Terms of Reference

Advice on Indicator Selection and Monitoring Protocols for the Tarium Niryutait Marine Protected Area

Regional Advisory Meeting (Central and Arctic)

March 30-31, 2010

Freshwater Institute, Winnipeg, Manitoba

Chairperson: Holly Cleator

Background

Under the Health of the Oceans Initiative, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) Science sector provides advice in support of the management of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). This includes identification of indicators, protocols and strategies that are to be incorporated into MPA monitoring plans. The identification of such indicators, protocols and strategies are to be based upon the regulatory conservation objectives set out for each particular MPA. The conservation objective of the Tarium Niryutait MPA (TNMPA) will be to conserve and protect beluga whales and other marine species (anadromous fish, waterfowl and seabirds), their habitats and their supporting ecosystem. The Tarium Niryutait MPA will strengthen, and complement the Beaufort Sea Beluga Management Plan (BSBMP) objectives, to ensure the long-term sustainable management of one of the world’s larges summering stocks of beluga whales and their habitat. The proposed MPA would also support harvesting traditions central to the Inuvialuit culture in the communities of Aklavik, Inuvik and Tuktoyaktuk.

To aid in the development of indicators, the conservation objective was ‘unpacked’ into thirty sub-objectives. Five of these were chosen by the Fisheries Joint Management Committee (FJMC) and DFO to focus on because they relate to protection of the beluga population, the primary reason for establishing the TNMPA.

1. To maintain the spatial, temporal and annual variability of the beluga population.
2. To maintain the health and well-being of the beluga population.
3. To maintain the trophic structure.
4. To maintain the natural range of variability of the physical oceanographic features.
5. To minimize noise disturbance.

Monitoring biological and ecological indicators (and their respective threats) is essential to (a) developing a broader MPA monitoring program (which would include socio-economics), (b) tracking status, condition and trends to determine if the MPA is effective in achieving its conservation objectives, (c) aiding managers in the adjustment of the MPA management plan to achieve its conservation objectives and (d) reporting to Parliament and Canadians.

Selection of indicators and protocols for collection and analysis of data must be scientifically defensible. Science monitoring products are not intended to address non-biological/ecological aspects of monitoring (with the exception of threats as presented by human activities) so social, economic or cultural indicators will not be examined. However, the creation of the MPA was largely based on community and co-management interests, thus indicators selected and the associated monitoring strategy must consider methods appropriate for both community-based participation and decision making.

Objectives

The overall objectives of the meeting are to provide advice on indicators, protocols and/or strategies appropriate to monitor the beluga population and ecosystem health to assess whether the conservation objective for the Tarium Niryutait MPA is being met.

Products

The Regional Advisory meeting will generate a proceedings report summarizing the deliberations of the participants. This will be published in the Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat (CSAS) Proceedings Series on the CSAS website. The advice from the meeting will be published as a Science Advisory Report and the working paper reviewed at the meeting, which provides the support for the advice, will be published as a CSAS Research Document.

Participation