Terms of Reference

Risk-based Assessment Framework to Identify Priorities for Ecosystem-Based Oceans Management in the Pacific Region

Regional Peer Review - Pacific Region

May 8 - 10, 2012
Nanaimo, BC

Chairperson: John Holmes

Context

The establishment of the Pacific North Coast Integrated Management Area (PNCIMA) and Pacific region Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) presents a broad range of ecosystem-based challenges and opportunities for Oceans Management.  A key step in meeting these challenges and opportunities is the development of a risk-based assessment framework founded on sound science that (i) identifies and prioritizes ecosystem issues within Large Ocean Management Areas (LOMAs) and MPAs, and (ii) informs the development of conservation objectives, management strategies and action plans for these managed areas.  Such a framework would apply a systematic, science based and defensible risk based decision making structure to these areas and provide advice and guidance to support the transition from high-level aspirational principles and goals to more tangible and specific objectives, strategies and actions that could be implemented in the PNCIMA and MPA initiatives in Pacific Region.

A team of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) Oceans and Science staff have collaborated to create a structured approach to assessing the potential risk to ecosystem components from human activities and their associated stressors in these managed areas.  The goal of developing this risk-based assessment framework is to provide managers with science advice on ecosystem priorities, together with the processes and tools that can be used in the development of conservation objectives and management measures in PNCIMA and MPA initiatives in Pacific Region. This advice could also be valuable to inform other risk-based approaches applied within the Pacific Region (e.g. DFO Habitat Ecosystem Risk Assessment Framework, DFO’s Sustainable Fisheries Framework).

The key elements of the proposed risk-based assessment framework are:

1. identification of the key features or properties of the system (valued ecosystem components or VECs), including species, habitats and community/ecosystem properties;
2. identification of the activities and stressors that have the potential to affect these VECs using pathways of effects models (POE); and,
3. an assessment of the risks of harm to each VEC from each activity and associated stressors using appropriate criteria and scoring methodology.

The risk scores that are calculated from the risk-based assessment framework identify which VECs and/or activities and stressors may require enhanced management attention.  By providing a systematic and transparent process for gathering, evaluating and recording information related to the risk of harm from human activities/stressors on VECs, this risk-based framework may be used as a key information tool to identify priorities for PNCIMA management and MPAs and develop more specific conservation objectives, management strategies and action plans including monitoring, research and management assessments as appropriate.

Objectives

The following working paper will be reviewed to provide the basis for discussion and advice:

An Ecological Risk Assessment Framework (ERAF) for Ecosystem-based Oceans Management. O,M.,R. Martone, L. Hannah, L. Grieg, J. Boutillier and S. Patton. CSAP Working Paper 2012/P46

The overarching objective of this Regional Peer Review Meeting (RPR) is to assess whether the risk-based framework outlined in the working paper serves the intended function of identifying and prioritizing the activities and associated stressors that have the potential to affect valued ecosystem components (VECs), for the purposes of informing the development of conservation objectives, strategies and actions for application in PNCIMA and MPAs.

Specific issues to consider in addressing this objective include:

1. Methodology used to categorize and identify Valued Ecosystem Components (VECs);
2. Pathways of effects (PoE) models to elucidate the potential effects of activities and associated stressors to VECs (an example PoE will be provided);
3. Risk assessment methodology used to determine risk of harm to VECs (i.e. high, medium, low);
4. Assessment of uncertainty at different stages in the risk assessment;
5. Flexibility of the risk-based assessment framework to allow for application at different management scales (e.g. Environmental Impact Assessments, Habitat) if appropriate;
6. Adaptability of the risk-based framework to allow integration of additional information as it becomes available; and
7. Recommendations on the completeness and appropriateness of the framework for identifying VECs, threats to VECs, risk of harm to VECs and science advice on priorities that are appropriate for the development of conservation objectives.

Expected Publications

• CSAS Science Advisory Report (1)
• CSAS Research Document (1)
• CSAS Proceedings

Participation

• DFO Science, Habitat, Species at Risk, Fisheries Management
• DFO Risk Assessment Center of Expertise
• DFO Ecosystem Management
• Environment Canada
• Parks Canada
• First Nations
• Universities
• Environmental Non-governmental Organizations
• Fishing Industry
• Province of BC
• NOAA

Additional Information and References Cited

Fletcher, W.J. 2005. The application of qualitative risk assessment methodology to prioritize issues for fisheries management. ICES J. Mar. Sci. 62: 1576-1587.

Halpern, B.S., K.A. Selkoe, F. Micheli, and C.V. Kappel. 2007. Evaluating and ranking the vulnerability of global marine ecosystems to anthropogenic threats. Conservation Biology. 21: 1301-1315.

Hobday, A.J., A. Smith, H. Webb, R. Daley, S. Wayte, C. Bulman, J. Dowdney, A. Williams, M. Sporcic, J. Dambacher, M. Fuller, T. Walker. 2007. Ecological risk assessment for the effects of fishing: methodology. Report R04/1072 for the Australian Fisheries Management Authority, Canberra.

Park, L.E., L.A. Beresford, and M.R. Anderson. 2010. Characterization and analysis of risk to key ecosystem components and properties. Oceans, Habitat and Species at Risk Publication Series, Newfoundland and Labrador Region. 0003: vi + 19p.

Park, L.E., L.A. Beresford, and E. Kissler. 2011. Prioritization of key ecosystem components based on the risk of harm from human activities within the Placentia Bay/Grand Banks Large Ocean Management Area. Oceans, Habitat and Species at Risk Publication Series. Newfoundland and Labrador Region. 0004: vi + 9 p. + working notes (2422p.).

Tallis, H.T., T. Ricketts, A.D. Guerry, S.A. Wood, R. Sharp, E. Nelson, D. Ennaanay, S. Wolny, N. Olwero, K. Vigerstol, D. Pennington, G. Mendoza, J. Aukema, J. Foster, J. Forrest, D. Cameron, K. Arkema, E. Lonsdorf, C. Kennedy, G. Verutes, C.K. Kim, G. Guannel, M. Papenfus, J. Toft, M. Marsik, and J. Bernhardt. 2011. InVEST 2.2.2 User’s Guide. The Natural Capital Project, Stanford.

Zhou, S., A.D.M. Smith, and M. Fuller. 2011. Quantitative ecological risk‑assessment for fishing effects on diverse data-poor non-target species in a multi-sector and multi-gear fishery. Fish. Res. 112: 168-178.