Terms of Reference
Regional Advisory Process - Quebec Region
Review of the Draft for the Manicouagan MPA Ecological Monitoring Plan
June 21 and 22, 2010
Maurice Lamontagne Institute
850 Route de la Mer, Mont-Joli, Quebec
Chairperson: Denis Chabot
Background
The Manicouagan Peninsula sector is currently the subject of a proposed marine protected area (MPA) project under the Oceans Act. The future Manicouagan MPA is located on the north shore of the St. Lawrence Estuary. It surrounds the Manicouagan Peninsula between the Manicouagan and Betsiamites river estuaries and extends from the low water mark to the Laurentian Channel (isobath of 300m depth), covering 517 km². The mixture of freshwater from the three rivers (Betsiamites, Aux Outardes and Manicouagan) and salt waters from the St. Lawrence Estuary creates special oceanographic conditions, favourable to primary and secondary production. Several invertebrate fish and marine mammal species occupy diverse habitats, from the infralittoral area to deep waters.
The purpose of this MPA is "the conservation and protection of marine areas of high biodiversity and productivity." A preliminary management plan for the MPA was developed in 2001, formulating among other things the objectives of the MPA, including the conservation objectives. The designation of the MPA will be done by adopting a regulation.
The Oceans Management Branch has an obligation to assess the effectiveness of the management plan and the realization of the MPA objectives. Ecological monitoring is therefore necessary to assess whether the management measures in place are adequate to achieve the conservation objectives. This review therefore meets the Science sector commitment in the Health of the Oceans initiative, section 21, which aims at developing performance indicators for MPAs in Canada. The environmental monitoring plan developed by the Science sector will be integrated to the MPA monitoring plan developed by the Oceans sector. Environmental monitoring covers only the supervision components related to biology and ecology. The Science sector will not examine social, economic or cultural indicators. The choice of indicators and protocols must be scientifically valid.
In the winter of 2006-07, three workshops were held dealing respectively with 1) exploited resources, 2) productivity and oceanography, and 3) biodiversity in the MPA area. Following these workshops, a scientific committee was established in 2008 to advise and support the MPA team with respect to planning and implementing ecological monitoring of the MPA.
The targeted conservation objectives in the Manicouagan MPA management plan, in terms of research and ecological monitoring include:
- Maintain and protect significant habitats and species for the biological diversity and productivity of the MPA
- Restore or maintain the quality, diversity and productivity of the habitats considered significant
- Restore or maintain the quality of water and sediments
- Protect the marine species considered significant
- Acquire knowledge on the habitats and species in order to assess their significance for biological diversity and productivity of the MPA and their sensitivity to human activities
- Ensure sustainable exploitation of marine resources
Objectives
The meeting is aimed at conducting a peer review of the draft for the Manicouagan MPA ecological monitoring plan by answering the following questions:
- Are the ecological components of the Manicouagan MPA ecosystem selected based on the conservation objectives appropriate for monitoring?
- Are the indicators and sampling strategy outlined in the draft for the ecological monitoring plan adequate for monitoring the Manicouagan MPA conservation objectives?
Products
CSAS Science Advisory Report
CSAS proceedings
CSAS Research Document
Participation
- DFO Oceans and Science Branch
- Parks Canada (Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park)
- Ministère provincial du développement durable, de l’environnement et des parcs
- Universities
- Pointe-aux-Outardes Nature Park (MPA technical committee)
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