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Framework for identifying ecological conservation priorities for marine protected area (MPA) network design in the Northern Shelf Bioregion

Regional Peer Review Process – Pacific Region

November 22-24, 2016
Vancouver, BC

Chairpersons: Miriam O and Russ Jones

Context

As a signatory to the Convention on Biological Diversity agreement to “improve the status of biodiversity by safeguarding ecosystems, species, and genetic diversity”, Canada has committed to conserving “at least …. 10% of coastal and marine areas, especially areas of particular importance for biodiversity and ecosystem services…through effectively and equitably managed, ecologically representative and well-connected systems of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures…” (DFO 2016) (Aichi Target 11 [COP/10/INF/12/Rev.1]). Through Canada’s Oceans Act and Canada’s Oceans Strategy, federal departments are directed to engage in multi-agency collaboration and coordination to identify areas of interest for marine protected areas (MPAs). Through its 2004 memorandum of understanding with the Province of British Columbia regarding implementation of Canada’s Oceans Strategy, provincial and federal governments agreed to collaborate on understanding and protecting the marine environment on the Pacific Coast. The federal government also signed the 2008 Memorandum of Understanding on Pacific North Coast Integrated Management Plan (PNCIMA) Collaborative Oceans Governance and the 2012 Letter of Intent to Collaborate on Marine Planning and other Fisheries Related Issues in the Pacific North Coast with Coastal First Nations and the North Coast Skeena First Nations Stewardship Society. Additionally, the Province of BC and First Nations in British Columbia (BC) have developed Marine Use Plans for areas within the Northern Shelf Bioregion to be considered for candidate protected areas. Building on these commitments, Canada, the Province of BC, and First Nations have formed the Marine Protected Area Technical Team (MPATT) to collaborate on the development and implementation of a network of MPAs in the Northern Shelf Bioregion (NSB).

The development of Canada’s MPA network is guided by the 2011 National Framework for Canada’s Network of MPAs (Government of Canada 2011). The 2014 Canada – British Columbia Marine Protected Area Network Strategy (“the Strategy”) provides the primary guidance for the design, development, and implementation of MPA networks in Pacific Region. The Strategy outlines six ecological conservation, social, cultural, and economic goals to be achieved by the development of a network of MPAs. Goal 1 of the strategy was identified as primary importance and specifies the protection and maintenance of marine biodiversity, ecological representation and special natural features. Goal 2 of the strategy contributes to the conservation and protection of fishery resources and their habitats. The remaining four goals relate to protection and promotion of recreational, social, economic, cultural, and educational resources and opportunities and will form the basis of identification of cultural, social and economic conservation priorities through other processes. The strategy also outlines ecological network design principles to ensure that the full range of biodiversity is included; that ecologically and biologically significant areas are incorporated; that ecological linkages are considered in MPA siting; that the configuration (size, shape, and spacing) of individual MPAs maximizes their contributions to the network, and that the benefits of the MPA network are protected over the long term.

The MPA network planning process requires the development of effective governance and stakeholder engagement, and a set of network objectives that align with the goals and principles outlined in the Strategy. The key steps to move from network objectives to implementation of an effective MPA network in the NSB are iterative and include: 1) identification of ecological conservation priorities; 2) development of design strategies, including targets; 3) gathering and analysing data; 4) designing, assessing and implementing the network; and 5) monitoring and adapting the network to ensure that goals and objectives are being met effectively. The ecological aspects of Step 1 will be the focus of this review.

Ecological conservation priorities are identified as part of systematic conservation planning processes, such as MPA network design, to focus analyses on the most important attributes within a planning area, and to serve as the basis for monitoring and managing MPA network effectiveness. This review will focus on ecological conservation priorities, which could be any subset of species, habitats, communities, and/or other features identified as important to conserve with the MPA network. Coupled with design strategies, the full set of conservation priorities will be used to develop one or more network scenarios for further consideration. As such, the selection of conservation priorities has the potential to strongly influence the outcome of analyses, planning scenarios, spatial configuration, and management of MPAs within the network. As noted, other processes will review conservation priorities for the purpose of achieving cultural, social and economic goals as identified in the Strategy.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) Science has provided general guidance regarding the design of MPA networks (DFO 2010), considerations for how to achieve representativity in the design of MPA networks, guidance on formulation of ecological conservation objectives for individual MPAs (DFO 2008, 2013) and conservation priorities for large ocean management areas (DFO 2007, 2012, 2014, Murray et al. 2016). However, ecological conservation priorities for MPA network design have not yet been developed for MPA network design in Pacific Region. Guidance on conservation priority identification is available from literature based on MPA network design processes from within BC and other jurisdictions (e.g., Burt et al., 2014; Airamé et al. 2003; California Department of Fish and Game 2008, Howson et al. 2012).

