Terms of Reference

Ecosystem Research Initiative (ERI) – NEREUS Program

Newfoundland and Labrador, Regional Advisory Process

January 17-19, 2012
St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador

Co-chairs: Bill Brodie and Nadine Wells
Science Branch, DFO, Newfoundland and Labrador Region

“Synthesis of key ERI-NEREUS findings and examination of their implications for science advice, resource management, and policy development”

Context

In August 2007 a Regional Committee of scientists initiated a process aimed to fill knowledge gaps in the NL DFO Science program deemed key for the development of ecosystem approaches to fisheries in the NL region. This work evolved into the regional component of the DFO Ecosystem Research Initiative (ERI), the “Newfoundland and Labrador’s Expanded Research on Ecosystem-relevant but Under-surveyed Splicers” (NEREUS).

The ERI-NEREUS program has had the following objectives: 1) enhance the capability of NL surveys for providing information on ecosystem status and main trends by improving monitoring on forage fishes, non-commercial species, major benthic components, and trophic interactions, and 2) identify and track main pathways of energy in the NL system by integrating results from trophodynamic and statistical models with trends and patterns in ecosystem indicators. The geographic extent of this work encompasses the Newfoundland and Labrador Shelf, including the southern Labrador shelf, the northern Grand Bank and the Grand Bank Proper.

Between 2008 and 2012, the ERI-NEREUS program has included new or redesigned sampling components in DFO RV surveys, like the collection and processing of acoustic information, implementation of a grab sampling program in the Grand Bank, a new scheme for sampling of stomach contents of key fish species, as well as expanded sampling of non-commercial species. In terms of analyses, some of the work has included the study of the diet in key fish species,  changes in the structure of the fish community, modeling of the role of environmental and anthropogenic drivers in the dynamics of core fish species, the development of a Northern cod model to assess the simultaneous impacts of capelin, fisheries and seal predation, as well as the study of the linkages between bottom-up process and the regulation of capelin, the key forage species in the NL ecosystem.

The results emerging form this program, as well as an examination of their implications for management, policy development and implementation, will be presented in a 3 day advisory meeting which will produce a Science Advisory Report, Proceedings Report and several Research Documents.

Objectives

1. Provide a synthesis of key findings from the ERI-NEREUS Program.
2. Examine how ERI-NEREUS results can be used in the context of scientific advice for current management decision processes.
3. Examine the implications of ERI-NEREUS findings for the development and implementation of integrated ecosystem-oriented management frameworks and possible implications for policy development.
4. Identify future research topics and directions required to provide the science base for integrated ecosystem assessment in the NL region.

Expected Publications

A Science Advisory Report (SAR) and associated research document(s) will be produced.  A Proceedings Report will record the meeting discussions.

Participation

• DFO Science Branch, NL Region
• DFO Oceans Branch, NL Region
• DFO Ecosystems Fisheries Management Branch, NL Region
• DFO Policy Branch, NL Region
• DFO Science, National Headquarters Region
• Environment Canada
• Provincial Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture
• Memorial University
• Invited expert