Terms of Reference

Review of the Assessment Report and Proposed Conservation Objectives for the St. Anns Bank Area of Interest (AOI), Maritimes Region

Maritimes Region Science Peer Review

Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
January 25-26, 2012

Chairperson: Eddy Kennedy

Context

A marine protected area (MPA) is a coastal or oceanic area given special status to conserve and protect its habitat and wildlife. Pursuant to Section 35 of Canada’s Oceans Act, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) has the authority to designate an MPA in support of:

1. the conservation and protection of commercial and non-commercial fishery resources, including marine mammals, and their habitats;
2. the conservation and protection of endangered or threatened marine species, and their habitats;
3. the conservation and protection of unique habitats;
4. the conservation and protection of marine areas of high biodiversity or biological productivity; and
5. the conservation and protection of any other marine resource or habitat as is necessary to fulfill the mandate of the Minister (of Fisheries and Oceans Canada).

Under the Health of the Oceans (HOTO) Initiative, DFO is to identify a series of Areas of Interest (AOI) for candidate MPAs located in different regions across Canada, with a goal of designating an additional six MPAs pursuant to the Oceans Act. The identification of MPA AOIs is a first step in the assessment process that supports decisions toward formal MPA designations.

In the DFO Maritimes Region, St. Anns Bank, located on the Eastern Scotian Shelf in the offshore of Nova Scotia, has been selected as an MPA AOI under the HOTO Initiative. The St. Anns Bank AOI includes St. Anns Bank, Scatarie Bank, and a portion of the Laurentian Channel. These marine areas provide diverse habitats for a range of commercial fish species (e.g. redfish and halibut), non-commercial marine species (e.g. sponges, corals, and anemones) and several at-risk marine species. The area is also a key migration route for many marine mammals and several commercial and non-commercial fish species.

An Ecological Overview and Assessment Report for St. Anns Bank is being compiled by the Oceans and Coastal Management Division, DFO Maritimes, to characterize the ecosystem component and functions of the area and to identify existing or emerging threats to them that may result from natural variation and human activity. Conservation objectives for the St. Anns Bank AOI will be proposed.

A Maritimes Region Science Advisory Process will be conducted to provide a scientific peer review of the assessment report and proposed conservation objectives.

Objectives

The objectives of the meeting are:

• To present the St. Anns Bank Ecological Overview
• To review the conservation objectives for the St. Anns Bank AOI
• To review the draft Ecological Assessment methodology, including conservation priorities, and the risks and benefits assessment.

Expected Publications

• CSAS Science Advisory Report
• CSAS Proceedings
• CSAS Research Documents

Participation

• DFO Science
• DFO Ecosystem Management
• DFO Fisheries Management
• DFO Policy and Economics
• Environment Canada
• Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board
• Transport Canada (shipping)
• Industry Canada (cables)
• Department of National Defence (naval)
• Aboriginal Communities and Organizations
• Nova Scotia Provincial Representatives
• Industry
• Non-Government Organizations
• Academics