Terms of Reference

Marine Protected Areas Network Planning in the Scotian Shelf Bioregion

Regional Peer Review - Maritimes Region

5-7 March 2012
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia

Co-chairs: Peter Lawton and Tana Worcester

Context

Canada has committed to establishing a national network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in support of integrated coastal and ocean management. Under the Health of the Oceans Initiative, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) is responsible for coordinating the development of MPA network plans for each of Canada’s 13 bioregions. DFO Maritimes is leading the development of an MPA network plan for the Scotian Shelf Bioregion, which roughly corresponds to the current DFO Maritimes Region boundary.

Guidance on bioregional MPA network planning is set out in the National Framework for Canada’s Network of MPAs (DFO 2010; DFO 2011) and in the Convention on Biological Diversity Conference of the Parties Decision IX/20. The guidance indicates that effective networks must protect: 1) ecologically and biologically significant areas (EBSAs; DFO 2004; DFO 2006); and 2) representative examples of all ecosystem types or other ecological sub-units that reasonably reflect the full range of species and habitat diversity within a bioregion. To develop a comprehensive MPA network plan for the Scotian Shelf Bioregion, EBSAs must be identified and representative coastal and marine ecosystems (or other suitable ecological sub-units) must be delineated. Much work has already been done in the Maritimes Region to achieve this goal (e.g. Buzeta and Singh 2008; Doherty and Horsman 2007; Gromack et al. 2010; Horsman et al. 2011).

Due to varying levels of available ecological data across the Scotian Shelf Bioregion, different approaches to identifying EBSAs and delineating representative marine ecosystems are proposed for three distinct planning areas: 1) the offshore Scotian Shelf; 2) the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia; and 3) the Bay of Fundy. Despite different approaches, the same guiding principles of MPA network planning will be applied to all planning areas.

It is expected that the development of a MPA network plan for the Scotian Shelf Bioregion will require a number of steps that build on the work conducted to date. The next step is a Maritimes Region Science Advisory Process to explore the conservation objectives of an MPA network in the Scotian Shelf Bioregion, as well as the various data inputs and methods that have been, or could be, used for identifying EBSAs and representative ecosystems in this area. Future steps for the development of the MPA network will also be discussed.

Objectives

The objectives of this Science Advisory Process are to:

1. Clarify terminology related to EBSAs, coastal and marine ecosystem classification, and the science components of MPA network planning in the Scotian Shelf Bioregion.
2. Review the proposed ecological objectives for an MPA network in the Scotian Shelf Bioregion, taking into account national and international guidance.
3. Describe the information available for identifying EBSAs and delineating representative coastal and marine ecosystems for each planning area, as well as any critical data gaps.
4. Propose next steps for identification of an MPA network in the Scotian Shelf Bioregion.

Expected Publications

• CSAS Science Advisory Report (identifying MPA Network Objectives and Next Steps)
• CSAS Proceedings
• CSAS Research Documents

Participation

• DFO Science
• DFO Ecosystem Management
• DFO Resource Management
• DFO Policy and Economics
• Environment Canada (Canadian Wildlife Service)
• Parks Canada
• Provincial Governments (Nova Scotia and New Brunswick)
• Aboriginal Groups
• Academics
• Non-government Organizations
• Fishing Industry
• Canadian Healthy Oceans Network

References

Buzeta, M-I., and R. Singh. 2008.  Identification of Ecologically and Biologically Significant Areas in the Bay of Fundy, Gulf of Maine. Volume 1: Areas identified for review, and assessment of the Quoddy Region. Can. Tech. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 2788: vii + 80 p.

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

DFO, 2006. Identification of Ecologically Significant Species and Community Properties. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2006/041.

DFO, 2010. Science Guidance on the Development of Networks of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2009/061.

DFO, 2011. National Framework for Canada’s Network of MPAs. Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Ottawa. 31pp.

Doherty, P., and T. Horsman. 2007.  Ecologically and Biologically Significant Areas of the Scotian Shelf and Environs: A Compilation of Scientific Expert Opinion. Can. Tech. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 2774: 57 + xii pp.

Gromack, A.G., K. Allard, D. Fenton, S. Johnston, and J. Ford. 2010.  Ecological and human use information for twenty areas on the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia in support of conservation planning. Can. Tech. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 2880: xiv + 226 p.

Horsman, T.L., A. Serdynska, K.C.T. Zwanenburg, and N.L. Shackell. 2011.  Report on the Marine Protected Area Network Analysis in the Maritimes Region, Canada. Can. Tech. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 2917: xi + 188 p.