Terms of Reference

Ecologically and biologically significant areas selection process for the Igloolik study area

Science Workshop:

June 29, 2009
Freshwater Institute, Winnipeg, MB

Co-chairs: Don Cobb and Joclyn Paulic

Igloolik Community Workshop:

September 10, 2009
Igloolik, NU

Co-chairs: Leah Hartwig and Steve Newton

Hall Beach Community Workshop:

November 19, 2009
Hall Beach, NU

Chair: Steve Newton

Background

Canada’s Oceans Act (1997) authorizes Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) to provide enhanced management to areas of the oceans and coasts which are ecologically or biologically significant (DFO 2004). The identification of an Ecologically and Biologically Significant Area (EBSA) is considered to be a useful tool to call attention to areas that have particular ecological or biological significance to facilitate a greater-than-usual degree of risk aversion in the management of activities (DFO 2004). The identification of EBSAs requires an inclusive and transparent process that gathers both scientific and traditional knowledge and integrates the results to achieve a final EBSA map.

In fall 2008/winter 2009, DFO Oceans conducted meetings in Nunavut with the Regional Inuit Associations (RIAs), Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. (NTI), Nunavut Wildlife Management Board (NWMB) and Government of Nunavut (GN) to consider areas in Nunavut that might contain EBSAs.  The Igloolik Study Area was selected as one possible area. Two science advisory workshops will be held to assess the available knowledge for the Igloolik Study Area to determine whether one or more locations/areas within it would qualify as an EBSA.  Following the workshops a teleconference call will be held to integrate the science and traditional knowledge in order to finalize an EBSA map.

Workshop Objectives

The intent of the workshops is to complete the following objectives, according to guidance provided nationally in an Ecosystem Status Report (CSAS 2004/006):

1. identify all EBSAs in the Igloolik Study Area;
2. identify the “main feature” of each EBSA;
3. prioritize the EBSAs identified; and
4. finalize a map of EBSAs for the Igloolik Study Area

Workshop Outputs

These workshops will generate a Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat (CSAS) Proceedings Report(s), which will summarize the discussion at both workshops and a Science Advisory Report (SAR), which will summarize the advice resulting from the workshops. The SAR will describe the process used for EBSA identification, the information gathered, the evaluation matrices, the resulting EBSA maps and rankings of the identified EBSAs based on current scientific knowledge of the area.

Participation

Experts from a variety of organizations and the community of Igloolik will participate in the workshops including DFO, Environment Canada, Parks Canada Agency, Natural Resources Canada Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, the Government of Nunavut, Hunters and Trappers Associations, community members, elders and others.