Terms of Reference

National Workshop

Conservation Objectives Workshop II 2008

January 14-16, 2008

Ottawa, ON

Chair: Jake Rice

Background

Under the Oceans Action Plan (OAP), Science Sector has developed a national approach for supporting the Integrated Management pillar in five Large Ocean Management Areas (LOMAs).

Over the last two years, Science Sector, often in collaboration with Oceans and other Sectors, has produced the following for each LOMA:

• Ecosystem Overview and Assessment Reports (EOARs)
• lists of the Ecologically and Biologically Significant Areas (EBSAs), Ecologically Significant Species and Ecologically Significant Community Properties (ESS/ESCPs)
• Conservation Objectives (COs) based on the other products (see report CSAS Science Advisory Report 2007/010 from the National Conservation Objectives Workshop I)

These products represent the Science Sector’s contribution towards the Integrated Oceans Management pillar of the Oceans Action Plan (OAP).

At the Dunsmuir II workshop held November 2007 in Montreal, all of the DFO Products intended to support an ecosystem approach to integrated management in Canada’s oceans were presented and discussed, with emphasis on products produced under the Oceans Action Plan. The focus at the workshop was on the need to take stock of the Department’s progress towards an ecosystem approach to management, and clarify a consistent pathway forward.

Dunsmuir II produced a number of conclusions and recommendations for action, including a number that would consolidate the work done under OAP I. The wrap-up recommendations and specific recommendations to commence the next steps forward were flagged for priority action at a workshop in January 2008. This workshop will provide the opportunity to discuss further:

• the work under the Oceans Action Plan with specific issues identified over the duration of that work and at the Technical Meeting of Dunsmuir II and
• the role of Conservation Objectives as a central part of DFOs strategy to proceed with implementing an integrated ecosystem approach to its work.

Workshop Objectives

The Conservation Objectives Workshop II will focus upon aspects of two themes resulting from the Technical Meeting of the DUNSMUIR II workshop held November 20-21st, 2007 in Montreal.

1. Consolidating lessons from the LOMA EOAR-like process, through considering and providing additional guidance on:

• What would be the "Table of Contents" for a useful EOAR
• Criteria for identification of Degraded Areas
• Using the criteria for EBSAs and ESSCPS to deal with data poor situations
• Consistent, objective prioritizing of Conservation Objectives
• What adaptations are needed for framework to apply to coastal areas
• How one might scale up and down for conclusions at LOMA scale to be applied at finer (and coarser) spatial scales, and deal with temporal scales
• Commencing the development of a glossary of terms to be used in discussing "ecosystem approach", "integrated management" and related concepts, building on the glossary that was prepared by ICES WGECO in their 2005 report

2. Consolidating the framework for an ecosystem approach to integrated management by considering:

• Conservation Objectives ’Thought Pieces’ from each LOMA to be prepared and presented.
• Documents describing how the ’holistic approach’ and the ’incremental’ approach for the ecosystem based approach to management would function in practice.

To the extent that consensus can be reached, recommendations will be provided for a consistent pathway forward in implementation of an ecosystem approach to integrated management of human activities in the ocean.

Prior to the workshop, the Large Ocean Management Area coordinators will prepare a presentation on their area’s Conservation Objectives. The presentations will focus on the usefulness of each of the national guidelines for the development of the Conservation Objectives and particularly, how the guidelines for prioritization of Conservation Objectives functioned in practice.

LOMA coordinators will also coordinate preparation of the ’thought pieces’. These presentations should illustrate how a few selected conservation objectives might function in practice to serve in the strategic management of Canada’s Oceans. This exercise should examine a select 2-3 Conservation Objectives with an area based and species based focus. LOMA coordinators are encouraged to collaborate with regional Oceans and Habitat Management and Fisheries and Aquaculture Management colleagues to build this vision.

Presentation of the ’holistic’ and ’incremental’ approaches will be led by Headquarters and Maritime Regions respectively. Based on the presentations and subsequent discussion the workshop will identify such common ground as is present in the two approaches and propose a way forward to be considered by senior management of DFO.

Other persons/groups will be asked to prepare an introduction to specific issues identified under objective one.

Products

A CSAS Proceedings Document will be produced to summarize the workshop discussions and conclusions. If consensus can be reached on recommendations for action regarding the two approaches then a Science Advisory Report will be produced. A second Science Advisory Report will be produced if consensus is reached on modifications for national guidelines produced for the development of Ecologically and Biologically Significant Areas (CSAS Ecosystem Status Report 2004/006), Ecologically Significant Species & Community Properties (CSAS 2006/041) and Conservation Objectives (CSAS Science Advisory Report 2007/010).

Participation

Participation of Science (Ecosystem Science) from NHQ and Regional Science LOMA coordinators and staff will be required. Client Sectors will be asked to participate in the workshop.