Terms of Reference

Risk Assessment for ship-mediated introductions of aquatic nonindigenous species to the Atlantic and Pacific regions of Canada

National Peer Review – National Capital Region

March 6-7, 2012
Burlington, Ontario

Chairperson: Nicholas Mandrak

Context

Transport Canada (Marine Safety) is tasked with managing a regulatory program to set ships' procedures to reduce the risk of ship-mediated transfer of invasive species. Current ballast water regulations are being revised and Transport Canada has submitted a formal request to Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) for science advice on the level of risk posed by the commercial shipping vector to Canadian waters.  DFO’s Centre of Expertise on Aquatic Risk Assessment has developed risk evaluation guidelines that have been used to create risk assessments addressing:

1. The level of risk posed by ships transiting to, or from, Arctic ports for the introduction of aquatic invasive species (AIS) to Canadian waters;
2. The level of risk posed by ships operating within the ballast water exchange exemption zones on the East and West Coasts;
3. The level of risk posed by domestic shipping activities;
4. If current ballast water management regulations provide sufficient protection against ship-mediated AIS introductions.

Three meetings are being held to develop the risk assessment advice. The first meeting held in 2011 addressed items 1 and 3 for the Great Lakes and Arctic regions. This second meeting will address items 2 and 3 for the Atlantic and Pacific regions. The third meeting planned for 2013 will address item 4 with a national context.

Objectives

The objective of the meeting is to collect expert advice on the following aspects of the draft risk assessment documents.

• Are components missing from the draft documents?
• Are the determined risk ratings scientifically sound and defensible?
• Are the limitations of the studies clearly outlined?

Expected Publications

• Science Advisory Reports
• Proceedings
• Research Documents

Participation

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) experts from Ecosystems and Oceans Science, and Ecosystem and Fisheries Management sectors
• Transport Canada experts from Marine Safety and Policy
• Province of British Columbia
• Province of Quebec
• Academia
• Industry