Terms of Reference

Evaluation of Proposed Ecologically and Biologically Significant Areas in Marine Waters of British Columbia

Regional Peer Review – Pacific Region

7-8 February 2012
Nanaimo, B.C.

Chairpersons: Janelle Curtis, Ian Perry

Context

Under Canada’s Oceans Act (1997), “conservation, based on an ecosystem approach”, is of fundamental importance to maintaining biological diversity and productivity in the marine environment”. This Act provides the legislative framework for an integrated ecosystem approach to management in Canadian oceans, particularly in areas considered ecologically or biologically significant.  DFO has developed guidance for the identification of ecologically or biologically significant areas (EBSA) (DFO 2004),  and has endorsed the scientific criteria of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) for identifying ecologically or biologically significant marine areas as defined in Annex I of Decision IX/20 of its 9th Conference of Parties (UNEP/CBD, 2008)

The identification of EBSAs in the Canadian Pacific region will serve as a key component of the knowledge base for: i) regional development activities and marine use planning; ii) the development of Canada’s network of marine protected areas (MPA) under the Oceans Act; and, iii) facilitating the implementation of DFO’s Sustainable Fisheries Framework under the Fisheries Act. In addition, this information will be of value to other federal Departments and the Province of British Columbia, who are responsible for the management of marine activities in this region (e.g. resource extraction, marine shipping, ocean dumping, spill response, cable laying, land use planning, etc.).

A Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat (CSAS), Regional Advisory Process (RAP) will be held in Nanaimo, British Columbia, to provide peer review of two working papers developed in support of providing science advice on the identification of marine EBSAs in the Strait of Georgia and west coast of Vancouver Island areas, and to update information on the identification of EBSAs in the Pacific North Coast Integrated Management Area (PNCIMA), using the EBSA criteria defined by DFO.

Objectives

The objective of this science advisory process is to identify ecologically and biologically significant areas (EBSAs) in Canadian Pacific marine waters, specifically the Strait of Georgia, west coast of Vancouver Island, and the Pacific North Coast Integrated Management Area (PNCIMA). It is not the objective of this advisory process to review the specific methods for identifying ecologically and biological significant areas; these have been reviewed as part of national DFO advisory processes (DFO, 2004; 2011).

To achieve this objective, meeting participants will address the following:

1. Identify EBSAs in the Strait of Georgia, west coast of Vancouver Island, and Pacific North Coast Integrated Management (PNCIMA) areas, using the best available information and the criteria defined by DFO (DFO, 2004);
2. For the EBSAs identified in each area:
1. Provide justification outlining why the identified EBSAs are considered ecologically or biologically significant, including their strengths and limitations; and
2. Indicate the level of confidence in the delineation of the identified EBSAs, and sources of additional data that might be available to incorporate into future databases for these areas, as well as any sources of uncertainty;
3. Provide maps indicating the locations of the identified EBSAs in the Strait of Georgia, west coast of Vancouver Island, and Pacific North Coast Integrated Management (PNCIMA) areas;
4. Identify best practices for archiving, maintaining and updating databases, and potential next steps to improve the identification of EBSAs in these regions.

The following papers provide the basis for discussion and advice on the specific questions outlined above:

• Clarke, C.L., and Jamieson, G.S. 2006a. Identification of ecologically and biologically significant areas in the Pacific North Coast Integrated Management Area: Phase I – Identification of important areas. Can. Tech. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 2678: 59 p.
• Clarke, C.L., and Jamieson, G.S. 2006b. Identification of ecologically and biologically significant areas in the Pacific North Coast Integrated Management Area: Phase II – Final Report. Can. Tech. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 2686: v + 25 p.
• Levesque, C. and Jamieson, G. Identification of ecologically and biologically significant areas in the Strait of Georgia and off the west coast of Vancouver Island: Phase I – Identification of Important Areas. CSAP Working Paper 2011/P51.
• Levesque, C. and Jamieson, G. Identification of ecologically and biologically significant areas on the west coast of Vancouver Island and the Strait of Georgia, and in some nearshore areas on the North Coast: Phase II – Designation of EBSAs.  CSAP Working Paper 2011/P58

Expected publications

• CSAS Science Advisory Report (1)
• CSAS Research Documents (2)
• CSAS Proceedings (1)

Participation

• DFO Science Branch
• DFO Fisheries Management Branch
• Province of BC
• Commercial and recreational fishing interests
• First Nations
• Non-government organizations
• Academia

References Cited

DFO, 2004. Identification of Ecologically and Biologically Significant Areas. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Ecosystem Status Rep. 2004/006.

DFO. 2011. Ecologically and Biologically Significant Areas – Lessons Learned. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2011/049.

UNEP/CBD. 2008. Decision adopted by the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity at its Ninth Meeting IX/20. Marine and coastal biodiversity COP/DEC/IX/20. 12p. http://www.cbd.int/doc/decisions/cop-09/cop-09-dec-20-en.pdf