Science Response 2016/032
Refinement of Information Relating to Ecologically and Biologically Significant Areas (EBSAs) Identified in the Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) Bioregion
Context
Canada has agreed to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Aichi Target 11 which includes the conservation of 10% of coastal and marine areas by 2020. Areas, especially those of particular importance for biodiversity and ecosystem services, will be conserved through effectively and equitably managed, ecologically representative and well-connected systems of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures. The Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) Shelves has been identified as one of five priority biogeographic units for Marine Protected Area (MPA) Network development. The primary goal of Canada’s MPA Network is to provide long-term protection of marine biodiversity, ecosystem function and special natural features.
Based on CBD guidance, the National Framework for Canada's Network of MPAs (Government of Canada 2011), and the Draft Canada NL MPA Network Strategy for the NL Shelves, Ecologically and Biologically Significant Area (EBSAs) are a key feature to be considered in MPA network development. The Oceans Program in the NL Region sought identification and/or clarification of the particular sub areas for each EBSA identified in the NL Bioregion. In the context of MPA Network planning, EBSAs have been internationally recognized as design features for Network development and there has been regional agreement that within the NL Shelves Bioregion, EBSAs will be given priority when selecting areas to protect in the MPA Network. EBSAs have been identified from previous Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat (CSAS) processes; 11 EBSAs were identified in the Placentia Bay-Grand Banks (PB-GB) Large Ocean Management Area (LOMA) (Templeman 2007) and 15 additional EBSAs were identified in the NL Shelves Bioregion (Fisheries and Oceans Canada [DFO] 2013). For both of these processes, the EBSAs were described with the inclusion of a corresponding map, however the data layers that were used to aid in the identification processes were not specifically requested, and in the case of the LOMA EBSAs, the subcomponents were not geospatially identified or described in detail. DFO Oceans requested that DFO Science provide further information on the subcomponents/areas of each EBSA that contributes to their significant features. Specifically:
- Provide detailed descriptions of sub-components of each EBSA identified during the PB-GB LOMA EBSA identification process.
- Provide geospatially referenced data layers of each sub-component of the PB-GB LOMA EBSAs, as well as the additional NL Shelves EBSAs.
This Science Response Report results from the Science Response Process of January 29, 2016 on the Refinement of information relating to Ecologically and Biologically Significant Areas (EBSAs) identified in the Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) Bioregion.
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