DFO Oceans Management Branch requested that Science Branch develop a framework and criteria for identifying ecological conservation priorities, and apply the framework to identify ecological conservation priorities in Northern Shelf Bioregion (NSB).  The assessment and advice arising from this Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat Regional Peer Review will be used to inform MPATT’s development of a network of MPAs in the NSB and the framework may be appropriate for developing lists of conservation priorities in support of other MPA network planning processes within Canada.

Objectives

Participants will review the following working paper, and will use the information from the working paper to provide advice on the specific objectives outlined below:

Gale, K., Robb, C., McCarthy, J., Lee, L., Frid, A., Steele, J., Curtis, J.M.R., Rubidge, E. 2016. A framework for identification of ecological conservation priorities for marine protected area (MPA) network design in the Northern Shelf Bioregion. CSAS Working Paper 2015OCN05a.

The specific objectives of this review are to:

  1. Review the evaluation criteria for identifying ecological conservation priorities for MPA network design with respect to network goals, principles and objectives.
  2. Evaluate the application of these criteria to ecological attributes (e.g. species, habitats, communities, areas, natural features) to produce a list of conservation priorities for the NSB.
  3. Identify the types of spatial information needed to represent conservation priorities in subsequent systematic site selection analyses to achieve MPA network goals and objectives.
  4. Discuss uncertainties, gaps, research needs, or limitations for further consideration when identifying conservation priorities for MPA network design in NSB or other bioregions within Canada.

Expected Publications

Expected Participation

References

Airamé, S., Dugan, J.E., Lafferty, K.D., Leslie, H., McArdle, D.A., and Warner, R.R. 2003. Applying ecological criteria to marine reserve design: A case study from the California Channel Islands. Ecological Applications.13(1) Supplement: S170–S184.

Burt, J.M., Akins, P., Lathem, E. Beck, M., Salomon, A.K., Ban, N.C. 2014. Marine protected area network design features that support resilient human-ocean systems - Applications for British Columbia, Canada. Simon Fraser University. British Columbia, Canada. 159 pp.

California Department of Fish and Game. 2008. Master Plan for Marine Protected Areas, Revised Draft.

Canada – British Columbia MPA Network Strategy, 2014.

DFO. 2007. Guidance Document on Identifying Conservation Priorities and Phrasing Conservation Objectives for Large Ocean Management Areas. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2007/010.

DFO. 2008. Further Guidance on the Formulation, Prioritization, and Use of Conservation Objectives in an Ecosystem Approach to Integrated Management of Human Activities in Aquatic Ecosystems. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2008/029.

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. 2012. Risk-based Assessment Framework to Identify Priorities for Ecosystem-based Oceans Management in the Pacific Region. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2012/044.

DFO. 2013. Guidance on the Formulation of Conservation Objectives and Identification of Indicators, Monitoring Protocols and Strategies for Bioregional Marine Protected Area Networks. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2012/081.

DFO. 2014. Pilot application of an ecological risk assessment framework to inform ecosystem-based management in the Pacific North Coast Integrated Management Area. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2014/026.

DFO. 2016. Guidance on Identifying “Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures” in Canadian Coastal and Marine Waters. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2016/002.

Government of Canada. 2011. National Framework for Canada’s Network of Marine Protected Areas. Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Ottawa. 31 pp.

Howson, C. M., Steel. L., Carruthers, M. & Gillham, K. 2012. Identification of Priority Marine Features in Scottish territorial waters. Scottish Natural Heritage Commissioned Report No. 388.

Murray, C.C., Mach, M.E., and O, M. 2016. Pilot ecosystem risk assessment to assess cumulative risk to species in the Pacific North Coast Integrated Management Area (PNCIMA). DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2016/049. vii + 59 p.

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