Science Response 2012/032
Science response to information requests submitted to the Enbridge pipeline project environmental impact assessment hearings respecting aquatic invasive species
Context
Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s (DFO) Environmental Assessment and Major Projects Division (EAMP), Pacific Region, requested that DFO Science, Pacific Region, on May 15, 2012, provide information regarding specific Information Requests (IRs) submitted to the Enbridge Review Panel that DFO Science has the expertise to evaluate. As the IRs for which Science advice was requested cover a range of issues and scientific disciplines, separate Science Responses have been developed for each category of IRs, and in some cases specific IRs. In addition to science related questions, some IRs included elements that were questions pertaining to DFO policy, management or legal information. This Science Response addresses the scientific elements of the following questions:
- What aquatic invasive species have been considered of particular risk for the BC coast from shipping or ballast water discharge?
- What is the status of assessments of biological, economic and social risks of aquatic invasive species in the marine environment surrounding Haida Gwaii and the SGaan Kinghlas Bowie Seamount Marine Protected Area?
- Have priorities and objectives been set for prevention, eradication, or control of risks posed by aquatic invasive species from ballast water in BC? If so, what are they?
- What steps have been taken to establish a monitoring and reporting system to track the effectiveness of actions taken toward its aquatic invasive species objectives and to report annually on progress?
- What plans, if any, are there for early detection of, or rapid response to, aquatic invasive species in Haida Gwaii and SGaan Kinghlas Bowie Seamount Marine Protected Area?
- What systems are in place to respond quickly to release of invasive species and the invasive species removal from the environment?
This Science Response report is from the Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat, Regional Science Special Response Process (SSRP) of May 29th, 2012 on the Science advice in response to information requests submitted by Intervenors to the Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline project environmental assessment Panel Review Process. Additional publications from this process will be posted as they become available on the Fisheries and Oceans Canada Science Advisory Schedule website.
