setting of specific conservation targets (e.g., 40% of a feature) can imply a false level of precision, so the uncertainty and limitations of targets need to be clearly articulated.
- The approaches used to set conservation targets for the offshore and coastal components of a network of MPAs in the Scotian Shelf Bioregion are intended to be practical, logic-based, qualitative, and reproducible.
- Conservation targets should be revised and adapted over time as more information becomes available, with periodic review to assess progress in achieving the targets.
- Science advice is only one source of information to be used in establishing a MPA network design for the Scotian Shelf Bioregion. A consultation process is underway to gather input from the public, industry, non-governmental organizations, and other government agencies, including First Nations and Aboriginal organizations. This input will also inform MPA network design.
This Science Advisory Report is from the July 6-7 and November 2-3, 2016, Design Guidance for a Network of Marine Protected Areas in the Scotian Shelf Bioregion. Additional publications from this meeting will be posted on the Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) Science Advisory Schedule as they become available.
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