Terms of Reference

Identification of Conservation Objectives and Boundary Delineation for the Darnley Bay Area of Interest

Central and Arctic Region - Science Advisory Meeting

December 8, 2010
Winnipeg, MB

Chairperson: Margaret Treble

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). Under the Health of the Oceans Initiative, DFO Science sector provides advice in support of the identification and development of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) following the selection of an Area of Interest (AOI).

In 2007, ecologically and biologically significant areas (EBSAs) were identified in the Beaufort Sea Large Ocean Management Area through a series of science and community workshops. The purpose of an EBSA was to call attention to areas that have particular ecological or biological significance to facilitate a greater-than-usual degree of risk aversion in management of activities in such areas -  Identification of Ecologically and Biologically Significant Areas. In 2008, the DFO Oceans Programs Division created a Site Selection Committee to nominate another area for marine protection within the Inuvialuit Settlement Region (ISR). The nominated AOI for this process includes portions of the Pearce Point and Hornaday River EBSAs. At the time these two EBSAs were identified by community members, and acknowledged by Science. These areas were considered to be data deficient and no conservation objectives (COs) were identified. COs are science-based and defensible on objective grounds. They are intended to protect the biological and ecological components of the ecosystem from serious or irreversible harm.

The ecological overview and assessment report (EOAR) is the basis for all decisions leading to the establishment of the MPA. The purpose of the EOAR is to provide site-specific details for the AOI and to describe the interactions between human uses and the ecosystem. The report includes a focused description and analysis along with a recommendation whether to proceed to the regulatory stage in the designation process of the MPA. The EOAR should provide the following information: 1) characterize the ecology of the AOI; 2) provide the basis for a recommendation about whether to proceed with the process; 3) refine the COs of the proposed MPA; and 4) identify the regulatory and management measures necessary to achieve the objectives.

Objectives

The intent of the meeting is to complete the following objectives:

1. review the Darnley Bay EOAR;
2. identify and prioritize areas within the nominated AOI which meet the criteria for marine protection under Section 35 of the Oceans Act;
3. identify the COs of the areas; and
4. provide advice on the AOI boundaries based on the identified COs.

Expected Publications

The Regional Advisory meeting will generate a Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat (CSAS) Proceedings Report, which will summarize the discussion at the meeting and a Science Advisory Report (SAR), which will summarize the resulting advice. In addition, the working paper reviewed at the meeting, which provides support for the advice, will be published as a CSAS Research Document.

Participation

Experts from a variety of organizations will participate in the meeting including DFO, Environment Canada, Parks Canada Agency, Natural Resources Canada, academia and Paulatuk community members.