Science Response 2018/040
Ecological risk assessment and selection of risk-based indicators for the Hecate Strait and Queen Charlotte Sound Glass Sponge Reefs Marine Protected Area
Context
The Hecate Strait and Queen Charlotte Sound glass sponge reef complexes were designated as a Marine Protected Area (MPA) in February 2017 (Canada Gazette 2017), representing 2,410 km² of protected aquatic habitat along Canada’s Pacific North Coast. Previously thought to be extinct worldwide, these reefs are estimated to be up to 9,000 years old (Conway et al. 2001). The glass sponge reef structures form complex and fragile biogenic habitats and are at risk from both direct contact and indirect effects of human activities. The reefs serve a number of key ecosystem functions, including refuge and rearing habitat for numerous aquatic species at various life stages. In order to adequately monitor and protect the Hecate Strait/Queen Charlotte Sound Glass Sponge Reefs MPA (HS/QCS MPA), a comprehensive inventory and assessment of the risk to ecosystem components from the activities and stressors occurring in the ecosystem is required. Collectively, this work contributes to Canada’s commitment to a sustainable, precautionary, and integrated ecosystem approach to oceans management as directed in the Oceans Act and Oceans Strategy.
The Ecological Risk Assessment Framework (ERAF) for Ecosystem Based Management (EBM) was developed by Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) Pacific Region (O et al. 2015) to evaluate the single and cumulative threats from human activity-related stressors to Significant Ecological Components (SECs) in the ecosystem of interest. The ERAF is hierarchical and can be applied at different levels. To date, the framework has been evaluated through a Level 1 (qualitative) pilot application to the Pacific North Coast Integrated Management Area (PNCIMA), and through two Level 2 (semi-quantitative) applications to Pacific Region MPAs: SGaan Kinghlas-Bowie Seamount MPA (SK-B MPA; Rubidge et al.Footnote 1) and Endeavour Hydrothermal Vents MPA (EHV MPA; Thornborough et al.Footnote 2). Advice arising from these processes was used to inform the current ecological risk assessment of the HS/QCS MPA (DFO 2015a).
The selection of risk-based ecological indicators is another key step in DFO’s adaptive management framework for MPAs. Using the outputs from the HS/QCS MPA ecological risk assessment as a starting point, ecological indicators selected through this process will then be used to develop monitoring strategies, further refine conservation objectives into operational objectives, and develop monitoring plans. A risk-based indicator selection process has previously been applied to the SK-B MPA (DFO 2015b; Thornborough et al. 2016a) and EHV MPA (DFO 2015c; Thornborough et al. 2016b), and advice arising from these processes will inform the current assessment.
This Science Response summarizes the results and advice arising from the Science Response meeting held on February 2, 2018 to review the ecological risk assessment and selection of risk-based indicators for the HS/QCS MPA.
Additional publications from this meeting will be posted on the Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) Science Advisory Schedule as they become available.
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.
- Date modified: